A thread
Core and Periphery

Just before starting first chapter of Orientalism, Edward Saeed puts a quote from Karl Marx, a political philosopher(my fav too) with perhaps the most influence on progressive movements in the Orient/Colonized world, but a native European nonetheless:

2. "They cannot represent themselves; they must be represented."
-Marx, 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte.
Although it may seem insignificant to most, this saying sends a very powerful message to the world that a most progressive European philosopher, despite honest attempts, may-

3....still be misguided with regards to subject of colonized peoples simply because they do not the share the same human experiences. The distance between the core and the periphery is so great that it seems almost impossible to bridge the gap. Yet in recent history, we see that

4....with the solidarity and support from the core populace, peripheral people have been strengthened in their struggle for fundamental rights. Though the world today has grown more complicated than ever, we also have the information and connectivity more strengthened than ever..

5. The condition is that the core/mainstream must be ready to hear the grievances of the peripheral, not for the formality of just listening(liberal platforms for free speech), but rather feeling their pain, ready to put themselves in the shoes of peripheral subject and feel it..

6. Likewise, the peripheral subjects must realize that their movement cannot be the top priority of the mainstream, reason again being the difference of experiences but their voice can only be included and amplified to a much larger domestic and int'l population. There's also....

7....the class problem within the organizers of these collectives in the mainstream, like more than two or three balls juggling in the hands of the organizers, who also themselves belong to different social strata. Hence, there's many differences of opinion among organizers and..

8...even more than one solidarity marches on the given days of expression. It was evident in Karachi(where I also happened to be), where Baloch women(Raajis) organized a separate march(with great numbers) yet joined the working women rally organized by Home-based women workers...

9...Federation and NTUF, two unions of industrial and domestic workers, who also happened to distance themselves from the original Aurat March, where(according to a friend) only a selection of industrial working women and Baloch women were represented(but given space nonetheless)

10. There's always a problem of organizational, personality, class, gender and ethnic biases/differences when it comes to forming collectives of people belonging to different segments of different societies(within same political framework but with a huge difference of experiences

11. Lastly, it is the task of the organizers from both the core and the peripheries to accept these facts and build upon them any organic solidarity that is affordable and sustainable for both. Difference of personality, opinions and policies should not mean outright bycotts.....

12. We need to try, if we even cannot bridge the great gap, to at least shorten the travel time and distances as much as possible if we are to achieve some success in the struggle for civil and human rights in this God forsaken piece of land. The journey is long and exhausting.