Debbie Menon*
2 May 2010
Disappointing, but this shows the immense power that “the Organization” has to overturn popular demand against amazing majority numbers in the face of all reason and “democratic” principle.
And, it also illustrates the cupidity, weakness, and failures of moral principles of elected representatives worldwide to stand up for principle and the will of their constituency when confronted with, promises, offers, influence, coercion, intimidation and probably blackmail, as well as greed and ambition.
The Administration of the University may have the power to veto student propositions, but they certainly do not have a moral right to do so on propositions such as this one. If the voice of the students are not to be heard, they should shout louder and every one of them go on strike, and picket the entire University until it comes to a standstill.
Large amounts of grant money which supports the University, most of which comes from AIPAC, ADL and American-Jewish controlled foundations in America, is important, but students and American student satisfaction are ESSENTIAL to its survival!
Every student at UCB has the option of transferring to UCLA, UCSD or any UC elsewhere.
Berkeley has always been the leader among US Campuses in leading revolutionary and reactionary social and cultural movements. Without the voice of its students it would become just another California cow college.
I am sure that this vote cost someone a lot of money, power and promises, as well as a lot of arm-twisting!
Yes, there is a victory here of sorts; a victory in disclosing the face and the might of the enemy, and how he works. “Know thine enemy,” is a prerequisite to achieving victory over him. And as long as they have learned from this defeat, then they have profited in a small way.
At least, they now have the names of seven enemies who sit in the same room with them. There will be more elections in the future.
I have no doubt that the students at Berkeley will remember who voted for, and who voted against.
Read full report by Cecilie Surasky: http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m65620&hd=&size=1&l=e
*Debbie Menon is a freelance writer based in Dubai. She can be reached at: debbiemenon@gmail.com. For more go to her website : My Catbird Seat http://mycatbirdseat.com/
www.mycatbirdseat.com/2010/05/uc-berkley-vote-a-travesty-of-the-democratic-process/
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