Since the recent riot in the Capitol building, news headlines citing people "storming the capitol" is reminiscent of dystopian literature or scenes from The Hunger Games. Here's a few times from history where ordinary people took radical steps to voice their opinions:
July 14th, 1789: France
This was the famous storming of the Bastille, which represented royal authority. Third estate (commoners) revolted against the monarchy; this outrage came from the economic downturn hitting especially hard on the lower-class civilians, and above al the issue of not having their voices adequately represented in the French version of Parliament. This action sparked the beginning of the French Revolution and the overthrowing of King Louis XVI.
March 8, 1917: Russia
On this day began the February Revolution (which is indeed improperly named). After centuries of Romanov rule, peasants only grew in number, and most could hardly survive while the wealthy were living large. These poor civilians, tired of looking for a bite to eat, took to the streets of Petrograd. Troops were called to dispel the uprising, but the people held in their resolve. By March 12, the Czar abdicated the throne.
March 1, 1954: the US
four Puerto Rican Americans fired guns in the House of Representatives, demanding independence for the US territory of Puerto Rico.
Though these examples may seem not to have much in common, they do have one: desperation. Many people hardly knew of political matters in the United States before our current president was elected. However, in times of extreme rhetoric on both sides of the aisle, a chain reaction began leading to people clamoring for their idea of justice, holding onto their beliefs and opposing anything that doesn't align with their color of blue or red. As such, it would seem that we have stopped working together as a nation and are more divided than ever.
We are all citizens of the same country founded on principals of freedom. The officials holding office do so to serve the public, and we should be keen not to forget that. Often times you hear "there's always one side that is unhappy." I believe there is another way, where we can reach across aisles and truly mend the relationship between citizens, politicians, and our political system overall. The only way to create meaningful litigation that benefits all of society is if we all are aware of each other and work together to do so.
