This First Nations proverb, borrowed from The Sacred Tree , is a simple yet extremely powerful idea. Truth in the post-modern sense is more about consensus than it is absolutes , however, that does not diminish the basic need we have as human beings to make sense of our world and grab on to what little solid ground exists. It is a brilliant flash of energy, released by the banging together of ideological 'rocks,' only to dissipate and disappear shortly after its creation.
Truth is ephemeral at best.
Every once in a while, however, a spark will fall on fertile ground prior to losing its brilliance. This is how student uprisings come into being. If the conditions are right, and there is enough fuel and oxygen present, a spark will lead to a flame, and a fire will get started. Think about religious revivals and student uprisings, WTO protests and environmental blockades. In the forest ecosystem, a fire is the most natural and healthy method by which nature maintains itself.