Stand up and speak out!
Youth Voice: Surely now is the time to care about war and injustice?
In the 1960’s the American Government was fighting two wars. The first was in Vietnam against the forces of Communism and the second was on their college campuses, in their streets and in the minds of their citizens, particularly the young. They were a generation that stood up and rejected the status quo, rejected an unjust and terrible war being fought in their name.
Through marches and demonstrations, through music and art, through civil disobedience, they made their voice heard. Although not on the same scale, protests also took place across Europe. The protesters may not have ended the war but they certainly changed the world.
Can the same be said of Irish youth today? There were protests against the war in Iraq, but parents were more likely to attend than their children. Select groups, like Socialist or Labour Youth are involved in active anti-war campaigns (Socialist Youth recently organized a protest against the conflict in Lebanon) but do they reflect the majority of the youth population? Plenty of teenagers will readily declare that they ‘hate Bush’ but have no reasons why and don’t do anything to try to change the situation.
One can’t help but wonder at the seeming apathy of the young people of Ireland. The argument is often made that the war is far away, that it doesn’t affect us. Unlike the Vietnam War it is not being fought in our name.
However this is a time when terrorists target not only America but the West as a whole. When our neutrality, which should be all encompassing, is being compromised by the Irish government allowing US planes to refuel at Shannon. When the cost of wars fought over oil is that we pay more for petrol. When we know that the West isn’t the beacon of freedom it claims to be and that it can be held responsible for injustice, needless death and denial of rights. When there is a real possibility of Irish troops bring deployed to Lebanon as part of an UN peacekeeping force. Surely the conflicts in this world are as close to home as they ever are going to be?
Steve Biko, an anti-apartheid activist said, “If you want to say something radical you should dress conservative”. Maybe Irish young people have it the wrong way round? They dress radical, they’ talk about hating Bush, and they get drunk or high as a way of giving the finger to ‘The Man’. But will they walk the walk?
Surely now is the time for the young people of Ireland to stand up and recognize what is going on in the world, to acknowledge that just because bombs aren’t falling outside your door, it doesn’t mean you aren’t involved, to see the injustices of the world for what they are. Surely we should fight for neutrality, which is an integral part of Irish society. Surely we should try to change what is wrong in the West so that other parts of the world don’t have reason to hate us.
In 1962, at the age of 21, Bob Dylan wrote the words “How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died.” Forget about Him, forget about the people in power or the people fighting the wars. Today’s question is when will WE know that too many people have died?
By: Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin
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