"We are ordinary people. We are like you: people, who get up every morning to study, work or find a job, people who have family and friends. People, who work hard every day to provide a better future for those around us.
"Some of us consider ourselves progressive, others conservative. Some of us are believers, some not. Some of us have clearly defined ideologies, others are apolitical, but we are all concerned and angry about the political, economic, and social outlook that we see around us: corruption among politicians, businessmen, bankers, leaving us helpless, without a voice.
"This situation has become normal, a daily suffering, without hope. But if we join forces, we can change it. It’s time to change things, time to build a better society together." These are the words of an English translation of the manifesto of what many are beginning to call, the "Spanish Revolution."
On May 15th, 2011, thousands took to the streets in Spain to protest against a corrupt government, and a biased two-party system, as well as the massive unemployment rate. Video footage of the demonstration rallies that occurred peacefully through the 17th show men and women carrying signs translated as reading: "No one expects the Spanish Revolution," "We demand a democracy that shows zero tolerance for corruption."
There were many present sporting Guy Fawkes masks, resembling the character of V from the Alan Moore comic book and the Wachowski Brother's dystopian science-fiction thriller, "V For Vendetta." In the film, the titular protagonist/anti-hero sacrifices himself to seeing the people of England free of tyrannical rule, and reveals that the ideology of freedom, justice, and democracy lives on in the heart of the people. The same symbol of the Guy Fawkes mask, has also often been adopted by members of the online hacktivist group Anonymous, in their own vendettas against corporate and governmental tyranny.
On July 28th, 2011 the Anonymous Press, an unofficial website that links articles and news stories relevant to the "Anonymous cause," tweeted the video linked above, as a call to peaceful protest with footage of the demonstrations in Spain as well as words inciting the public to take a stand against injustice and corruption, set to the track "Uprising" by Muse. In the description under the Youtube video is a link to a facebook page, "We Are One" calling out others to join in a unified movement of love and acceptance and "true democracy." Similar pages, inspired by the Spanish Revolution have gone up since, such as the World Revolution Event Page, which calls for the public at large to peacefully occupy the streets in a united global revolution.
"The first sparks started to fly in the Arabic countries, where thousands of people [taking] over streets and squares, reminding their governments where the real power lies," those behind the page write under the information tab, "The Icelanders followed, taking to the streets to speak their mind and decide their future. And it wasn't long before Spaniards occupied squares in neighborhoods, towns and cities. Now the flame is swiftly spreading through France, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Turkey, and the cries of peaceful demonstrators echo across America and Asia, where new movements are cropping up everywhere. Only a global revolution can confront global problems. The time has come for the woman and man in the street to take back their public spaces to debate and build a new future together."
With people across the internet witnessing the events and protests still marching throughout Europe, it's quite possible this new wave of revolution could spread globally, infecting every known corner of the world.
YourAnonNews, an Anonymous-affiliated tumblr blog writes, "We will not be constricted. We refute their lies and resist their restriction. We recognize the authority of neither borders nor kings. Instead we recognize the sovereignty of the individual. We recognize the power and beauty of a collective of free individuals, each employing their unique capabilities toward a common end."
The rousing rhetoric of this blog entry goes on to detail the frailties of the current system in place by those in power, and the weaknesses therein, listing anonymous as an ideology of those who are united through thought, through a love and a passion for freedom. The entry continues with a call to arms from the people's of the world, to join in peaceful revolution that sees no skin color, sexuality, political ideology, or even status, but one instead that recognizes the need for brotherhood, in which all men are truly equal.
How long, I wonder, will it take for these thoughts and demonstrations of revolution reach American shores? With talks of the debt ceiling escalating, and the default-date rapidly approaching, my guess is, not long at all.
Dorian Dawes - Dorian Dawes is the Asst. Creative Director as well as blogger and columnist for the online alternative-culture magazine, The Catalyst.
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