A new cultural revolution? in OD

By William Forbes

16th February 2003. I’m sitting in the Students Union waiting, with the rest of my team, for the quiz to start. One of my friends came in, walked up to me and shook my hand, congratulating me on being one of 1 – 2 million people marching in London the previous day.

The response around the world to America’s and Britain’s posturing about Iraq has been amazing to see. Roughly a million people recently joined in a ‘virtual march’, bombarding the US government with phone calls and emails registering their opposition to war.

‘Not in my name.’ The amount of signs I saw in London with this message, or a variation thereof, was staggering. So. Not in my name. But in whose? If you listen to Bush and Blair then the answer is ‘In the name of the people of Iraq’.

But ‘smart’ bombs are not yet smart enough to differentiate between military and civilian. And when you consider that the Stun phase of the planned Operation Stun and Awe is to fire more missiles on Iraq in 48 hours than in the whole of the Gulf War, one has to wonder if the Awe part will be Iraqi’s in awe of their new found freedom or the devastation to their homes, schools, libraries, hospitals and workplaces. Not to mention the loss of life.

And would they then agree that the war was in their name?

So at the moment it looks like being in the names of George W. Bush and Anthony Blair. And all those who have swallowed the propaganda that the two, and certain parts of the media, have pumped out.

I think Feb. 15th was not just about the possible war. I also think it was a sign that the people are getting annoyed with the likes of Bush and Blair. The type of leader who says to the people, “I’m right, trust me. Do not question. Do not think for yourself. We have proof of what we are saying but, believe me, you don’t want to see it.”

But the people disagreed. In London, New York, Dublin, Rome, we disagreed. We want to see the proof. We refuse not to think. Our leaders were, supposedly, democratically elected. By the people. For the people. We want them to start acting like that was true.

Make no mistake about it. A cultural revolution is upon us. It may be late, but it will surpass anything seen before. The cycle of fear and consumption Marilyn Manson talked about in Bowling for Columbine will disappear. No longer will we blindly trust our leaders while obediently eating our Big Macs and wearing our Tommy Hilfigner and Nikes.

It’ll be more like the world talked about at the end of the Douglas Coupland book Girlfriend in a Coma. Where we will be looking for answers before the question has even been formed. Where we will think for ourselves instead of automatically trusting the media.

It may take time but I believe it will happen. I have to. If I don’t I give up all hope I have left in humanity.