Saturday, November 05, 2005

Is Revolution Dead?

Our household has recently subscribed to Time magazine. It is an insightful read into the fundamentals of a certain approach to society, culture and even history. I must admit I share little of the general 'small c' conservatism of the publication. A few weeks ago an article entitled Revolution in the Air Europe's old rebels had a good run, but the times they are a-changin' irritated me considerably with its smug "we told you so" tone. But then listening to the radio news this morning I wondered what exactly has been "a-changin" since 1968 and how:

"French police arrested 253 people overnight as gangs burned cars and buildings for the ninth consecutive night in Paris suburbs and rioting spread to cities including Strasbourg and Rennes. Almost 900 vehicles were set ablaze across the nation."

Summit of the Americas protest
Rioters clashed with police as an anti-US rally turned violent at the start of the Summit of the Americas in Argentina.

5.2 million unemployed in Germany (10.6%)and in France it is 30% for those under 25 years.

It occurred to me that we are still dealing with many of the same issues that could be gathered together under the title "Modernity": technologization of production (and its effect on Labor), a global economy, colonial appropriations, access to education and wealth, right of movement and assembly, and of course there is still war. This has been going on for a long time. The times have always been "a-changin" but events, relationships, struggles and representations go on and on.......

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