Citizens Fight Back

Christopher Ulinfun, staff writer

There are many ways to resist forms of authority; ignoring our parents when they tell us not to paint our nails black, skipping a class to avoid a test, minor stuff. Still, sometimes acts of resistance go beyond petty disobedience. When people feel unsatisfied with current government affairs, they tend to speak out in forms of peaceful protests/boycotts; they want their voices heard civilly; if that doesn’t work, they try again, but bigger and bolder. In the worst scenarios, if that also doesn’t work, riots or, in this case, uprisings are organized. 

These patterns can be seen in the recent revolutions in Nepal and Madagascar. It is time to fully discuss the background behind these two revolutions and the possibility of a second revolution happening in America. 

More famously known as the “Gen Z Revolution”, the Nepal revolution can be traced to the country’s economic struggles; high youth unemployment created many challenges for many young Nepalis, challenges that were mixed with the increasing “Nepo kid” trend, showcasing luxurious lifestyles of politicians’ children that contrasted negatively with the average citizen. 

The country’s social media ban also played a leading role in this. Suspending 26 social media platforms for thousands of Gen Zers was a very controversial move; and instead of criticizing the country online, now the government had crowds of young adults criticizing said country at their front door. 

The final effect from these situations is an angry mob overthrowing their government, said mob carrying signs speaking against corruption and a few, surprisingly enough, carrying the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger from the manga/anime series “One Piece” as a sign of solidarity. As the revolution reached its end, the interim leader of Nepal was elected through an online vote on a Discord server. 

Uproars have occurred across Madagascar since Sep. 14, in the capital of Antananarivo.  The immediate trigger was a widespread frustration over chronic power outages and water shortages that were left ignored by the government. What makes this revolution different from the previous one is that the country’s Military sided with the protesters to overthrow the government and take control. 

Madagascar is currently ruled by a military government led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, following the takeover on Oct. 15th. Elections are stated to be held within the next two years. 

With recent political protests and riots across the country, ideas of a possible government takedown have spread across social media. 

“If the current debates escalate any further than they already are— which some people may say America is already embroiled in a second revolution— there is definitely an all-out conflict in the future,” said Rebecca Wang, a junior  “There is no complete way to avoid situations like these as America is a diverse nation with many opposing views and different people coming from different backgrounds, but I think if everybody was able to keep a calm head and think rationally, the probability of a civil revolution would decrease dramatically.” 

As modern protests remain peaceful and somewhat orderly, an event that could cause further tension between the people and the government remains unlikely; only time will tell.