Within the past few years color has served as a visual unifier for nonviolent political movements. Wearing of a specific color (sometimes at great risk) is a physical reminder to those who support the like-minded.
The recent wave of discontent among Egyptians has the makings of another color revolution. The key demands for free elections (without the repeat of an automatic winner from the ruling party) is only one of a long list of reforms that the populace is demanding.
Other countries such as Iran, and Ukraine have used color to reinforce political, and cultural reforms that have been emotional nods to their nation’s history.
In December of 2004, Ukrainians wore the color orange to send a message to Putin that they were unified against the rigged elections that made Viktor Yanukovych the newly elected president vs. Viktor. Since orange was the original color adopted by Yushchenko’s campaign and supports, it was a natural transition for the color to be used to represent their candidate and their emotional discontent with the ruling government. The “Orange Revolution” ushered in a series of acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins and general strikes. These demonstrations ultimately gave rise to action taken by Ukraine's Supreme Court to conduct another runoff which ultimately made Yushchenko the victor.
Will the fractured populace in Egypt use their national flag (three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands) as the banner for their ongoing cause? Or, will one color such as green (used in the failed 2009 Iranian election protests) become their standard?
Whatever the choice let’s hope it is one that serves as a conduit towards positive change for the greater good without the cost of lost lives.
The recent wave of discontent among Egyptians has the makings of another color revolution. The key demands for free elections (without the repeat of an automatic winner from the ruling party) is only one of a long list of reforms that the populace is demanding.
Other countries such as Iran, and Ukraine have used color to reinforce political, and cultural reforms that have been emotional nods to their nation’s history.
In December of 2004, Ukrainians wore the color orange to send a message to Putin that they were unified against the rigged elections that made Viktor Yanukovych the newly elected president vs. Viktor. Since orange was the original color adopted by Yushchenko’s campaign and supports, it was a natural transition for the color to be used to represent their candidate and their emotional discontent with the ruling government. The “Orange Revolution” ushered in a series of acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins and general strikes. These demonstrations ultimately gave rise to action taken by Ukraine's Supreme Court to conduct another runoff which ultimately made Yushchenko the victor.
Will the fractured populace in Egypt use their national flag (three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands) as the banner for their ongoing cause? Or, will one color such as green (used in the failed 2009 Iranian election protests) become their standard?
Whatever the choice let’s hope it is one that serves as a conduit towards positive change for the greater good without the cost of lost lives.