[R-G] Horizons: Wide and Far

[Hunter Gray]

These are only a few very brief, sketchy thoughts.  I may write more of specific nature on this later -- after a good deal more reflection.  But my basic thrust will remain.

I think the tremendous influx of younger people into, especially, the current  Democratic campaigns in what's called the United States, points to a great deal of student activism at the college/university and high school levels in the fairly near future. I certainly think it will go far,far indeed beyond the current national election.  Initially at least, and perhaps for a good while, it'll focus mainly on relatively local  social justice issues -- campus, community. regional.  I would assume that this would lead to a vast number of  student groups and organizations reflecting this broad  and relatively local grassroots diversity.  And, in time, especially as burning national issues arise, these "rivulets" of activist nature will, in many cases flow together to become creeks and very possibly even rivers. 

Anything like this, again in my opinion, has to be student-initiated and student-led. Students might reach out and find a friendly faculty member or two -- sometimes younger people not overly concerned about tenure or contract renewal -- but these tend to be rare birds.  Invariably and naturally, students want their own thing.  And they much like autonomy.

And I also doubt that the fine points of  intricate ideology will hold much  enduring attraction for the great majority of students. [This has struck me as a fact no matter what general  "political" perspective students hold.]  On the other hand, it might not be too much to expect that some sort of broadly socialist ethos would emerge in some sectors, though not necessarily by that name.  Whatever -- but anything involving students is going to have to be genuinely democratic.  The old bureaucratic stuff will never find any significantly fertile soil in the student world.

There is always, of course, a place for well-motivated, non-paternalistic advice and encouragement and financial and moral support  But, again, student self-determination has to -- and will -- prevail.  [Yes indeed, the New Old Left won't go into the dust-bin -- but it'll want to move thoughtfully and think before it speaks.]

I'm  obviously quite optimistic as far as the student dimension is concerned.

But I do have to add that it's very difficult to see the "labor movement"  effectively connecting much at all with this growing student phenomenon -- at least in any foreseeable future.  Labor -- with the exception of some notable individuals and a small handful of Internationals, missed  virtually all of the old Civil Rights Movement. [Some of us made vigorous and repeated efforts to effect that connection, which would have been mutually beneficial.  I've written about this.  And I always have a paid-up union card.]

Just some thoughts on a snowy day in Eastern Idaho.  Maria and I were shoveling snow -- I wasn't doing too badly -- but two neighbors, incidentally very good Mormons, rushed over with shovel and snow-blower. One has a  young daughter whose systemic lupus is as bad as mine.  One heads the Obama movement in this county -- Bannock -- and, the Force [and Weather] Willing, our family will be able to make it to the local Idaho caucus tomorrow evening.

Again, just some sketchy thoughts -- not "gospel" by the remotest stretch.  But, for many decades, I have been very much involved with students -- all kinds --virtually all of whom I've liked, whatever their "politics" or lack of such. 

And they have always made me very happy to be alive.

Yours, Hunter [Hunter Bear] 


HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR]   Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
 and Ohkwari'
 
Check out our Hunterbear website Directory http://hunterbear.org/directory.htm
[The site is dedicated to our one-half Bobcat, Cloudy Gray:
http://hunterbear.org/cloudy_gray.htm
 
See Forces and Faces Along the Activist Trail:  http://hunterbear.org/forces_and_faces_along_the_trail.htm
And see also this companion piece, http://hunterbear.org/outlaw_trail1.htm