Two weeks ago, I caught the second half of the rally against budget cuts to see the voice of opposition from De Anza. Now, before I continue, I would like those who participated in the rally to know that I applaud your enthusiasm and your passionate desire to take a stand against problems that are about to directly affect us. With that said, let me explain how I believe you completely wasted everyone’s time, including your own.

I understand that a rally is meant to draw awareness to a cause, but I couldn’t identify exactly what your cause was. According to most of the signs I saw, I would say there was slight confusion as to what the rally was attempting to address.

First of all, I think that you would find it very difficult to find people on campus who do not already agree with you that schools should not have their budgets cut this year. So, a large sign over the cafeteria that says “Fund Books, Not Bombs” is preaching to a choir who has nothing to do with the choice between war and school.

Secondly, money for war is taken from the defense budget on a federal level. Schools are funded at a state level. Though the wars are hemorrhaging money, can you be certain the funding would go to state school programs even if we were in peacetime?

Oversimplified and illogical signs aside, I held hope that the speakers on stage might be able to shed better light on the purpose of the rally by mentioning exactly what their goals were. To my disappointment, most speakers spouted the same pointless rhetoric written on the posters, with the exceptions of a few expletives sprinkled over the microphone. Breaking down to call-and-response exercises like “When I say budget cuts, you say f***’ em,” is not productive and makes you look like goons who believe volume is better than substance.

The rally only looked at the problem and not the solution. No one at the rally seemed to take into consideration the possibility that budget cuts might actually be necessary.

The dirty, dirty truth is that we are a nation not only facing two wars, but a deep recession. We are in the shadow of some of the toughest economic times seen since the Great Depression. Besides the national monetary issues, half of California burned down last year. Money is tight and across-the-board budget cuts might be the only way to prevent some public schools from closing down completely.

There were two aspects of the rally I did find effective and appropriate. The first was Professor Wendy White of the Black Student Union. Dr. White delivered a short and eloquent speech about the kind of society she would like to live in. I only wish that her sentiment could have been part of a better-planned event.

The second was the students who requested for others to join them at a larger rally in Sacramento. In my opinion, recruiting participants for this larger rally should have been the main focus of the event – it has a much higher chance of getting the attention of those in office and bringing about actual change.

The next time I see any of you cute little protesters out and about trying to eviscerate the bourgeoisie and lift up the proletariat, make sure that you at least have a clear game plan. This way, you are not just yelling into the void, expecting change to happen.

I have faith that next time you will have a cohesive mission, unambiguous posters and passion that is focused on an attainable objective. Next time, try organizing e-mail, phone and letter campaigns to all of our state representatives and senators. Next time, try to express yourself to the governor instead of fellow students. I have faith that students on campus will look back at the rally and see how we as a body of individuals can be an active element in change, instead of a springboard for mock activism. Go forth and take down the man!