Thanks to Tankman
The seed of the
present mushrooming of successful civilian revolutions
March 25, 2005
iranian.com
Even freedom seekers and optimists across the globe would be surprised
with the pace of contemporary happenings: freeing Afghanistan from
clutches of a bastardized
version of the "Green Revolution" and Iraq from a "blood-infested version
of secular tyranny" are surprisingly reassuring symbols for enslaved masses.
The "domino effect" of the regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq
has led to a number of popular uprisings around the world, mostly recognisable
by the colourful names that are given to them.
Simmerings and the undercurrents for free elections are rampant
in the Middle East and the Arab world, who knows why not the Iranian
anti-clergy revolution in offing may have colorful name of saffron
revolution, although in India that named was hijacked by the Hindu
extremists to impose their brand of radicalism, but there should
no reason for saffron not to be expressed as color for freedom
instead of tyranny. Libyans denied by their leader the oil wealth
of their nations should look for Black Gold Revolution.
Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" of 2004-2005 was a series
of protests and political events that took place throughout the
country in response to allegations of massive corruption, voter
intimidation and direct electoral fraud during Ukraine's Presidential
Run-off Election of November 21, 2004, as reported by numerous
domestic and foreign observers. Orange was adopted by the protesters
as the official color of the movement because it was the predominant
color in opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko's election campaign
during his run for president. The symbol of solidarity with Yushchenko's
movement in Ukraine is an orange ribbon or a flag bearing his "Tak!
(Yes!) Yushchenko!" slogan.
In the demonstrations in Kiev, the flag of Georgia had been among
those on display in the city's Independence Square, while Yushchenko
himself held up a rose in a seeming reference to the Rose Revolution.
The Rose Revolution refers to a peaceful 2003 revolution in the
country of Georgia that displaced President Eduard Shevardnadze.
Sometimes called the Chestnut Revolution due to the abundance of
chestnut trees in Kiev -- the capital city of Ukraine and
center of the revolution where a large 24-hour tent city was set
up by Yushchenko supporters -- the action was highlighted
by a series of nationwide protests, sit-ins, and planned general
strikes, organized by supporters of opposition candidate Yushchenko
following the disputed results of the November 21 run-off election.
The Cedar Revolution is the most commonly used name for the chain
of demonstrations in Lebanon (mainly Beirut) triggered by the assassination
of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. It is also known as Lebanon's "Rabiee
el Irz" (Cedar Spring), in reference to the prevailing season
when protests first broke out, and also in deference to other famous
freedom and independence movements like the Prague Spring.
The significance of the word "cedar" is in reference to a national
emblem, the Lebanese cedar, a tree featured on the flag of Lebanon.
The opposition has taken, as its symbol, the white and red scarf,
and the pro-Hariri blue ribbon.The movement's motto was either
Horryeh, Syedeh, Este'lel (Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence),
or Ha'i'a, Horryeh, Wehdeh watanieh (Truth, Freedom, National unity).
Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan: The Supreme Court annuls the
disputed 2005 parliamentary elections. President Askar Akayev
flees the country, as protests in Bishkek and other cities continue
to escalate. Parliament appoints Ishinbai Kadyrbekov as interim
president. It is fitting amongst all these fast paced revolutions
to remember the forerunners of these revolutions.
The seed of the
present mushrooming of successful civilian revolutions can be traced
to the will of thousands of students, who marched in the streets
of Budapest on 23 October 1956, and the fortitude of Tankman's
defiance on 5 June, 1989 [see here].
The two images one of Hungarian Revolution, also known as the Hungarian
Uprising
where
civilians shown climbing
over a disabled Soviet tank in Budapest and the
Tankman or The Unknown Rebel, a striking still and motion photography
of the small man standing alone before a column of
very large tanks reached international audiences practically
overnight
these are imprinted in the minds of every enslaved and free human
being. They are the pictures
and sounds of every present civilian
revolution.
Tankman is the nickname of the anonymous man who became internationally
famous when he was filmed and photographed standing before a line
of seventeen or more tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests
in 1989 in the People's Republic of China. The incident ironically
took place on the Chang An Da Dao, or "Great Avenue of Everlasting
Peace", just a minute away from the Gate of Heavenly Peace,
which leads into the Forbidden City, Beijing, on 5 June, 1989,
the day after the Chinese government began cracking down violently
on the protests. The man stood unwavering and alone in the middle
of the road as the tanks approached him. He appeared to be holding
two bags of some sort, one in each hand. As the tanks came to a
stop, he appeared to be trying to wave them away.
In response,
the front tank attempted to drive around the man, but the man repeatedly
stepped into the path of the tank. After about half an hour of
blocking the tanks, the man climbed up onto the top of the lead
tank and had a conversation with the driver. Reports of what were
said to the driver vary, including "Why are you here? My city
is in chaos because of you"; "Go back, turn around, and
stop killing my people"; "Go away". Finally, anxious
onlookers pulled the man down and absorbed him into the crowd and
the tanks continued on their way.
 The 1956, was a revolt in Hungary.
The revolt was suppressed by the Hungarian government and Warsaw
Pact troops. About 25-50,000 Hungarian insurgents and 7,000 Soviet
troops were killed, thousands more were wounded, and nearly a
quarter million left the country as refugees. On later attracting
a number
of workers and to her Hungarians; their numbers peaked at about
100,000. Hungarian soldiers on duty in the city supported the
protesters, tearing the Soviet stars off their hats and throwing
them into
the crowds.From the intensity and timings of these new revolutions
staged by civilians, one cannot overlook the fact that these
revolutions find their roots in the past resistances to tyranny,
but the question
arises why those great resistances failed, why are the circumstances
have all of sudden become ripe for peaceful revolutions to succeed.
Fight backs of civilians that failed then are now succeeding.
One can genuinely ask why?
These present day revolutions find their roots in philosophy
that direct and unilateral action is possible and justifiable and
that a super power should embrace the opportunities for democracy
and security offered by its position as sole remaining superpower.
Doctrine permitting pre-emptive strikes vis a vis doctrine of deterrence
has given strength to these embryonic revolutions, they are not
chance happenings but rather culminations of efforts as a result
of change in focus, a policy of actively promoting democracy and
freedom in all regions of the world. As Bush stated at West Point, "America
has no empire to extend or utopia to establish. We wish for others
only what we wish for ourselves -- safety from violence, the rewards
of liberty, and the hope for a better life."
The Bush Doctrine
has unleashed a pursuit for freedom in mind of enslaved man,
this is a new phenomenon, this is what we are witnessing being
unleashed
right in front of our eyes, these tormenters running away from
their seats have not become soft hearted over night, it is the
change of attitude of their security forces refusing to fire
on their own people and the establishment who are not ready to
support
crumbling regimes. No column of tanks come out to crush peaceful
civilians, the will of security forces, the potency of war tribunals,
the trial of war criminals of Serbian and the elections in unheard
of places have made revolutions of civilians very pertinent.
The greater revolution that has happened is in the minds of people,
the change of mind, the minds are not ready to accept slavery they
want freedom. Those not ready to coexist in perfect harmony with
the rest of the world are discarded and removed.
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