About #OccupyWestfield...

Even I know that politics and protests have a long-standing connection. Even I believe that you cannot call it ‘social equality’ if young people aren’t allowed to feel worthy of attention, if they are denied their right to be heard and to voice their objections and concerns without hesitation. But whether this entitles young people to always have the last word is what I doubt.

From when the proposed #OccupyWestfield protest was conceived on here, I had zero fears as regards the intentions, because within the "movement" I know young folks who even though they may not be as conservative in the way they do their thing, even I am wowed by their valor and liberty of mind. So to say they don’t have their hearts in the right place is just a chat.

However, emotions almost took over some hearts just after the denial of a permit to go ahead with the protest. Focus started shifting to the illegalness of the denial than the end in mind. I started seeing defiance-nudging comments, causing so much agitation, even after the fact that to me, the online campaign has already won the executive’s attention and interest.

At this stage therefore, some activists would’ve given the executive the benefit of the doubt as to whether they’ll keep their side of the bargain. In fact, if December is what they say, some would’ve given them till January, so that in the event there's failure, they'll have better base to justify a Plan B.

I have to be honest - by the looks of things and the trend of arguments, it's as if we just crave a protest and protest we will regardless. So, I ask: what if the National Security team's appeal to put a brake on the protest is really and truly for the safety of country? What if they cannot divulge details of the alleged threat for same security reasons? What facts have we that theirs is just aiding the creation of a culture of fear?

As a final point, I’m not rebuking anyone. It’ll be very inconsiderate of me to chastise the young for their tenacity in the face of risks, because I have been there. I'd equally be too idealistic to expect them to overstand my perception, calmness and composure, because they haven’t gotten the years in my age. But I get disappointed when I see elderly folks who rather than urging the youth to show moderation in what they do are goading them into confusion.