Rise Up, Ye Sons of Thunder

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Tunisia+tries+form+coalition+chaos+erupts+streets/4114695/story.html

So there's been an upraising in Tunisia. Funny thing is that shooting protesters didn't work this time. So the president of 23 years has fled the country, an acting president has been sworn in and seems to be trying to put together a coalition government. 


Now this is a very interesting happening. Apart from some luckless folks who were shot by government goons, this has been a mostly peaceful change. Efforts by the old president to keep a lid on this failed big time as information flowed via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. I think this is a sign as to what revolutions in the 21st century might be like.

All over the Middle East there are many countries with lots of young people hungry for change. We know it's certainly true in Iran and you know that just down the road in Egypt Hosni Mubarak is looking at this and feeling at least a bit worried.

I don't think this is some Shot Heard 'Round Arabia. But I do think that this is a sign that change is on it's way to the Middle East and a new way of doing things might work better than any of us had guessed.

Comments

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

It would be all fine and nice if this wasn't a stunt by the military to quell the calls for real change and ease the pressure and then restore their grip on power, just like they did in 1987.

The Tunisian opposition is weak, personalized, factionalized and compromised by years of collusion and submission to that same regime that they're protesting now.

But hope dies last, of course. There's still some minor chance that they'll do it 'right' this time. Although I have no reasons to expect that it actually will.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I will remain skeptical of this until there is actual change to come of it. Typically the only thing that changes in this kind of coup is that there is a new boss just like the old boss. There's a possibility that the military would be exploiting this, but to me that gives militaries there more credit than they deserve.

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Now, if we could just get Hezbollah out of the political process...*wistful sigh*

[torpidai.livejournal.com]

and Bobby Mugabwe into one? make your minds up people!

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

This isn't really a revolution though. A president resigned. And the government is still in power.

[torpidai.livejournal.com]

but how many will stick around when the finances and other documents are looked into?

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Um... fourteen?

[anadinboy.livejournal.com]

there seems to be a awful lot of weirdly beardly men and girls with their faces covered celebrating this on my tv

[torpidai.livejournal.com]

I think this is a sign as to what revolutions in the 21st century might be like.

bring it on.......

[reality-hammer.livejournal.com]

I'm hopeful but not optimistic. That part of the world seems more like a dysfunctional merry-go-round rather than a region undergoing real reform/change.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

These people might have their passionate differences and yet they're much more united than you could ever have dreamt to be.