Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thoughts on 8/26 discussion
When I read these articles from Shorter and Robertson, I felt that there was a loose connection between the two. On page 368 of Robertson's article she writes "these students were, in actual fact, mainly middle class, seeking equality with their social betters under the rubric of equality for all men." In the Shorter article on pg 195 he writes that "apprehension about losing status and power gave the middle class the reactionary stamp we shall encounter in the essays." Both the students and the independent, land-owners saw and felt that the country was going in the wrong direction. However this is where the similarities really cease between the two articles unfortunately in my opinion. It seems to me that the students wanted to, in a somewhat radical way, change the way things were being done. They wanted to be called german students @ german universities instead of Bavarian students at a Prussian university. In many ways the students were leading the way in this "revolution" of sorts, with the Academic Legion and the demand to carry firearms during this time. They were initiating change and indeed causing some"mischief" as Duke Wellington put it. I just don't see that same intensity coming from the middle class. Yeah they're issuing petitions and answering essay contests, but what are they really doing? I think they're just complaining. Complaining about how there's "overpopulation," the poorer classes are wearing clothes like the middle class, the machines should be done away with, and the youth were immoral. Seems like a laundry list of complaints, albeit important issues to them at that time, but complaints none the less. This brings to mind an elderly couple sitting on some park bench talking to each other and complaining about "those darn kids with their iphones, internet, and X-boxes are so spoiled! It wasn't like this in the good ole days." I just think the middle class response was one of reaction, to turn back the clock, to reform the system passively with petitions and essays while the students responded in a more proactive, aggressive manner (i.e students on the barricades) in the streets, and at the rallies trying to get things accomplished.
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Milton,
ReplyDeleteThis entry is the perfect length and I think you raise some interesting points about the different goals of the students vs Shorter's 'middle class'.
I totally agree here. The article on the students certainly compose a group that was more on the forefront of radical changes. Shorter's middle-class essays could hardly be viewed as revolutionary actions. While he might make the claim that the content within the essays is revolutionary, it really appears to be, as Milton states, a series of complaints. I could write a letter to my state Senator about the changes I see occuring locally around me, but does that qualify me as some sort of revolutionary? I think not!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed what you had to say as far as describing different aspect of society from a narrowed perspective. I think your essay, while not directly assessing it, really brings to light the changing nature of the times. The middle class, while harboring those that spurn liberalism, in effect change, seem themselves to be hesitant to fully embrace that change. I believe this is a perfectly viable lesson to be applied today. In modern societies where there is rule by the people, it seems like a reoccuring pattern that those economically well off enough to not worry of subsistance will tend to have reactionary leanings.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points, but I you leave out the ability of the middle class to effect change. The students at this point in history are more open to change because they can adapt to change easier. The reason middle class are limited to basically a list of complaints is their livelihood is already sort of set in stone. The students are able to suggest more radical changes because they have less to lose.
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