Has ‘Walk-to-Work’ awoken our spirit of revolt?
By Charles Ochen Okwir
25th April 2011: When I started writing this series four weeks ago, the ‘Walk-to-Work’ protests had not yet began. By 11th April when I wrote my last article, [see: Only action awakens spirit of revolt against tyranny] things had changed significantly because that was the day when, by some strange coincidence, the spirit of revolt [read: ‘Walk-to-Work’] was awoken.
In that article, I had ended by arguing and or predicting that by the time the “prudent [but selfish] capitalist mathematicians” who are sitting on the fence right now as ordinary people rise up decide that the time to join the revolutionary action has come, it will be too late.
It would be too late, I argued, that whoever has even the slightest knowledge of history will know from the beginning that the theoretical propaganda for a revolution expresses itself in the form of audacious civil actions long before it is considered prudent to join the revolution led by the “insane mad men”.
Those who only asked what the “insane mad men” were up to will suddenly be compelled by their selfish opportunism to think about them; to discuss their “mad” ideas; and to take sides for or against. By simply embarking on simple actions which compel general attention, these “mad” ideas seep into people’s minds and win converts. In fact, a simple but audacious action may even have better effect in awakening the spirit of revolt than thousands of propaganda leaflets.
With the revolt taking shape, very soon it becomes apparent that the old order that previously seemed impregnable in the eyes of unarmed people is in fact not that impregnable. The tyrant’s army that appeared as imposing as the great African elephant will suddenly tremble and retreat from the onslaught of a handful of peasants armed with sticks and stones.
“…From then on, people will begin to see that the tyrannical monster is not as invincible as they had feared. After all, he has the same red blood as you have. He has the same fears as you have. He is as mindful about preserving his life as you are. You can plan his demise with the same care and determination that he uses to plan your demise. He cares about his children as much as you care about yours”.
It may be hard to believe now, but veteran revolutionaries have all argued that all it takes is one spectacular exposure of the tyrant’s weaknesses and perception will take over the task of generating the necessary courage to see the final assault through.
Revolutionary prowess, these men have argued, depends very much on the perception that the revolutionaries have of the tyrant. If they believe that a few energetic efforts will be sufficient to throw the tyrannical regime down, then they would want to be the ones to contribute to those energetic efforts; however risky they may be. It’s all about the hope in their hearts.
Let us all remember that if exasperation drives men into revolt, it is hope, the hope of victory, which ultimately makes revolutions successful. The tyrant will resist; of course! He will be savage in his repression. But one thing will have changed forever; and it is this:
“…If tyrannical persecution previously killed the energy of the oppressed, now, with only a few resounding successes, it will provoke more acts of revolt from the oppressed people. These acts will then spread like wild fire and eventually overwhelm the tyrant’s oppressive machinery”. That, revolutionaries argue, is a certainty that can never be questioned.
The ruling classes and the privileged men and women of today are of a selfish disposition. Some of them will only advocate resistance to a certain limit. Others will immediately opt for concessions. Others will declare themselves ready to renounce their privileges in order to appease the spirit of revolt with the hope of regaining their privileges in the new dispensation.
But it will all be too late. Too late because it was forced out of them! Worse still, it will awaken the revolutionary spirit of the oppressed people even more; more because they know that it came from the ruling class and privileged involuntarily.
Such small concessions will not satisfy them anymore because they will have seen the tyrant wavering; they will have seen inevitable victory in the horizon; so they will proudly lift their previously bowed heads and march ceaselessly with fierce patriotic zeal towards a better future for all. That, revolutionaries argue again, is a certainty that can never be questioned.
The tyrant, revolutionaries argue, is a politically insecure coward. His insecurity and cowardice force him to repress and crush any form of political dissent. It forces him to condone the corrupt just to keep them on board. It forces him to destroy state institutions that are supposed to check his excesses. It forces him to create a vast system of political patronage. It forces him to create brutal security agencies headed by his sycophants. It forces him to deliberately impoverish the majority as means of frustrating their capacity to organise against him.
The question I ask is: Does any of this sound familiar in today’s Uganda? Isn’t Uganda ready for a new revolution? Just asking; over to you! END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
