Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 September 2006 07:06:03
In the corner of the map is a small placard, covered with a tea-stain and becoming increasingly indistinguishable on the map.
It used to be as bright as the other icons, but as the map grew older the placard in the corner became less important, as the map owner became more concerned with the self at the centre rather than the edges. The map owner became disillusioned with the placard which represented a tradition of protest as it seemed that this was no longer recognised as a legitimate symbol by the politicians who spent their time reading maps for a living. It seemed that the placard was so last century, although the biggest gatherings it represented had all occured during the 21st century.
It represented a tradition of ordinary people who would stand up and say no, we are not for this we are standing up to be counted as being in favour of: peace, justice, equality, investiment in culture, free higher education provision and a range of other admirable, if not some outdated concepts.
It represented more though. It represented countless conversations with members of a far left group, good at producing placards, and explaining that you wouldn't join them because elements of what they stood for were in conflict with your faith although there is much which you agree and are happy to work with them on. It represented fleeing from police as they penned ordinary protestors in and charged, thereby causing disorder. It represented hope there was another way. It is still there on the map though. Perhaps it still represents something.