Tonight's blog is a continuation of the
series "The Politics of Protest".
In the blogs to follow I will introduce the
"Anatomy
of Protest" from the perspectives of both the protestor as well as the
governmental or financial institutions, to give a multidimensional view of
protest so that we can see how/why protest is NOT an effective means for
permanent change - and while there have indeed been relevant changes to social,
economic, and political policy - it has only achieved isolated instances of
change that have been short lived, or have only yielded relief from a symptom
and have not addressed the core issues.
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Day 10 - The
Politics of Protest - Part Six: Damage Control
So far we
have had a look at the issue of protest and the various roles and dimensions of
the people/protestors and the government/institutions, from the "building
up" phase up to the point where the protest and discontent erupts to a
point of explosion that can no longer be held back. Tonight we will continue
with the next stage of escalation which is "Damage Control". Here is
a recap -
"Damage Control – Here is where the target of the explosion must fortify itself and ensures that this sudden outburst does not become too violent or destructive, that it may threaten the greater infrastructure upon which many things depend. If the explosion cannot be contained, a target is given and the explosion is allowed to play itself out “safely” at the expense of a non critical target. " - Day 5 - The Politics of Protest – Part One: Introducing The Anatomy of Protest
By now we have established some key perspectives on the side
of the protestor as well as the side of the government/institutions - realizing
that both sides have specific points of view that contradict each other, yet at
the same time reveal a deeper issue - which is that the separation and conflict
between the majority of people and the governments and institutions of the
world are BOTH equally trapped within a global system that requires
understanding, consideration, and cooperation without fear or antagonism on
either side.
During the "Damage Control" phase of a protest or
a violent uprising - the people have a very clear objective - which is to
ensure that the force they have exerted and the risks they have taken within
making their stand will not be fruitless - that they will have accomplished
SOMETHING for their labors and their suffering. Having reached a kind of
critical mass where they can no longer simply go back to the way things were -
having gotten to a point where there is now too much already invested in the
protest/revolt - it now comes to a point of "all or nothing" - where
the demands must be met or those who are seen as barriers to the desired change
will be forcibly removed, regardless of what consequences may follow after or
at what cost.
When people have put up with more than what they are willing
to put up with - it becomes a matter of principle that they have restitution
and that their demands be met no matter how much it may cost the
""wrongdoers" - because those who are blamed for the injustices
committed upon the people will no longer be considered, since they did not seem
to consider the people when the injustices were suffered.
So now as a point of principle, no matter what the outcome
may be or what consequences the government or the institutions may have to face
in order to grant the change that is being demanded, the people who have been
"wronged" will either have their request granted, or they will
violently force a change that will be undesirable for all involved.
Yet from the perspective of the government and the
institutions - it is understood that there is a very tight balance that must be
maintained in order for the world to function - even though the current means
and methods of its functioning are NOT best for all. There is an understanding
that if people become encouraged by the idea that they are able to force change
through violence and open revolt, there are massive consequences that may arise
in other sectors of the world system - and it is therefore NOT in the interest
of the world system to allow for such revolts to threaten the world's
interrelated and interconnected relationships and infrastructure.
There are certain relationships - certain agreements - and
certain arrangements in the world between the various governments and ruling
elites that must at all cost be defended and upheld because it is accepted that
without such arrangements and relationships between nations, world leaders, and
the various industries and institutions, there would be chaos - and in this
uncontrolled and undirected chaos human beings will be more prone to self
destruction as well as mishandling of the world's resources.
This is why, when political issues become compounded and
become a threat to the overall world system or to the goals and vested
interests of certain ruling elites, various methods are employed to either
dissipate the situation through economic control by way of economic hitmen* or social
control through specialized experts in the field of influence and social
engineering.
Here, the governments and institutions under the yoke of the
world system, will either deliberately and proactively destabilize a region and
intentionally spark conflicts and push them into open revolts through bribery,
social manipulation, and inciting violent reactions so that an eventual
explosion can instead be directed and controlled in the fashion of a controlled
demolition as opposed to a violent and unpredictable explosion.
If the governments and institutions beholden to the world
system and the ruling elites fail to "soft control" a potential
threat to the system, more direct and violent means of damage control are set
into motion - this is where the economic hitmen and the social engineers are
set aside while a context for war or direct military intervention with either
be created, or will be woven into an existing conflict that will be amplified
through corporate controlled media and framed in such a way that will produce
public reaction and outcry and drum up support, or at least acceptance of,
direct military intervention.
What is the lesson here that is critical for the REAL
politicians of the world to see and understand? When people stand together and
unify, they become a force that must be reckoned with. But when this force
moves from a starting point of frustration or protest AGAINST the world system
and demands that changes be made in consideration of their suffering and will
NOT consider the actual context of the world system or how all of our institutions
and financial systems are interconnected - then every attempt must and WILL be
made by the system to ensure that such uprisings are quickly dealt with and
dissipated, or redirected in ways that mislead the mass movement to a direction
that will only confuse and further divide the people who will expel their
energies upon other systems or upon themselves.
Therefore any CHANGE within the system must be done NOT from
a starting point of separation or antagonism or blame. While the living
conditions of the majority of this world ARE deplorable and unacceptable, to
really change the situation that is here on earth requires that REAL
politicians see and understand how to direct and guide the people - the
majority - the rightful politicians of this world - so that their grievances
are not ignored or brushed aside as unreasonable demands. This also
requires that the REAL politicians have an intimate and fearless relationship
with the system as it currently exists - so that the necessary changes that
must be made can be implemented with an understanding of the consequences of
our interrelated and interdependent world systems.
The challenge here - to ALL Real politicians of this world -
is not to fight against the system, nor is it to submit to it and become it's
agent. It is to walk in both worlds and neither - so that we see what is best
for all in both dimensions, and to the best of our ability insist and see to it
that the people of this world and the systems that are here to support and
maintain our living are mutually supportive - that we be the bridge that
connects the people to the systems of the world, and once and for ALL end our
collective enslavement to abuse and conflicts and consequences that are born
from our separation and lack of intimate understanding of ourselves, each
other, our world, and the systems we create and depend upon.
*For further context on "Economic Hitmen" - Please check out "Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins
*For further context on "Economic Hitmen" - Please check out "Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins
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