What is " Elitism " ?

Many people will be bemused by the actions of an Australian expat in London, who deliberately swam in the river Thames to disrupt the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.   He claimed that it was a demonstration against " Elitism" - and went on to say that " Elitism leads to tyranny ".

It seems that slapping tags on various things with which we disagree has become the art of the " professional demonstrator ".   It could be suggested that this character is something on an " elite "himself , because he is on the other side of the world - and studying of all things - " Contemporary Urbanism " at the London School of Economics.

Have we reached the stage when anyone not just leaving school and getting a job is classed as " Elite " if they have higher education in mind and go on to university ?     Are we now grading universities, to the extent that those in the lower scale of popularity are reserved for the " peasants " and only the " elite " will gain entrance to the hallowed halls of privilege ?

Certainly, universities with famous pedigrees set their entrance standards higher and students from privileged, high income homes have a better chance of qualifying because of money spent on tutors, but the sons and daughters of the less affluent still manage to gain entrance - by the sheer power of determination to succeed.

The twentieth century became a great leveller when it came to privilege.  Education became universal and with education came opportunity.  The arrival of the twenty-first century is seeing schools spread to third world countries - and inevitably - universities will follow.

That does not mean that the world will do away with all forms of elitism.    It simply means that it takes a new form - and we see that happening before our eyes right now.    Anyone developing even a rudimentary skill in kicking a ball, playing some sort of musical instrument - or even singing a song can become one of the new elite - showered with fame and money, venerated by young and old fans - and treated as some sort of God.

Unfortunately, such is the nature of fame and fortune, these people are usually also badly behaved.  It is the new rich and famous that trash hotel rooms, indulge in offensive behaviour and take an excess of drugs and alcohol - and mostly earn far more than they are really worth.

Perhaps that guy in London needs to spend more time studying and less time demonstrating.    Then - just maybe - he might figure out what " contemporary urbanism " really means !