To Emily Honig and Mark Anderson et al.
by R. M. Oxman
Dedicated to Iris Chang and Manuel Zelaya

Yes, the recent protest at UCSC was a success of sorts. Thanks. Congratulations. [Pause.] Now let’s get with what else has to be done. What can’t be undermined, can’t be spun, can’t be rolled back. Immediately. [Pause.] Please. In the name of meaningful, unprecedented solidarity. In the name of obligation which goes way beyond addressing the injustices which were the focus of the recent UCSC protests.

In spite of my seemingly eternal waiting for responses from interested UCLA parties concerning… the same. And my previous (unconscionable, inexplicable) treatment* at the hands of UCSC students notwithstanding.

*Not to get sidetracked here, but I believe it’s crucial to underscore how success is contingent upon the students — at the very least — enthusiastically welcoming dialogue from various elements within the Santa Cruz community and beyond.

Permit me to cut to the chase. [Pause.] Very few of the concerned citizens who I contact seem to get the fact that the students will not achieve what they want without linking their immediate concerns to… larger issues. In a meaningful way. In a different way than they’re doing in trying to force change at present. Or… in addition to what models they’ve embraced thus far.

I am not attached to TOSCA (http://oxtogrind.org/archive/364), but it is one example of what I’m talking about. And I’m looking forward to talking about — for want of a better expression — the intended thrust of TOSCA with you, Emily and Mark.

Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti, Jennifer Loewenstein, Bill Blum, Marie Trigona, Gustavo Esteva, Henry Giroux, Afshin Rattansi, Devinder Sharma and others (http://oxtogrind.org/archive/336) didn’t give their imprimaturs to TOSCA lightly. But, again, I’M NOT ATTACHED TO TOSCA. That said, I am all about following a new paradigm for change.

Blessings in solidarity,
Ricardo
P.S. Getting much deserved coverage on Democracy Now! (http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/20/students) is great, but UCSC protesters, and all activists, need to rise above documentation and the planting of seeds which are unlikely to bloom. Obviously. Tweaked (mainstream) takes of turmoil are permitted by the powers that be, as you know, and alternative outlets provide this and that that’s valuable, BUT… there’s no substitute for taking over the reins. And, as things stand, that’s not in the works. I believe we can change that together.