Protest Fatigue | Martha Ewence

I feel more than a little torn when it comes my “duty” as a young, liberal human being to protest for the good of all..or as more often happens, for the good of the elite group to which I belong. On the one hand is the direct democracy idea of eradicating subject culture.Living in a world where you don’t only vote in representatives, you spend considerable time and effort holding these representative to account by taking to streets. It is true that this method has been highly effective throughout history. In fact, it is largely owing to protest movements that we have Human Rights to such an extent and depth. France and Greece demonstrate that “people power” is a powerful tool in modern politics. However, *deep breath* what happens when you apply these methods to Ireland?Generally, a lackluster, ineffective rant about politicians being ‘dogs’ who are ruining the country. Then we move onto discussing the weather. It is easy to see that a country of complainers doesn’t necessarily amount to a country of protesters.In terms of student protest, it is easy for all of us fun-loving, secular lefties to get wrapped up in rhetoric. Most of us like to see a little of John Locke in ourselves and that is perfectly acceptable. The problem is we forget that we as third-level university students belong to one of the most privileged minority groups there is…and yes, we are still a minority.In the context of English students being denied the right to this education through colossal fee hikes and the Americans taking out loans to pay for theirs (and I’m not talking about the Ivy-Leaguers), yesterday’s protest seemed at best, lame. Of course the Students’ Union are there for a reason and these sort of events are a big part of the reason they exist in the first place but have there been any tangible results? No.Here I end my rant. I am not denying that if you are stripped of your grant it is serious or that the rises in fees are unfair. I simply ask students to stop and look around them before the inevitable complaining leads to tame public spectacles.