Young activists, rise up.....

[marmar]

Published on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 by the International Herald Tribune
Meanwhile: Where Have All the Protesters Gone?
by Sam Graham-Felsen

The greatest disappointment of my generation has been its failure to truly stand up to the Bush administration - and particularly, its refusal to actively oppose the war in Iraq.

We are the youth who are living through what will perhaps be remembered as the most scandal- plagued, secretive, privacy-invading, rights-infringing, incompetent administration in American history - and we have barely made a peep.

How is it possible, that during a time of unprecedented promise for youth mobilization that this generation has remained so silent, so acquiescent?

Many point to the lack of personal threat; there is, as of now, no draft to frighten us into action. Others suggest that the pressures of an unstable and uncertain economy have caused my generation to look inwards, focusing on creating a solid economic future for themselves rather than dilly-dally with Utopian visions.

All of these explanations have merit, but I want to offer an alternative hypothesis. The reason that youth aren't protesting about anything, let alone the war in Iraq, is because there is no longer a serious youth political culture in this country. And the reason for that is because this generation does not believe in its ability to alter, or even slightly disrupt, the status quo.

The entire article is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0531-25.htm

[liberal N proud]

1. I would have to agree that "lack of personal threat" is a factor

Only it is a perceived lack of threat, these young people do not realize that the bu$h regime is costing them their future.
They don't feel threatened in the here and now, there is no draft, and many of them don't feel the pinch of taxes and other bills their parents have YET!

[marmar]

2. Agreed...

It's the future of my generation (X) and those younger than us that's been sold into slavery. We've been damaged by this administration more than anyone.

[Johonny]

3. I think the youth are active

I think there is a perceived lack of youth activism due to a lack of late 1960's early 1970s campus unrest. Yet I think it's clear today's college campus and youth life are extremely different thanks to the Internet. There's a reason Colbert's speech that failed to get any media play on TV was downloading like hotcakes on the Internet. There’s a reason the Dixie Chicks are suddenly very hot too.

[grassfed]

4. UCLA witch hunt

If this doesn't awaken students, what will?

http://www.uclaprofs.com/studentshelp.html

"If you can help UCLAProfs.com collect information about abusive, one-sided, or off-topic classroom behavior, we’ll pay you for your work.

"Do you have a professor who just can’t stop talking about President Bush, about Howard Dean, about the war in Iraq, about MoveOn.org, about the Republican Party, about the Democratic Party, or any other ideological issue that has nothing to do with the class subject matter?  It doesn't matter whether this is a past class, or your ongoing class this winter quarter."

"UCLAProfs is ready to offer you free advice in reporting, documenting, and publicizing abusive professor behavior in past or current classes."

* Full, detailed lecture notes, all professor-distributed materials, and full tape recordings of every class session, for one class: $100
* Full, detailed lecture notes and all professor-distributed materials, for one class: $50
* Advisory and all professor-distributed materials: $10

http://www.capitolweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=434

UCLA Bruin Alumni Association Targets 'Radical' Faculty
By Malcolm Maclachlan

An organization calling itself the "Bruin Alumni Association" that has no official affiliation with the University of California has published an online list of UCLA professors it deems "radical." The Association also posted an online offer to pay students for evidence proving that instructors have been espousing left-wing views in class. This offer to pay students violates University of California rules, UCLA officials said.

The Association lists an advisory board of UCLA alumni that includes Senator and current Congressional candidate Bill Morrow, R-San Diego, former Congressman Jim Rogan, and former California Republican Party head Shawn Steel. The group's founder is Andrew Jones, a 2003 UCLA graduate who has worked as a research assistant to David Horowitz, the right-wing commentator closely identified with criticizing universities for being too liberal.

The Web site, www.uclaprofs.com, lists 31 current and former professors in disciplines such as African-American studies, Chicano studies, education, history and political science. These names are linked to detailed profiles of professors and their activities. There is also a ratings system in which faculty are rated from one to five "black power" fists to indicate how radical they are.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20021125/mcneil
"Based in Philadelphia and headed by anti-Arab propagandist Daniel Pipes, Campus Watch unleashed an Internet firestorm in late September, when it posted "dossiers" on eight scholars who have had the audacity to criticize US foreign policy and the Israeli occupation."