'Manifestation'

Is the French word for 'protest'. Tomorrow morning, starting at 10h30, there will be a nationwide protest against an educational reform being imposed by the Sarkozy administration. As a student from UCSC, never before have I seen so much unity and honest communication between professors and students in regards to current events; courses were 'banalized' this past week, meaning many courses were canceled to open rooms up for informational gatherings in which professors answered student questions about what the reform meant for them.

I went to a section on Tuesday only to stumble upon one such meeting, and I sat down and listened to the kinds of things being discussed. What I took away from the meeting is that neither professors or students stand to benefit from this reform, which is enough to incite my standing against it. When a government takes action against the best interest of the educated masses, it is the people's obligation to unite and take a stand.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I am this country's guest, not citizen. I have no right to stand up against what I think is wrong with the governing of the country, though I am certainly entitled to an opinion. I intend to attend the protest tomorrow with the perspective of an outsider: neither entitled to participate nor free from the threat of repercussions, I will play the role of he who watches from afar. Though I feel rather cowardly admitting this decision, I have no doubt in my mind that this is not the time for me to act. The time for action will ripen, and when the fruit is ripe for the picking that I will be prompt in plucking.

We'll be in touch.

Benjamin