QuickWrite: The Spark of Revolution

Very early in the year, revolution has spread all over the Middle East; Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Algeria. But this series of revolt differs from history. The revolutionaries strive for their goal without violence. They strive to change their nation without destroying it. They strive for a new brand of brand of revolution.

But why would so many minor nations suddenly be filled with protest for change? There is no proof that all the revolts are organized. There is no proof that there is any direct connection at all. The cause for all these revolutions lie in the ashes of an individual who gave their lives to speak out: The Burning Man.

On December 17, 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, a fruit seller from Tunisia, set himself alight in protest of the Tunisian government, who had just confiscated his goods. He did not survive the incident. However his act catalyzed the 2010-2011 Tunisian Revolution, which resulted in a change of government without civil war or military involvement.

Over the course of thirty days after “the burning man” incident, others had become inspired to revolutionize their country. The “burning man” became the “burning men” as others followed Bouazizi’s act to reach their voices to their own countries. On Febuary 11, 2011, Hosni Mubarak, the president of Egypt for 30 years, stepped out of power after weeks of rioting in the streets. Third World countries all over the Middle East are in the process of protesting. A mere fruit seller from Tunisia has become a hero all over the region, the “spark of revolution”, if you will.

Amazingly though, this process was analyzed almost twenty years before this period by George Orwell; documented in his book “Animal Farm”. Mohamed, “the burning man”, bears a large resemblance to Major, the boar at the beginning of the book who gave a speech that inspired the animals to revolt. Both Mohamed and Major spoke out against the system, and gave a vision to their audience of the future. Major gave a speech that inspired the animals to revolt in the view of a brighter future. Meanwhile, Mohamed set himself aflame to bring attention to his treatment, allowing the citizens to see the result if the system stayed the same. Either way, both revolutionized their nation through their actions.