What's the most revolutionary thing you've ever done?

[PinkyB]

So are you going to explain the whole Queen Beatrix thing, Louisiana, or just leave us guessing? Are you an exiled Dutchwoman?

[louisiana]

"On 30 April 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated."

We were running around town, spraying 'no housing, no crowning' in support of Dutch squatters on the Dutch embassy and airline office. Those were the days when students did mad stuff...

Black cab driver shopped us, and cops (Black Maria) caught up with us on Cambridge Circus. Detained overnight at Vine Street nick (cell walls disgusting with sh*t and blood) and up in front of the beak at now defunct Bow Street. Inspector objected to bail for the reason cited. Perhaps a bit of a classic in the annals of bail forms.

The four of us were sent of to three different jails until after the coronation. One of my co-conspirators was brother of MP Jeremy Corbyn. I think it was his sister who visited me, and had the copy of Spare Rib she tried to bring me confiscated by the prison authorities (though I understood there were no problems allowing porn mags into Brixton prison). For a while I shared a cell with two 14-yr-old runaways from a children's home. Fascinating insight into a women's prison.

[PinkyB]

That is indeed an impressive story. Pisses on my "got caught shoplifting in HMV" anecdote. I imagine they confiscated the copy of Spare Rib for your own protection, though. Isn't it the case that owning a copy is a sure sign that the reader's a militant lesbian who probably doesn't even shave her legs? You would have been passed around like a roll-up cigarette.

I'm afraid i still don't really get why you were objecting to Queen Beatrix being crowned. Was it just a general anti-monarchy protest you made at all royal-related events (in which case, fair play)? Or was there some specific Dutch issue I've missed?

And you should definitely frame the bail application. I would be very proud of something like that!

[louisiana]

There was a lot a squatting going on in Amsterdam with many major buildings occupied in the city centre. And lots of evictions with major artillery too. So it was really just a solidarity thing.

[PinkyB]

Ah, I see. Fair 'nuff, then.

Hang on, evictions with artillery?

[louisiana]

Tanks. Which is conceptually 'heavy artillery'. In my books at least.

[bigbadwolf]

Revolutionary in the sense that I pushed the engine 'through the gate' to maximum rev. Now I'm sure that a lot of you have had some emotional highs in your day such as holding your first child, proving 'her/him' wrong etc....Now so far in my existence I haven't experience the former and hopefully the glorious latter is only round the corner. Anyway, I have tackled the infamous Nurburgring on a MOTORBIKE no less and that was a seat of your pants ride make no mistake. I got up to some incredibly 'boistrous' speeds and when I hit the Flugplatz the bike shot into the air and I even dropped a knee on the carousel. Had a great time though and the butterflys were literally banging against the wall of my stomach. So if you ever find yourself in western Germany give it a go.

[EDOldie]

I was a member of the Schools Action Union in the early 70?s, which organised a (fairly) famous school strike by pupils, although some teachers came out too. It's aims were to resist the oppression of young people in schools, caning school uniforms, bullying, and democratise the running of education in the UK with pupils having an equal say to teachers, governors etc. The state felt very threatened believe it or not and a great deal of pressure was brought to bear, kids were expelled for taking part in the actual strike. It was a bit of a shadowy Marxist Leninist organisation and I left as I decided I was not a communist and not even particularly left wing. But it helped cause a stir and I'm still quite proud of it and agree with a lot of it aims. What an anarchist eh?

[????]

Now, did this revolution coincide with the beginning of our education systems' long decline?

[EDOldie]

Well, I actually think, had we been more successful, it might have led to a more open and better learning environment. The view (ours) was that schools had become too authoritarian and simply institutions to condition children rather than teach them. For instance caning, the practice of beating small children with a large stick usually by some sadistic adult although I think prefects could for a time at my school, was not actually banned until 1987. And then only by a majority of one vote in Parliament.

Sadly there are many who think hurting children is a good way to teach. Usually not teachers though.

ED (six of the best) Oldie

[????]

Not me - but I'm not convinced by "Lord of the Flies College" either...

[HonaloochieB]

I once went on a CND march. Got back and there was still a proliferation of nuclear arms. Talk about a waste of my time.

Placed my copy of John Lennon's 'Imagine' in the corner and kicked it. Went across the road and joined the British Legion.