Where is the vaunted revolutionary vanguard?

I remember, decades ago, watching a 60 Minutes interview with Sinn Féin head Gerry Adams. I forget exactly the question he was asked. But his answer has stuck with me, even if it's in paraphrase. "Nobody wants Marxism until they're led to it." The "revolutionary vanguard" is a necessary thing in order to lead the lumpenproletariat to Utopia, because they don't know what's good for them. "We know better than you" is the refrain of every revolutionary, of the left and right.

Well, fast-forward to now. 

Since 7 October, 2023, university campuses across the United States have been rocked by protests against so-called "genocide" that the State of Israel was allegedly committing against Gaza, the de facto government of which had decided to attack Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, kidnapping hundreds, raping women and killing babies. Their antics helped set the climate for Donald Trump winning a narrow election in 2024. The thing we were told over and over again was that these "kids" were passionate, and couldn't turn their eyes against "atrocities."

For two years, they've made campus life unlivable. They've abused Jewish students, or anyone not joining in on their jihad. They've protested Democrats ad nauseam. They depressed the vote for Kamala Harris and the party. Well? Where are they now?

Where are the university occupations to protect migrants who are being rounded up off of street corners? Where are the protests at GOP offices? Where are the disruptions at Trump rallies?

Nowhere, of course. 

There are, obviously, many actions being taken against this regime's attempted ethnic cleansing—hey, you want a crime against humanity, try that. And I'm pleased to see that it's white people leading the charge. Their demographic broke this country, so their demographic has to fix it. I was having lunch with my best friend yesterday, both of us Latin, and neither of us is planning to do anything to get sent to CECOT. And Black folks? Pssshhh. They're minding their Black business. 2024 was one betrayal too many for a demographic which votes with an eye to what will make things better for everyone.

But where are the campus agitators? Where are the Dearborn residents? Where are the people with grief for a century-long conflict in the Middle East, but have nothing to say about the ethnic cleansing going on in their own backyard? When will we see Columbia once again occupied to demand an end to ICE and the pogrom.

Again, nowhere, of course. No Jews, no news. Because these people don't care about their neighbors. They don't care about this country. To them, this country is the font of all evil in the world, so anything which happens to its residents is payback for centuries of oppression. 

Except, obviously, for them. When they were arrested, when they were sanctioned by their schools, they screamed bloody murder. Getting in "good trouble" meant causing damage but suffering no consequences for their actions. "Civil disobedience" meant getting DoorDash to the campsite. 

But that's the privilege of a revolutionary vanguard. They are the leaders; it's the job of others to get their heads cracked and flood the jails. They're big-picture people. They can't be risked on the frontlines. 

However, now's their chance. Nach Trump, uns. Now's their chance to show that they deserve to be entrusted with power. 

I'm not holding my breath.