http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkWeMvrNiOM
Apparently, the booing of Conservative politicians as they present medals to Paralympians has become a bit of a Thing. First George Osborne, then Teresa May (apparently, Boris Johnson got a big cheer, but then, he’s a Veblen Politician to which normal political rules do not apply).
I’ll say first off that it makes me a bit sad. It must be uncomfortable and odd for athletes receiving the medals. Not what they imagined when they set out on their Paralympic journey.
However, that does not mean that the jeers were wrong or should be condemned.
First, is there not a cynicism to the politicians presenting the medals in the first place? It feels like they are trying to piggy-back on the goodwill that the Olympics generated. If this is the case then they deserve whatever reception they get!
Second, I think it is an example of people using whatever means are at their disposal to dissent. I am reminded of a couple of things: Obama 2008 supporters misusing the features on the My Barack Obama website to protest his FISA policy. Or, the Jeff Goldblum speech from Jurassic Park: “Life Finds A Way”. In the absence of a good method to express disapproval of a Government, people will use what ever means are available, be that the arrangement of Teddy Bears, the licking of ice-cream, or the shouting of a common religious phrase from roof-tops. I am not saying that the British political system is comparable to the authoritarian regimes in Iran or Belarus, but even in an advanced social democracy people can still feel alienated and disenfranchised by the political system.
Finally, these boos cannot be dismissed as the co-ordinated actions of an already partisan group (as a slow clap at the Women’s Institute or the Police Federation or at the TUC might be described). These are a diverse group of citizens from every demographic in the country. The jeers are part of a real and widespread sentiment: that they happen to the extreme discomfort of both the politicians and the Paralympians is part of the message.
More thoughts on the Tahrir Square 'think-tank'
My earlier idea about publishing the thoughts of the protesters in Tahrir Square seemed to cause confusion. Sunny said:
@robertsharp59 so, er, we’re publishing blogposts by people within the square…after the event is over?
Well, that was not quite the intention. The blogposts I have read from people ‘on the ground’ in Cairo and elsewhere seem to focus on the movements of the security forces and pro-Mubarak counter-protests, or other ‘in-the-moment’ stories. The use of the word ‘think tank’ to describe the discussions taking place within the square caught my eye, because it implies discussions of policy and new political structures: More forward looking, and less reactive.
It may be that such discussions and ideas have already found their way online, but I’ve not seen many, and in any case they are scattered around the web. Such ideas that are coming out are filtered, either through journalists or by experts who are not part of the protests. These reports and analyses are valuable, of course, but I think primary accounts would have a certain value at this precise political moment. As The Bee said
@robertsharp59 @sunny_hundal Would be really good to get the view from the inside & not “retold” by someone else
(More thoughts in response to my idea on The Bee’s website, which awesomely is in English and German.)
On Facebook, Sophie Mayer was enthusiastic, and reminds me of the We Are Iran project.
I see something on the model of We Are Iran crossed with a conference proceedings… Would be an amazing record of a moment and an opportunity to organise ideas and information. Oh for a mimeograph!
Update
A couple of PEN members may be putting this together with their contacts in Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon and Libya! Get in touch via the comments if you would like to help.
Update 2
Egypt Protests in Photos
There are some good images on Flickr. Andrew Sullivan points to some amusing anti-Mubarak signs, and a striking gallery of photographs. It is clear that the protestors have learnt the power of the image.