The Movement for Social Justice Needs to Grow Up

And so it begins…  Tonight the movement or movements for social justice awoke from their slumber, signaling the end of the winter hibernation and the beginning of one more “summer of discontent”.

The old favourites from last year are back at the helm, Dafi, Shmulik and Co. are still the driving force, although in what direction, we wait to see.  With Bibi’s masterclass in how to avoid elections, the people of Israel will have to wait another eighteen months in order to display their malcontent at the ballot box, which leaves more than enough time for Bibi and his cohorts to bestow yet more carnage on our country and its people.

I gather that Meretz supporters openly displaying political banners were not welcome at tonight’s protest in Tel Aviv as the “movement” wishes to remain A-political.

And therein lies the problem…

For those seeking social justice and real change in Israeli society, the fact is that they are going to have to change the way in which the county is run.  There is no getting away form it.  Whether it is affordable housing, comprehensive health care, quality education, proper pensions, the segregation of oligarchs and the state, or peace with our neighbours. The only way any of these things will ever materialise is when the priorities of those who run our country match those of the protestors, ergo when like minded people with integrity are in power.

The movement for social justice has to grow up.  Slogans and hype can awaken even the most dormant citizens to the possibility that change is possible, but it is simply not enough.  As the protesters correctly state, here we are one year later and nothing has changed.  Some would argue that things are in fact worse now than they were just one year ago.

I’m sorry guys but this means that you are gong to have to get your hands dirty,  either that, or throw your weight behind those who are indeed prepared to do so.  One more summer of protest, tented or otherwise will be great for the news networks and provide a welcome distraction from the everyday hardships of life in this country for a minority of the population.  

However unless a way is found to harness the energy and conviction of those protests and direct it towards the creation of tangible change on the ground, i.e. the leadership of the country, well excuse me for saying so, but so f***ing what.  Lets face it, Woodstock was more fun, and Live Aid had Freddy Mercury.

Filling the street with ordinary and fore sure, some extraordinary; Israelis is indeed a huge achievement and I salute the leaders of last summer’s protests.   But for it to mean something and make a real difference, we have to worry less about filling the streets and more about filling the seats of the Knesset with those who will indeed do the will of the majority of Israelis, not contrive a parliamentary majority in order to thwart any attempt by that same  majority to effect real change.

Perhaps keeping the protests A-political was right, even critical for last  year.  It was the idea and the possibilities which mattered most.  But, and this is a big but… in this time of hardship and dire need, keeping it so is just too damn easy.

Difficult as it is, in order for this summer’s protests to deliver more than a few “social justice celebs”, then it is time for the brave, and perhaps the reluctant, but definitely the hard nosed and thick skinned; to step forward and develop a strategy and a team which can take the movement forward to where it actually delivers on its potential.

Those with prior experience need not apply.