Playing at revolution/celebrity scarf-wearing

02Apr09

Martin in the Margins on the G20 protests in London:

[…] As for the make-up of the crowd, a large proportion of them seemed to be London University students out for an end-of-term carnival, plus a hard core of balaclava and keffiyeh-wearing activists playing at being revolutionaries for the day.[…]

And here is Russell Brand so attired.

If I’m reading right, this is Brand’s account*. He is quite articulate, to my surprise.

As I met the throng, the incongruous mass that occupied the Square Mile – making it, for once a Hip Mile, I breathed in the banners and chants and the sweet youthful purpose that prevailed from those present regardless of their age – the Sixties refugees all tie-dye and ganja seem younger somehow than the black-block adolescents in their secular hijabs of hoods and scarves.

I like that phrase “secular hijabs”. Certainly, he is right about this:

Capitalism has failed us. All of us, even people who’ve recently become well off, like me. The system has failed because it’s created disparity and discontent because it is devouring the planet. It is irresponsible and unaccountable and it will forever cyclically fail so we need to look at an alternative.

Another good phrase, this time from Brendan O’Neill**: “apocalypse porn”.

Soundtrack: Gary Clail.

*Ah, here is the original source.

**Yes, I know he is a wanker.

Filed under: Autonomous politics, psuedo-alternative culture, the anti-Zionism of idiots   |  7 Comments
Tags: Celebrities, G20, keffiyeh, Russell Brand