I’m glad I’m busy ……….. really.

It’s when he’s not here that it becomes a problem although, this time, it’s been less since I’ve had less time.  It’s in the quiet moments that it hits.  A feeling of panic, of insecurity, of fear.  Not of anything in particular – just a feeling for no real reason.

Not about us, for certain.  About us, of that I am sure.  It’s the rest of the world that makes me fearful and unsure.  It will be better on Saturday evening, when he’s back.  Then, from the moment he is there, I shall be fine and all these fears and worries will slip away as if they have never even existed – which is also annoying because I really would like to try and explain but, when he’s with me, they seem as smoke, drifting in the wind and becoming nothing within seconds.

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I don’t condone violence and never have, especially since I was about 13.  However, the student protests are, if not condonable, at least understandable.

When I left school for further education it was a) free and b) I got a grant for my living expenses.  I came out of it all with an overdraft of about £1000.

Over the years, the support for those in higher education has fallen and most students over the last few years have faced the debt of a ‘student loan’, which they pay off for years afterwards.  Now, with tuition fees of £9000 per year (or maybe it’s per term?), it means that, forget about living expenses, just the cost of the education will be £27,000!

I can understand that they would be a bit angry.  I can understand why they would want to march against this.  And, to be honest, with a future where you need a degree to earn a pittance in McDonalds, with little hope of paying off the debt in anything other than a lifetime, I can understand why they feel that the only way they will be truly heard is to attack some building.  I can empathise with their aims since I am grateful that I never had this additional ‘worry’ when I was in higher education.

And, to be honest, with the exception of Ghandi, most change has come about as a result of violence, so it wouldn’t be the first time.  After all, The UK and the USA changed Iraq by violence and are trying to do the same with Afghanistan.  They shouldn’t hold double standards on this.

And, as I read this morning, had it been a peaceful march, it would have caused no debate and no one would have taken any real notice.  Now, people are talking about it – it is being discussed and criticised or lauded.  Now the debate will continue.

At the end, it may not result in anything (much like the French protests against the pension reforms) but I don’t think it will end there.  There is time yet.

Any government holds power only because of the consent of the majority of people it governs.  If, however, the majority of people don’t want it or want some change, then it seems that violence is the only thing that will actually ensure the change is made.

I predict we are in for some troubling times in the next few years.  I predict more violence and more unrest.  It’s a shame really.  The government of the time (in the UK) had the opportunity, a few years ago, to make some real change to an economic system that cannot continue in the way it is.  They chose (or were bullied or were too scared) to prop up the existing system and, so, this is the result.  It is times like this where there needs to be a bit of realism and someone who has charisma to explain to ‘the people’ what really needs to happen – to permit the change.  To make a bright new world.  To step off the edge of the cliff into the void with a parachute which has not been tried and tested is a scary thing.  But, sooner or later, this will have to be done.  Until then, I expect to see much more of this.