[matilda] Re: Defining Matilda

[dougald hine]

I won't be there tomorrow night either - and could easily write
volumes on this stuff.

But there's basically one point I want to make:

> 3. The use of the term confrontation [2].
> 
>   Matilda was initially set up as a convergence centre
>   for those opposing the G8 in Sheffield -- do people
>   really think that we would have had more impact if we
>   had sent them letters compared with defying the bans
>   and protesting on the streets?

Why do things always have to be reduced to two options? I'm not
willing to be defined as FOR or AGAINST the present system - I am FOR
something else.

This may seem like wordplay or like avoiding issues that have to be
confronted. But the continual accusation made against us as a movement
is that we are negative and nihilistic. What I love about places like
Matilda is that no one who sees what's going on there can continue to
believe that sort of propaganda.

While I recognise that we have a fight on our hands, I think we (&,
more importantly, the world) only stand a chance if we can win more
and more people to our movement. This won't happen as a result of us
banging on about what's wrong with the way things are - the world's
full of people who are depressed about the way things are, but most of
them never get involved in anything political. People only become
activists when they get inspired about the way things could be.

There's so much in Matilda - and, indeed, in the drafts for statements
people have written - that is inspiring. My concern is that, by
focusing on an abstract set of principles which come across as
defining us by what we oppose, we don't do justice to the hope that we
have to offer.

I'm not convinced that I can persuade everyone who disagrees with me
that they're wrong. But I hope I can at least help people see why I
disagree with them. (Besides, don't we agree on so much more than we
disagree on?)

Whatever is decided tomorrow, I'll carry on being involved - whatever
phrasing people go for, I'm clear that the principles Matilda works by
have the potential to bring about real radical change.

Dougald

-- 
Dougald Hine
46 Alderson Road, Sheffield S2 4UD
(+44)(0)7810 650213

www.dougald.co.uk