Young Protesters Hit The Streets To Support Farmers
Manuel Malenchini isn’t your average street protester. He is soft-spoken and does not carry a big stick. He is fluent in English. He does not hide his face behind a scarf. Nor does he smell of alcohol or look threatening. He looks like a harmless teenager. And at just 16-year-old, that is exactly what he is. On Monday night, Malenchini, whose family has a farm in Corrientes Province, listened to President Cristina Kirchner give a nationally-televised speech about the country’s ongoing agriculture strike, and he decided that he did not like what he heard. This was not the first time this had happened. Malenchini, who seems particularly astute for a 16-year-old, had heard Kirchner give two speeches last week, both about the farm strike.
“We are tired of all that they (in the Kirchner government) are saying,” Malenchini said Monday night, while leading a protest in downtown Buenos Aires. “We are tired of all the lies they are saying. We are just tired. We want another thing (something else) for our country and that’s why we are here protesting.”
Malenchini is in some ways the face of Argentina’s farm strike. He is nonthreatening. Moreover, there seems to be something inherently reasonable about the way he and his cohorts express their views – peacefully, respectfully, nonviolently. In contrast to so many of Argentina’s protesters, the farmers’ approach is non confrontational, even inviting. While other protesters snarl and hurl smoke bombs, these protesters break out the ultimate weapon: the smile. Like most farmers, Malenchini is not used to protesting. But despite his age, he believes firmly in his cause. So he and his friends have taken to the streets to register their discontent with the government and its farm policies. To see Malenchini for yourself, check out this little video shot Monday night by The Argentine Post. For a higher resolution viewing, check out www.scoopingargentina.com. This video was shot with a Flip Ultra video camera.
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I think that it is very important for young people like Manuel Malenchini to get involved with politics, whatever their ideological perspective. I believe that the construction of a more fair, inclusive and egalitarian society depends on citizens’ commitment, participation and responsibility.
That said, I think it is unfair to
1) imply that all other protesters (those that don’t have a soft voice or speak English) “carry sticks”, “smell of alcohol” or “hide behind a scarf”.
2) compare Manuel’s case –who is protesting a tax increase- with people who are making claims to the state because they are “literally” hungry.
I am against violent methods and so are many of the hungry people who strike, protest, block roads peacefully in all of Latin America.
It is unfortunate to think that most protesters are violent.
Best.
‘I will stay here until it happens’ – good guy, all thumbs up!