It’s almost impossible to ignore the sense of revolution spreading throughout parts of the world right now. The news has been full of stories of citizens rising up and venting anger that has long been building up.
Whether it’s in the Middle East in countries like Egypt or in our own country in states like Wisconsin, people are no longer standing by while they let their governments ignore their needs.
Personally, I could not be happier.
I would love to see the whole world engulfed in the fires of revolution and to see governments forced to listen to the will of the people. In most of these situations, it has been far too long, and I can only hope it continues to spread.
The fact that Egypt actually succeeded in ousting Hosni Mubarak, especially in such a short time, is amazing. Let’s hope other countries will be able to share in such measures of success.
Yet, even with their newfound freedom, countries like Egypt must be careful. History has shown countless times how some will take advantage of the post-revolutionary political turmoil for their own gains.
Just look at the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution if you need some proof.
The people of Russia had succeeded in taking down the authoritarian rule of Czar Nicholas II in February 1917, ending the centuries-long rule of the czars. Following this success, the country was ruled by a Provisional Government along with the nation’s network of Soviets.
While the Russian people may have been treated better than under czarist rule, it would only last until a few months later. The October Revolution resulted in the Provisional Government being overthrown, and the Bolsheviks claimed power under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin.
The country was plunged into a civil war, as well as down a political path for which it simply was not prepared.
It is this same sort of problem the people in the Middle East must be careful to avoid right now. While the current leaders may treat their citizens horribly (and undoubtedly should be taken out), those who follow could potentially cause the country even more harm.
As the saying goes, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.”
Of course, some in our country seem to have taken this to an extreme. For some pundits (like those on Fox News), the events in Egypt are either the work of the Muslim Brotherhood or will result in their climb to power soon.
An extreme example of this would be professional clown Glenn Beck’s theory that the protests were part of a larger scheme dreamed up by communists and Islamic fundamentalists.
Yet no matter how great a victory for the people the Egyptian revolution was, the fight is not nearly finished.
As I said with Southern Sudan’s independence, many trials in the coming months will test the will of the people.
Despite how pure the original reasons behind the revolution may have been, there are those who will follow Lenin’s example and try to twist it for their own power. If the rest of the region wants to follow the same path toward freedom Egypt is on, they’re going to need to see it will not simply backfire on them.
Revolutions are great things, and they truly allow the people of a country to let their will be known. As a country born through one, Americans cannot forget this.
Instead of worrying and fear-mongering like some have chosen to do, we as Americans must support the fight for freedom abroad. This, more than waging war with a country, will bring more democracy to the world.
 
Zachary Davis is a 20-year-old history junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.
 
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Contact Zachary Davis at [email protected]