By Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
The first thesis is the impalpability of the egalitarian Revolution,* which makes it the unperceived Revolution. This is one of the most important points with which to delve into the topic of egalitarianism.
In truth, the egalitarian Revolution goes unperceived by most people simply because it is impalpable. It consists of minute daily transformations which are justified in their respective field with different and unrelated reasons so that no one perceives the unity or even existence of this Revolution. It is by no means a bomb, but rather a kind of soot given off by an asphyxiating gas.
An example: The decrease of respect due to professors in the classroom. Many students have given up the habit of standing when the professor enters; they remove their jackets during purely theoretical classes, something unjustifiable; they smoke in the classroom;** they see a professor as friendly only when he puts himself on the same level as the students. These attitudes are introduced so gradually that the great majority does not perceive that education is undergoing a radical modification, and even less the unity that exists in this movement. They have the impression that these transformations are insignificant. They take place so smoothly, so bit by bit, that they are as it were impalpable.
For “square” people, what matters is educational reform, which opens a window in a room that needs to be aired out and so on. But these facts become diluted because they are impalpable. Considering this whole egalitarian transformation which has been taking place from the 18th century to this day, one sees that the majority of the people failed to notice this transformation. This is precisely a manifestation of impalpability. Therefore, it is fundamental point for us to show many people that the Revolution exists and that it is impalpable.
* The word Revolution is used here in the sense given it by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in his book, Revolution and Counter-Revolution.
** In smoking, the author was referring to Brazilian classrooms.
