by Deepa BOOKHUN

Some obscure platform spurred on by idle opposition parties decided a week ago, to hold a demonstration in the streets of Port-Louis. So, for maximum impact, they invited college students to come and protest so that government understands exactly how the decision to withdraw subsidies on exam fees made them angry.

And boy, did they demonstrate! Insults, violence, hostile jeering, you name it. Our dear younger generation, our hope and future of tomorrow came in great numbers and proudly stated that the only solution to the budgetary measure was? a revolution. Now, I know they are young and one shouldn?t really hold the stupid things they say against them and I won?t.

But those geniuses that organised this ill-advised demonstration should at least have properly briefed these over-excited kids if only to ensure that their presence actually helped the cause. But you see, there wasn?t any cause, not as far as those kids were concerned; it was merely an occasion for them to skip private tuition and have a ball in the name of ?their rights to free education?.

No, I won?t hold the nonsense that came out from the students? mouths against them. But I shall definitely blame them for their thuggish behaviour. But it?s not just them though, is it? Our youth is but a reflection of our society, the product of their upbringing. Adults set the example and man; there is not much to be proud of.

The behaviour of those students was so disgraceful that even the organisers realised at some point that they had played with fire. Those youngsters were so uncontrollable that the police had trouble keeping the peace (that?s not extraordinary I?ll admit.) Did they know that they weren?t allowed to demonstrate in front of Government House, in front of the prime minister?s office, without permission? Did they care? Did they know they have to respect people?s private properties and this includes people?s motor vehicles?

Do they know the meaning of the word respect? What about decorum? Institutions? Shouldn?t those illuminated people of the obscure platform have explained everything to them beforehand in terms of what they could do and couldn?t do?

Do those kids think that when there?s a problem of any kind, the only way to solve it, is through violence and useless hostile slogans chanted in the streets?

They clearly do. And whose fault is that?

They were ?invited? by those cowards of the platform, who couldn?t fight their battle alone but had to string in minors for more impact. They see on a daily basis how anyone who has any kind of grievance, led on by those irresponsible trade unionists, take to the streets and throw in the threat of hunger strikes for good measure.

Only a couple of days ago, we had a group of people, who, angered by the effects of Gamede, thought that the only way to have their problems solved was to threaten an MP and keep her hostage for two hours. Any wonder then that this mob mentality has spread to our youth? But what can you do? Nightingales are not born from owls.