I thought what I’d do was, I’d pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes … or should I?

I honestly see most revolutions as cancerous mutations in our societal genome. Revolutions are extreme and sporadic outbursts of anarchic growth that voraciously consume people, space, media attention, and all things that generally support civic evolution. However, looking at how mutations are an integral part of biological evolution, I have come to appreciate revolutionaries’ roles in evolving the human condition.

Mutations can, in many cases, be beneficial to an organism. All living beings have an inherent capacity to make use of the ever increasing entropy of the universe to advance their form through natural selection. On the other hand, cancerous mutations that eventually kill the organism are very frequently caused by carcinogens — typically an external factor that shoves the natural process of change into overdrive. The change is so hideous that without early intervention the violent growth cannibalizes the organism. But I speak of the wrenched malignant ones. Often, sporadic growths are benign cysts, uninteresting moles or merely warts and pimples (insert meek fart noise here).

When I put myself in the boots of those who consider themselves immutable because of their riches and imagine that I don’t have a human soul, I realize how the Occupy College Green Park movement in Iowa City was a pimple or a wart at best. And the Occupy Wall Street movement has now become an oddly colored mole that might need further inspection. If the wart becomes more conspicuous I might use something like Freeze Away® (Iowa winter). If the benign mole becomes more active I might use something like cosmetic surgery (baton charge, water cannon, tear gas, rubber bullets, etc.). I know I can buy a solution to such irritations.

Alternatively, if I retain my perspective as a contemporary human being whose conscience is still awake, I see how these movements are undeniably triggered by long-term exposure to societal carcinogens. Carcinogens such as deep-seated denial, oppression of workers’ unions, media blackout, injustice, lack of quality education, price fixing, and political debauchery through cronyism and nepotism have brought our society to its current state. Our state is acutely similar to that of a chronic cancer patient with numerous organs failing along with a diminished immune system. Surgery, radiation, or chemo therapy would most probably kill the patient or leave her or him in a devastated condition without the power to perform basic human functions. The last days of such a patient might be better served in being able to walk up to people and educate them about cancer and carcinogens.

The analogous condition in our society is the government (therapist) choosing brutality, covert operations, and propaganda to blast every awakened conscience (infected cell). Of course, if the government does nothing, the movements just might become embroiled in senseless violence as the carcinogens produce truly ignorant fanatics. The movements would simply cannibalize themselves.

I believe it would be worthwhile for us to make a tactical retreat during the winter and regroup to make a concerted effort guided through moral sobriety. While most government workers strive to support our cause, there are enough opportunistic officials working to solely promote their personal gains. We cannot give them an excuse to use brutality and justify their bullying as they have in Oakland Park.

All this talk about cancer and agents that cause it was motivated by the actual airborne fungi, asbestos, lack of sprinkler systems, lack of accessibility, and other dire conditions I came across in various Iowa City buildings. We are being exposed to actual harm, and somehow, we are way beyond ignorant as we continue to visit those buildings to make merry.

The devil may cry,

With sheer hysterical joy.

Tears bowling down,

A red, pompous cheek.

Celebrating humanity’s fate,

Driven to an abyss, ever so bleak.

Sameer Khan is a University of Iowa graduate student.