It is plainly evident we are all facing a major C-change. The (collective) Arab Spring, Brazil, Malaysia, Turkey… just to cite a few of the many countries, have had their citizenry take to the streets over the last few years to activate change in their systems. Is this a collective consciousnesses or a viral fad we are living in the midst of?
These significant events on the world stage in recent history gives me pause to wonder if revolution is our latest addiction.
Granted we are walking up the first steps of a new century… a new millennium, in fact. If we look back at history many significant changes occurred during these periods. Many have been touted to define the zeitgeist of the century which now pits me into a guessing game as to what it is that is currently being defined.
Before I go any further let me simply state that I am and have always been a champion for the freedom of expression. Neither am I questioning the need nor the legitimacy of reasons behind these collective outbursts. It seems the rise globally in these demonstrations aided by the proliferation and easy access to social media has led to a frequency of these occurrences.
This causes me to ponder if this is a fad not unlike the many flash-mob routines we watch on YouTube or a new hip app for your smart phone.
Is the new zeitgeist absolutism… on all sides? Has the art (and courage) of negotiation and compromise been supplanted by a “my/our way or the highway” attitude? Has the grace of losing an election (or anything for that matter) totally disappeared?
These are questions that constantly float through my mind whenever one of these demonstrations have flared up of late. Obviously most folk understand the immediate risks when they commit to these demonstrations… including being tear gassed, beaten, arrested, killed especially in regions of more authoritarian rule. But I have to wonder if the same energy of thought has been given to the chaos that follows any revolution.
Because the success of any revolution is sudden change. As much as many give lip-service to the need for change it does come at a price… especially if it has come upon suddenly. Revolutions are almost always followed by a period of instability that can last for decades. There is no easy shift.
The word “democracy” has been a populist call over the last two centuries. This has also been the top most street cry at many of these demonstrations. Yet, as in the case of events in Egypt over the last week has illustrated, a “re-revolution” took place after democratic ideals were set in place soon after a similar overthrow only 2 years before. Granted it was a flimsy one within a country (and region) that had never experienced such a system before. Still… the change that occurred yesterday was not arrived at through the system by democratic means… but by mob rule.
Were they not aware that democracy is a messy process at best? In order for it to work reasonably takes oodles of patience, negotiation and compromise… and it’s ongoing. And even with that, no-one comes away completely happy because no-one gets 100 percent of what they want. It is a system whereby any change moves at the trickle pace of molasses.
Is the “instant mindset” that predominates current culture blind or is totally oblivious to that process?
What happened in Egypt poses a conundrum to the nations of the world… especially those that champion democratic ideals the loudest. The rub is younger democracies learn from older ones where (let’s face it) there has been a rise in absolute non-compromise and breakdowns in negotiation in recent times. So, in effect what happened in Egypt should not be a surprise since the current mantra from the more established democracies seems to be, “If I don’t like it (or him/her) I will throw all my energy into not making it work… and if the country comes to a standstill, so be it.” And that’s from legislators. Should we really be surprised that a re-revolution happened?
Lest we forget, the first recorded experiment in democratic ideals 2500 years ago only lasted about 200 years. We are at that mark with this present era. Are the events we are experiencing now similar to what led to it’s demise initially?
Those are my thoughts today. Have a safe 4th. May you never take for granted the freedoms you enjoy.