Regarding the last 30 years
And so we go ever forward sentenced to make the best of what we find. The years pass and with their passing we may sometimes forget what we have won and lost. Yet, I cannot help feeling ...
-- Is this going to take long?
No.
-- That's all right then. I thought you were going to go all soppy on me.
I was just looking back. Taking in the last 30 years of struggle and fight.
-- Don't let me interrupt you. Call me when you breast the '90s.
Aw. Don't be like that. They were important years. Years of hope, years of war, each year different from the year before. Thirty glorious years.
-- Since when?
Since 1968.
-- No. I mean: since when have they been glorious?
They've been all right. Been a lot of fun really.
-- But where's the score on the board?
It's there.
-- Where?
Well, the tangibles are there for anyone to see: in Green Left, in our party organisation, in the lessons learnt, the ideas kept alive ... we had none of those things back in '68. I -- we -- didn't know shit.
-- And now?
We know more.
-- Is that all?
We've put what we know to good use. Invested it.
-- And what have you got to show for it?
I don't know about anybody else, but at least I've got you.
-- Me? Really? You did all that ... for me?
Of course I did. I did it all for you. So that you could arrive on the scene and break the world asunder with your foot like a small dry dog turd.
-- You're having me on.
What? Someone like you? I wouldn't dare.
By Dave Riley
