P R O T E S T 101
HOW TO STAGE A RADICAL PROTEST
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King.
Before You Read:
This article is not for the easygoing. It is not for the cowards. In fact, it is not for those who are afraid of governing authorities. It is not for those who share the same bed with their parents. It is exclusively for the brave; it is for the mean. It is for those whose knuckles turn white at the sight of injustice. It is for those who grit their teeth against the sacred cows. It is for those who rush headlong into battles without weighing the impossibilities. It is for the audacious. It is for those who are not afraid of the SDC! You are excused if you do not fall into these categories.
SOFT VOICES, BUT RADICAL CHANGES
“The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest till it has gained a hearing” – Sigmund Freud.
There is a phenomenon in the air. It existed before the creation of man and it still rules the world of man. Interestingly, its power transforms man at every point in time. It is the central theme of the world’s existence. Its name is Change and according to Rosa Guy, it is “the one constant in life”. Change is behind the transformation of a foetus to a man. It is the reason why the University College, Ibadan is now the University of Ibadan. Change is the subject matter of the world.
Different platforms have been established to facilitate change of which Protest is one. As the most common platform amongst students, it is expedient to have the how-to knowledge of the Protest platform to trigger off transformational power of radical change. A wrong approach to Protest results in nothing, but chaos and aggravated unfairness.
Recorded events make it clear that the most powerful weapon ever used to facilitate radical change is Truths. Interestingly: cutlasses, clubs, guns, nuclear weapons and other deadly machines that surface when opinions do not correspond are direct distortion of the real weapon – Truths. Truths may suffer to death, but they never die. They are the catalyst for a long-term radical change. Those who wield them are called great. According to Gotthold Ephraim, “nothing is great that is not true”. This explains that the only portal to greatness is truths and not brawn. Bodily strength should be channelled towards grasping the truths, not the club. The finger muscles should search for truths and not pull the trigger. Vituperations are not ideal for the tongue, but truths are. Little or no efforts should be used to enforce the truths. The real efforts lie in sourcing and grasping the truths. According to William F. Buckley: “The most casual student of history knows that, as a matter of fact, truth does not necessarily vanquish…The cause of truth must be championed, and it must be championed dynamically.” Henry David Thoreau also requested for truth rather than love, money and fame; “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth”. U.S Poet, William Cullen also testified that “Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. The eternal years of God are hers; but Error, wounded, writhes in pain, and dies among his worshippers.” Truths turn protests to fun and they are established on the lips of many persons stating from three.
There are assets which are mighty bloodless substitute for life. They give life to dead events for the present generation to learn from. They are called Books. On their pages are events from which present generation can decide what to do and things to refrain from. According to Aldous Huxley, “the proper study of mankind is books”. In them lies knowledge that cannot be resisted. What else is needed to effect radical change than irrefutable truths found in books? Observably, what make protests effective are truths found in books. Clubs do not; guns aggravate injustice; vituperations fuel conflicts, but truths found in books quench them.
It is a norm in tertiary institutions for protests to arise unexpectedly; however, most of these protests needed not be staged had Students’ Union leaders been reading books. Great minds discuss virtues and no comfort. Unfortunately, the latter is the most discussed subject by Students’ Union leaders. Life is to be lived and not managed; however, it is shocking to find out that the most visible things in offices of Students’ Union leaders are attractive cushions, glittering tables, air cooling devices, nice curtains that grace the window and other things that bring comfort to life. Where are the bookshelves? Is it not dishonourable to Honourables in the Student Representative Council not to have books on various parliamentary proceedings? What then are they discussing in the house?
A man fond of his books is of lofty thoughts and elevated opinions. U.S President, Franklin Roosevelt said: “We all know that books burn yet we have the greater knowledge that books cannot be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no force can abolish memory…In this war, we know books are weapons.” If books are weapons, Students’ Union leaders should wield them. Governing authorities will surely continue to provide all ‘destructive’ comforts to cloud the minds of Students’ Union leaders to see the truths in books. Have you not wondered why governing authorities never facilitate the provision of books for offices of Students’ Union leaders? They understand that when truths and knowledge are swallowed up by comforts, distorted norms reign. Shouldn’t the protests for books be greater than the protests for comforts?
When will ego and comfort ever stop persecuting knowledge? What is the essence of outward relief when the heart is suffering from enlightenment? For how long will Students’ Union leaders swim in poverty of knowledge? The two-third majority system of democracy has done the Union no good. When will Students’ Union Presidents and Vice- Presidents stop their fight with great leadership books? Shouldn’t the General Secretary make friends with books that discuss the office? Isn’t it time for the Sports Secretary to read books on sports? Are there not books for the House Secretary to read and gain more knowledge about the office? When will the Financial Secretary start reading books on Finance to boast the treasury of the Union? Faculty and departmental leaders are actually not excluded, but the horse at the rear is influenced by the one in front. Comforts are sweet, but knowledge is the sweetest, for knowledge commands the provision of comfort.
From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The knowledge every man takes in determines their output. The reason for unnecessary protest boils down to the ability of the governing authorities to withstand the wisdom of Students’ Union leaders. To expose the ignorance of Union leaders, governing authorities do call for intellectual discuss because they know that there is little Union leaders will offer. However, when Students’ Union leaders present their cases with high intellectual audacity, coupled with a breeze of ferocity accompanying their words, their wisdom will never be resisted. According to the Greek Philosopher, Socrates, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel”. Small sparks of truths emanating from Students’ Union leaders will surely pave way for a conflagration of change. The real protests are staged in offices, not on streets. Words that come from books are the real weapons of protests, not guns and clubs. Virtues are the subject matter of great minds, but small minds discuss comforts.
As stated earlier, this piece is for the brave. Not for the brave on streets, but for persons ready to take the brave step of charging up their mental powers through books. It is not for those who share the same bed with their parents, but it is for those who are tired of archaic ways of doing things. It is for those whose finger muscles are ready to flip through the pages of books and not pull the trigger. This piece is for the Students’ Union leaders whose words can never be resisted due to the audacity they carry. Such will be called great for it is truths that make men great. Truths found in books are the catalyst for radical change. A generation of great leaders is knocking. Have a great week!
HEPHZIBAH
