SOCIAL CHANGE & THE SYSTEM
by Joe Volpe
It seems only appropriate that
in this day our consideration
should be that of social change.
For if one closely studies the problems of both past and contemporary
American society, it can be seen
that the existence of these problems are due chiefly to the resistance, by the society, of fundamental political and social change.
The examples for this hypothesis
are numerous. Today's racial problem stems mainly and simply from
archaic colonial attitudes of a
stratified society with no vertical
mobility. The unrest on our college campuses is due to outdated
ideas of institutionalized education. The so called "sexual revolution" is a protest of a basically
Puritan ethical code that has no
relevance for a highly industrialized society. The crime problem,
which seems to be of paramount
significance, can be traced back
to the historically punitive attitude towards criminals instead of
one of rehabilitation. The examples,
I think, are both substantial and,
most importantly, valid.
Historical Context
Of course, it would be foolish
to ignore the fact that social change
has actually taken place. However,
it is important to look at the historic context in which it has occurred. All too often social change
was only instigated through the
mode of violence. The American
revolution, the Civil War, the
formation of labor unions, and the
passing of legitimate civil rights
legislation are the examples that
are immediately brought to mind.
However, it should not be thought
that these stand alone. For if one
studies history, in a worldwide
perspective, he will find that it is
the rule rather than the exception
—Violence has ushered in social
change.
Certain vital questions must
now be asked. Why has the main
instigator of social change been
violence? Why has there been
resistance by the society or system
to needed reorganization? Why
have the power elite, the leaders,
ignored the cries, the wants, and
the wishes of the people they are
supposed to serve? And finally,
why has the status quo become
the symbol of evil today but yet
still be allowed to
changed?
These are the questions that
must be answered in a choice of
action. As the answers vary so do
their results, the methods.
Oligarchy, Not Democracy
Here, in the United States, we
hear much talk of alternatives,
that the instigation of change is
vested in the public through voting in elections, and through the
introduction of legislation in both
the House and the Senate. The
political system is our only legitimate path for effecting social
change. And yet it is just this
political system that is the most
vocal in resisting needed, and I
might add, wanted reforms. We
have seen our real alternatives
crushed in the Republican and
Democratic conventions. We have
seen the machine of ignorance and
bigotry perpetuate a system of injustices and crush all of those that
stand in its way. We have seen
the continuation of a system that
legitimatizes the exploitation of
poor blacks and whites. And we
have seen this system, in its essence, endure through two World
Wars and two conflicts. In the
final analysis we had and still have
no real alternatives. We are not
democracy but oligarchy.
It must be stressed, however,
that it is the fact of no legitimate
alternatives we face and not that
of no alternatives. Stokely Car-
michael's words indicate a clear
and vivid alternative.
Human Rights
"The only possible 'unequivocally good' about living in this
society at this time is the fact that
growing numbers of Americans,
black and white, are joining the
struggle for Human Rights.
America has always placed property rights above Human Rights
and today we see that major contradiction at its zenith. In order
for Human Rights to become more
important than property rights,
America's major social and political institutions must be destroyed.
Those of us who love Humanity
and those of us who have been
dehumanized—I am talking about
Black People—will help in any
way we can to restore Humanity."
"All revolution arises out of
necessity."
F. Engels
