Issues at Stake: Why not start with peace to avoid war?

THE violent scenes splashed across newspapers and on TV screens relating to the #feesmustfall campaign, remind one of the words attributed to Marie Antoinette, ‘Let them eat cake’.

These words were, it is claimed, in response to the poor, hungry masses asking for bread.

Instead of listening to and empathising with them, the queen uttered those now infamous words, which eventually led to the French Revolution and her subsequent decapitation. What is the link with #feesmustfall one may ask?

The facts are, just like the peasants who asked for bread, the university community – students and in some instances staff – are asking for the basics that will make life a little easier.

The call for no fees which started last year is not the only gripe the university community want attended to. Some of the issues relate to the national student financial aid scheme (NSFAS), proper residences, safety on campus, exclusion and low salaries.

Each burning university has its own unique set of problems. Each has to respond expeditiously to save a whole generation from being dubbed the ‘lost generation’.

The responses (and non-responses in some cases) of the minister, politicians and captains of universities to the crises at the door should be considerate.

The hardening of stances and hearts at a time like this will not solve the problems; instead it will push all of us over the precipice.

Unpatriotic
It is for this reason that calls for the closure of the universities for long spells, unfounded political conspiracies and baseless threats by individuals and groups are not only unwise, but also unpatriotic.

Those in positions of power must show proactive and creative leadership in these dark days. After all, whatever victory we score on these issues will ensure and secure the future of the next generation.

The class of ’76 knows the terrible price they had to pay to get us where we are today.

Those gains cannot be squandered by our narrow personal gains of today.

What we see on our campuses now is a consolidation of those gains, not the reverse.

It is in that spirit that we must all watch our utterances and actions, lest they echo Marie Antoinette’s ill-advised and repugnant statement.

Negotiating ourselves out of internecine situations is our trademark as a country.

The flippant utterances and statements reflected in the media that border on arrogance, are uncharacteristic of the people we have become.

History tends to repeat itself, and we do not want it to judge us harshly.

Those in positions of influence and power dare not drop the ball now.

We must always remember that it is mindless and barbaric to wage a bloody war knowing fully well that you’ll ask for peace later on.

Why not start with peace to avoid war?