What Kind of Leaders Do These Young People Have?
By The Peasant Philosopher
Like most Canadians, I watched with interest as the protests in Toronto unfolded on my television screen this past weekend. Like most, I was displeased to see such random acts of violence and vandalism acted out either in frustration or ignorance of youthful exuberance.
To those involved with these events this weekend, I have a few questions. I will start with a simple one - where were the leaders who called these young people into the streets?
But first let me be clear...
I am sure that the Black Bloc has its own select leaders, who can at best only command a very few to their cause. So I will not expect them to answer this question. But, as the numbers of those detained and released without charge slowly filter out, we can easily say that a good majority of the 900 or so who were arrested are not apart of this vengeful and wayward group.
So what of these people? Where were their leaders? When the arrests began, where were the Judy Rebicks and Naomi Kleins? Where were these leaders and others like them, who called their supporters into the streets both Saturday and Sunday in the name of the Left, in campaigns as diverse as climate change or social justice?
Many of your followers found themselves rounded up. Yet neither on Saturday night nor Sunday did I see or hear hide or hair of you! There were no broadcasts of support. I waited, but there was no press conference of solidarity or words of conviction to the people in the streets or those in jail. Were you all arrested and detained like so many of your followers, and thus unable to speak?
No.
What kind of message does this send to your followers? While they sat in cages and pens in an old worn-out film studio, that even the government tax dollar can’t save, you were at home safe and sound - far away from the fight.
But you did show up on Monday. You made sure that the morning talk shows and afternoon political panels on CBC were properly informed.
But these were rewards you did not earn.
If I was a young person, with a legitimate belief in the politics and policies of the Left in this country, I would be seriously asking myself today whether or not my sacrifices and burdens are equally shared by those who are the voice and face of my convictions.
They have been led seriously astray.
I salute all those who marched, walked and brought forth with them no acts of violence and only opinion. I salute the fortitude of all those who became entangled in the police round-up, solely because of a desire to voice their democratic right to speak their minds.
But for your leaders...whose mantra seems to be:
“Buy my books! Listen to my speeches! But don’t call me if you need bail!”
I have nothing more to say.
A version of this article appeared in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix July 2, 2010