The Evolution of Protest

Back in December last year, I wrote about how the protesters of world seemed thwarted by the very nature of open communications that they depended upon. Read it here. At that time I suggested that what what was needed was media consultants to ensure the message got to the protesting participants through the media, not the other way around, as was traditional in this space.

Well, I'm happy to say I was incorrect, or at least and more accurately, I haven't been proven correct yet, but the situation has changed. In a real-world 'nature will find a way' sense, the very definition of what constitutes protest has morphed. See the article from this week's New York Times on protest in Easter Europe. It postulates that provided we all agree a given act is considered a protest, then whatever innocuous thing we do, will in fact be a protest - a clap, a phone ring, baring one's breasts etc. The act of protest itself has evolved, and in a clever twist on darwinism, it can be whatever we all agree it is. The key is that we know it, and the authorities don't. It does place a whole new spin on the situation, and one that those wishing to "crack-down" on protests are finding hard to keep up with.

That's great. I mean it - that's really wonderful that faced with a difficult situation, those that care to express their opinions have found a new way to have their voice heard. It's how we change, grow, challenge and understand one another. Even if it's just your phone ringing - wink.