On Bread and Revolution

[suffragette]

While reading the live update page at the Telegraph, the following caught my eye:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8288167/Egypt-protests-live.html\
16:35 Second, Rob Crilly, normally our Pakistan Correspondent, explains why the price of food is so politically important in Egypt:

"Hundreds of thousands of poor Egyptians took to the streets in 1977 to protest against plans by the government to end subsidies on sales of flour, rice, and cooking oil, sparking what became known as the 'bread riots'.

"At least 800 people died in two days of violence, which ended only after the Army was deployed to the streets and the government backtracked on the plans.

"Similar riots erupted in 2008.

"The latest unrest in Egypt is blamed in part on rising wheat prices, which have squeezed poor Egyptian households. Forty per cent of Egypt's population survives on less than $2 a day."

More info through the link above or at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/8288934/Why-Egypts-government-is-stockpiling-food.html


A few years ago, I read "City of Darkness, City of Light" by Marge Piercy, a novel account (in both senses) of the French Revolution, in which she focuses on both well known or less or unknown people who participated. An aspect she pays much attention to is the participation of women and the strong role rising prices and lack of bread played as impetus:

http://www.amazon.com/City-Darkness-Light-Marge-Piercy/dp/0449912752/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books


From Publishers Weekly
Depicting the experiences of three brave women, Piercy (Gone to Soldiers) explores the human reality of the French Revolution, bringing to life the immense role women played in bringing down the monarchy. Claire Lacombe escapes the grinding poverty of her youth by becoming an actress in a traveling troupe. Beautiful and filled with the determination that can be forged by enduring hardship, she becomes an inspiring symbol as she dares to participate in pivotal events. Manon Philipon, a jeweler's daughter, idolizes Rousseau and the life of the mind. Marrying an austere government bureaucrat, she learns that she has an innate grasp of politics. Pauline Leon, the owner of a chocolate shop, is galvanized when she witnesses the executions of poor people rioting for bread. Their three stories are deftly braided with the lives of three men?the incorruptible Robespierre, the opportunistic Danton and Nicolas Caritat, an academician trying to walk the high wire between old and new. Men may be necessary to drive the plot, but women are its engine. It is women who take to the streets looking for "justice, bread and freedom," and who win concessions on issues like divorce and inheritance rights. Piercy skillfully juxtaposes the political debates, painfully slow reforms and bloody confrontations against the ironies and absurdities of everyday life. Since the novel offers multiple perspectives, events sometimes overlap and readers must pay close attention to the dates listed with chapter headings. This is a minor obstacle, however, in a novel that adds fresh, powerfully grounding perspective to accepted historical fact. QPB featured alternate.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc

It's striking to me the similarity of the denial or restriction of basic needs, of persecution of those who demand needs and justice, of the arrogance of those who would deny and of reaching the stage of pouring into the streets.

Food for thought.

[damntexdem]

1. And don't forget the roses.

But meanwhile the 'leaders' continue to parrot "let them eat cake."

[suffragette]

4. Great point : "Bread and Roses"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Roses

Poem

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"
As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler -- ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

[jwirr]

6. Absolutely beautiful. Seal with nurturing on a daily basis tends to make

us activists. The poem reminds us it is not just the practical that is important but also the roses.

[pinboy3niner]

23. What a beautiful poem!

Credit should go to the author. From wiki:

The slogan "Bread and Roses" originated in a poem of that name by James Oppenheim, published in The American Magazine in December 1911....

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, suffragette.

[suffragette]

3. Thank you Uncle Joe

I appreciate your response and have been meaning to say for awhile now that I value your posts and contributions here.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The feeling is mutual.

Peace to you, suffragette.:hi:

[suffragette]

7. Peace to you as well

:hi:

[sabrina 1]

8. Glad I found this thread before it was too late to rec

I think it was reading A Tale of Two Cities as a child that made me so conscious of injustice. That story had a profound effect on me airc. I could not believe there could be so much cruelty in the world and was certain that we had left that all behind, lucky to be living in the present. But sadly, I know now that that was so naive.

Thank you for the link to the book. History is complex and we often don't get a true perspective of how things were which is why I love books like this.

[suffragette]

10. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Profound impact on me as well for the same reasons.

I can definitely recommend "City of Darkness, City of Light" as well as many of Piercy's other books, especially "He, She and It."

Here's a link you should read about it from Piercy:
http://www.margepiercy.com/sampling/city.htm

[suffragette]

9. "Bread! Freedom! Social justice!"

From Turborama's thread: Eyewitness Account Of The Egypt Protests: "We Have Come Together To Stop The Looting Of Our country"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x294997

Every balcony was full of people: women smiling, waving, dangling babies to the tune of the chants: "Bread! Freedom! Social justice!"

[sabrina 1]

11. Isn't it amazing? It is like being present at the French Revolution

They are all so united, men, women, Christians, Muslims, old, young ~ and they are so brave.

I hope they know that the world is with them ~ no more secrets. Governments who are afraid of the sunlight have things to hide.

I did read Turborama's OP. I hope dictarors around the world are shivering in their boots.

[suffragette]

18. Yes, I share your hope and hope also the people can throw

off the shackles they now have and avoid being clamped into new ones.

[jotsy]

12. Both threads rec'd, thanx for the link.

Water may be the new 'bread', if I know this crowd, they'll just double down on more of what ain't left of the rest.


A few years back, a segment in the documentary 'The Corporation' regarding Bechtel and an area in Bolivia
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86N20IOigKE&playnext=1&list=PL2B52A61988DD0711>

[suffragette]

15. Very timely comment

Thank. I have read a bit about this on DU, but hadn't seen that footage.
Very powerful.

Just poked around and found this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/world/middleeast/26nile.html

[sabrina 1]

19. I remember that ~ but since then Bolivia

seems to have thrown off its western supported leaders and elected their own democratic leaders. They are still in the very early stages and still dealing with the remnants of those forces who would sell their country to the highest bidders, but Latin America does seem to be throwing off the old cold war dictators and establishing independent, sovereign nations where the people choose who leads them rather than global corporations as in the past.

However I do agree that water will be the new oil if they have their way. They would bottle and sell air if they could! And if you couldn't afford it, too bad. There are far too many evil, greedy people in this world so people have to be ever vigilant once they establish their independence.

[suffragette]

20. "people have to be ever vigilant once they establish their independence."

That's the key right there.

Apt and well stated, sabrina.

[Starry Messenger]

13. k&r

[Hannah Bell]

14. bread riots (or rice riots or whatever) have played a role in overturning lots

of governments.

& people can manipulate that knowledge to their advantage as well.

[suffragette]

16. This is true

and I hope some don't use this to slide into power and become the new oppressors, leaving the people still oppressed.

From the novel above that's the "City of Darkness" side of the situation, as freedom shifts to oppression and the Reign of Terror.

I don't recall who said it, but I still remember vividly a quote from a woman who participated in the protests in Iran and noted that when they wore the chador to protest, they didn't realize they would become "glued" to their heads.

[Hannah Bell]

17. when they wore the chador to protest, they didn't realize they would become "glued" to their heads.

yep.

[sabrina 1]

21. This is why it is so important that the people of Egypt prevail.

If they do not, Mubarak will crack down brutally on them and when the focus is off the country, the U.S. for all the pretty words, will look that other way as they always have. I fear for those people should they not succeed in getting rid of Mubarak. But, he still has the support of the U.S. which is very sad and that could help him to prevail.

All those photos, just like Tiananmen square, will then become evidence against the protestors, just like China, and many could end up being tortured and jailed for the rest of their lives.

I really hope Obama understands what his support for Mubarak means to the lives of the protestors.

But I remember Tiananmen Square. The U.S. remained supportive of the brutal, criminal regime and Bush Sr. sent over two envoys to talk business with that government two days after the slaughter.

And yes, the French Revolution didn't end well. It all depends on who emerges as a leader ~

[suffragette]

22. I do hope they prevail

At a certain point when the hunger,pain and frustration reaches a boil, it's human to act on it and we see that taking place.

And for Egypt, it also looks like they have done this at a critical juncture, when a power transfer is looming and the Mubarak's son is being positioned to establish a dynasty.

I think it's important to look at examples of how this has turned out in other similar situations.

And Tiananmen holds lessons, as does France and Iran and the United States, as well.

I think you make a very good point about Tiananmen.

And I fear for the people of Egypt if Mubarak maintains power, for the same reasons you brought up.

And I do share Hannah's concern as well, that someone or some entities will subvert their revolution and they could find themselves oppressed anew.

So much depends on who emerges as a leader and what is established in the immediate aftermath.

And that part we can't predict.

This has happened now and Mubarak staying in power would be a step backward and, as you've pointed out, likely a brutal and deadly step.

I hope they find a way to move forward without him in charge and that there is leadership that assists with that and, if it doesn't, that people recognize that in time shift that and stay on track for a more just and equitable future.

For all that woman in Iran went through, I don't remember her expressing regret at having been a part of seeking that change or any desire to return to life under the Shah, only of the betrayal that she and others did not see until it was too late.

[sabrina 1]

24. Well said.

I hope they have learned from those other examples of how their sincere efforts could be subverted. Listening to some of them being interviewed, they do seem to be very concerned about not allowing any phony 'leaders' emerge to take over.

They say over and over again they want and intend to have, fair elections where the people will choose the candidates with no interference from anyone else.

Still, I am sure there are forces standing ready to subvert their efforts so they will have to be very vigilant.