Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 17:47:03 +1000 (EST)
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: M-I: How Revenge became REVANGE


Bill has sent me off list an account for how he avenged himself on the
right wing dirt that persecuted his dying father because Bill had played a
key part in highlight of the great 1981 protests in New Zealand against the
racist South African team.  I enjoyed this post a great deal and can only
say "Good on ya, Bill!"

Now part of the bargain was that I would  tell the list how 'revenge'
became 'REVANGE'.  This is not a story that involves me personally, but it
is a true one and it is set in the West of Belfast in the Whiterock Road
area, in a High School called St. Thomas'.  Long long ago I did my teaching
practice there.  It was a rough urban ghetto school.  Unemployment was as
high as 48% in the area. The pupils from the school later became the brave
soldiers of the IRA.  But back then, before they became warriors against
British Imperialism they contented themselves with making life hell for the
petit bourgeois teaching staff.

The Headmaster, whose son became a Ghandian and a leader in the notorious
peace movement in Ulster, was a brutal man.  When I was there I sued to see
him regularly flog the pupils with a hard leather strap.  A most common and
terrible form of corporal punishment.  So between the pupils and the staff
there was a constant state of undeclared war.  To be more accurate I should
say that it was a war which was declared as a 'discipline problem'.

Well one night some pupils broke into the school and thrashed the
Headmaster's office. They smashed everything and tore up everything.  They
pissed on the files and they shat on the floor.

When the devastation was discovered the following day the rumors flew
around the school.  I am reliably informed that the pupils spent most of
that day grinning at the teachers who fumed in impotent fury.

But the focal point of the students quiet joy and the teachers' especial
anger was the slogan that was painted up on the wall of the Headmaster's
office.  It was a simple one word message, employing capitals like our
friends from Buffalo were wont to do and it said:- 


                             REVANGE.

regards

Gary





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