COLLEGE STUDENTS AND REVOLUTION

For many college students, the revolutions that have occurred in the Middle East may be put on the back burner because some may feel the revolutions have no impact, but there are students that have an opinion about the various demonstrations.

In January of this year, there was much political opposition to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak resulting in various protests, marches, and acts of civil disobedience because of his policies with the economy and other civil rights’ issues citizens felt were violated. According to a CNN report, citizens revolted against the governing body due to “complaints [of] police corruption and abuses”. They were also uneasy about Mubarak’s 30-year rule, the nonexistent free elections in their republic, and against the high prices for food, low waged, and high unemployment rate.

Egypt was not the only country experiencing revolution; according to a CNN report, there were over 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa that were experiencing revolution and going against their governmental leaders. Protests were happening because citizens were fed up with their government and joined together to combat an unjust society. Most of the revolutionaries of this younger generation and represented those who were afraid to stand up. Sophomore Justin Francis says, “I've been genuinely excited and interested about the current status of the middle east. With the world shrinking due to increases of technology those people in the middle are able to see what life is like outside of their country. The younger generations of these countries have been calling for revolution for some time now and I think that eventually most of these extremely conservative religious countries will become more "westernized.” Francis also expressed a hope for more administrations in the Middle East to be more tolerant and accepting of non-Islamic religions because it will help to unite the countries.

Libya is another country experiencing political discourse surrounding issues of freedom and civil disobedience from its citizens and has also led to involvement from the United States government. According to a CNN report, protests have been fueled by “Gadhafi's government, which has ruled since a 1969 coup [and] detained relatives of those killed in an alleged 1996 massacre at the Abu Salim prison, [and] high unemployment and [unanswered] demands for freedom.” Rion Robinson, junior, believes the more people who are educated about the revolutions and the regions; the more they will understand the citizens’ plight. He says, “The region is experiencing change in [a] political landscape that no one really predicted it to happen. The revolutions in the region also show the true colors of the leaders in those countries as well. What is happening now will lead to the future of the region for good or bad.”

These students have been educated and are fully aware of the good and not-so good that could come from these revolutions and are waiting for each government’s next move.