Cyprus-Forum.com

[Talisker]

In past decades protests against government policies have often been initiated by students, sometimes with brutal retaliatory reactions from the police and military. Students have died during some of these protests, but major changes in policy have sometimes resulted.

Amongst the most famous of these was at Kent State University, Ohio in 1970 when four student activists were shot dead during protests against US policy relating to the Vietnam war.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ouCJ-hdMFyw

In November 1973 Athens polytechnic was the focus for student-led protests against the Greek military junta. Civilians were killed in the backlash to these protests, which were later considered to be the beginning of the end for the junta.

Student pro-democracy protests in Beijing between April and June, 1989 led to the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre.

I myself participated in student protest marches in around 1980 in the UK (altruistic I admit, and hardly of world-changing consequences – they were against grant cuts!).

Why are students and other young people not forcing governments to consider policy changes relating to issues such as the war in Iraq, poverty in Africa, and even the political stalemate in Cyprus? Where has the spirit of idealism, radicalism and activism gone in the youth of today?

[Zorba]

Maybe they don't think it's worth dying for ?

[Floda]

The prospect of an invasion of Iraq was protested by millions of people world-wide BEFORE the unlawful and cowardly assault upon the nation.

There have been many demonstrations since and there will probably be more.

The trick now (by the Yanks) is to convince people that they have achieved something in that devastated land and it would seem that (as usual) the gullible are accepting their claims.

Truth is, the Yanks are now 'Buying' their way out by placing those at the head of the original opposition in positions of power, thus creating 'Puppet Democracies' which will allow them to withdraw with some semblance of dignity

You can fool some of the people some.............Er, forgot the rest, I think I've developed a bit of the George Bush syndrome.

[purdey]

All talk but it has all happened never the less. I was one of the first into Kuwait after Iraq invaded, forgotten by most but we responded to counteract direct aggression, maybe we should have left the Kuwait people to Saddam and his deranged lunatics.

[Talisker]

The prospect of an invasion of Iraq was protested by millions of people world-wide BEFORE the unlawful and cowardly assault upon the nation.

There have been many demonstrations since and there will probably be more.

The trick now (by the Yanks) is to convince people that they have achieved something in that devastated land and it would seem that (as usual) the gullible are accepting their claims.

Truth is, the Yanks are now 'Buying' their way out by placing those at the head of the original opposition in positions of power, thus creating 'Puppet Democracies' which will allow them to withdraw with some semblance of dignity

You can fool some of the people some.............Er, forgot the rest, I think I've developed a bit of the George Bush syndrome.

Yes, I know there were demonstrations against the war in Iraq, but my point is that there seems to be little anger or energy for change in students and younger people. I work in a UK university, and my observations are that students are completely disengaged with politics and what is going on in the world outside their immediate daily lives. Or am I becoming an old fart?

[Talisker]

All talk but it has all happened never the less. I was one of the first into Kuwait after Iraq invaded, forgotten by most but we responded to counteract direct aggression, maybe we should have left the Kuwait people to Saddam and his deranged lunatics.

Wot's yer point in relation to this thread?

[Oracle]

Why are students and other young people not forcing governments to consider policy changes relating to issues such as the war in Iraq, poverty in Africa, and even the political stalemate in Cyprus? Where has the spirit of idealism, radicalism and activism gone in the youth of today?

Young people have protested against the "political stalemate" in Cyprus. Here are some of the results ....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vAQLe2l4IWw

[purdey]

No real point, just using the forum to voice my own opinion, relevant or not, is that not what happens on Cyprus Forum ?

[greek.god]

All talk but it has all happened never the less. I was one of the first into Kuwait after Iraq invaded, forgotten by most but we responded to counteract direct aggression, maybe we should have left the Kuwait people to Saddam and his deranged lunatics.

Purdey,

We both had boots on the ground at the same time...I was in Saudi and Batman.