Various revolutions across the past 200 years have caused changes in social structure, political control, and the movement of our everyday lives. Today I tried to write about the french revolution. It is intriguing to look back upon the past and in their perspective of adjustment. The objective was to dismantle their surroundings to create a better future. However, it leads me to think about how we use these revolutions’ skills and freedom to benefit our surroundings in today’s society.
It is clear that with enforced violence, change is possible. In New Zealand, our cry for change looks like abuse, poverty, and discrimination. Our Maori and pacific rates have only increased in our risk of diabetes, incarceration, and suicide. So I’m thinking, why can we meet and parade at the Aotea center for black lives matter while our people continue to face theses generational discrimination. We accept this ‘normality’ of society. If we accept this as normal, then we agree with what isn’t being done around our communities. If you’re encouraging a crime, you’re just as guilty as the prosecutors. Maybe I have triggered you, or you aren’t affected by these things. But if a revolution started, I’m sure it would change everyone’s lives, just as much as covid19. It has come to my awareness that we shouldn’t have to live through this, so why not change it. In power, there is strength. With the strength to face the truth, we can confront these issues we have swept under the rug for a tedious amount of time and turn it into New Zealand history. We can practice our use of voice, beliefs, and rights.
We may use our voice in a committee or identifying change within ourselves. How many more numbers can we add to the suicide toll before we restructure our mental health services? Or put the demanding amount of homeless first before supplying our land to external owners? With strategies in place such as the peaceful pillars, we may not need to evoke change with acts of violence in this century to get results. But when we can identify what we stand for, change can start to take place. One of the main reasons history is important is because we can reflect and learn from the past. So, what message of change will you take from the accounts of history?
