The writer is partially right about intellectual need\potential and the gap between ideas and diffusion on the ground. However, I trust that she is well aware of the polity\social \intellectual dynamics in Sudan. Innovative revolutionary ideology/thinking is not that handy in Africa due to sociopolitical structure i.e. cult/tribe system. In addition, authoritative regimes ultimate aim is crushing such thinking through education, media, and officialdom polices. Innovative thinking occurs over time and it is a process. if we were that advanced why are we under such reign for so long? Realistic expectation is key. Whatever is brewing now, despite its poor intellectual quality according to Muzin, is building the muscles for more educated nonviolent thinking, and is earning the trust of the public to invest in such efforts. Major virtues of youth movements is cracking walls of apathy, and questioning the validity of old-fashioned political parties. One more thing we should not overlook is that youth movements offered an alternative to resorting to arms. Many of those who lost faith in political parties during the fist decade of the NCP regain took up arms. Youth movements offered a nonviolent stage for middle-class (intellectual aspect of the class). Any collective work should be evaluated at each stage with taking into consideration all the factors and catalysts. Critique is indeed needed and should encourage discussion on how to develop what is assumed to be lacking. Should criteria of membership be exclusive to elites? How would we hitch the gap then between the non-elite and the “thinker”? What is the rule of youth movements anyway? Mobilizing by building upon the hatred of NCP or educating? If it is educating the mass, what are priorities and what are the venues for this given the confined sphere of freedom in Sudan? Is online activism adequate to address the education demand? If not, what are the alternatives. I truly wished the article addressed the aforementioned questions with equal attention to the lacking on the part of youth movements. Quibbling arguments should be first and foremost constructive, accurate, and fair otherwise we might miss on having a healthy dialogue that benefits all parties to the discussion. We don’t walk before we crawl.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 17:09:03 +0000
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