Socialist Party Crashers

By Merrill Liu

If I staged a protest against the import of gummy bears and said students will be there I bet someone will try to give me a socialist paper. That’s the impression I got after the recent student protest and snooping around Socialist newspaper sites. For those out of the loop, there was a Drop Fees rally during this school year and there were some socialists that I wouldn’t be afraid to call free loaders there. What’s my beef with them?

Actually this complaint is by all means no fault of Comrade Marx and gang. What annoys me is why can’t these people get their own protests? It’s one thing to hand out papers, but honestly to put your own sign on the lawn? These people are piggy backing on the already broken backs of poor students to further their own political goals. Then again, the left-wings weren’t the only ones. I saw a girl knock over a Drop Fees sign while putting up a sign in support of illegal immigrants. That’s right, you heard me, them illegals are out to get our signs! There was also a bunch of guys who look like they haven’t been to college for 20 years (if they ever went) not supporting students, but steel workers and car manufacturers. And also out of place, was the Local 75, which is code for hospitality workers (dormitory staff maybe?). I really saw more of a plethora of different protests than really one about dropping school fees at Queens Park.

They have Freedom of Speech, which I don’t deny them, but there are reasons why I don’t open up the question of Tibetan independence at a friend’s birthday party. It just totally kills the reason why everyone went in the first place, and that would be glory hogging. According to a lot of Socialists presses I’ve stumbled upon, they want to incorporate the Student movement into their philosophy which doesn’t come as a big surprise. Smart move on their behalf, but as noble as I may or may not believe the cause of Marxism, the better treatment of the staff at Chestnut, or the acceptance of illegal immigrants is, it doesn’t change the fact picketing at someone else’s protest is just plain rude.