# Will Tunisian revolution inspire actions in other nations? (Now following Egypt.) \[ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703 "2011-01-15T09:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/521 "2011-02-16T14:23:43Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Speaking of which, when are Americans going to flood the streets of DC chanting demands for the head of Boehner? As soon as we come up with a chant that includes “head” and “Boehner” and does not sound embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/522 "2011-02-16T17:42:50Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Speaking of which, when are Americans going to flood the streets of DC chanting demands for the head of Boehner? Actually, the always delightful Rush Limbaugh is suggesting if “Obamacare” isn’t repealed his listeners may “go Egypt on Obama.”:rolleyes: Here’s the [link.](http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102140026) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/523 "2011-02-16T19:55:56Z")
With a distinctly ironic timing, now is when the news comes out that when the underage girl in the scandal was arrested for theft, Berlusconi attempted to get the authorities to release her, claiming she was Hosni Mubarak’s granddaughter. For one thing, to imply that powerful men and their families should be above the law is a pretty sickening attitude, but that’s just welcome to the real world. However, she actually is not Egyptian but Moroccan. Then why did he invoke Mubarak instead of the Moroccan king? So my gosh, maybe he really was playing out a fantasy of her being Cleopatra to his Caesar. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/524 "2011-02-16T23:26:33Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Actually, the always delightful Rush Limbaugh is suggesting if “Obamacare” isn’t repealed his listeners may “go Egypt on Obama.”:rolleyes: Here’s the [link.](http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102140026) So… we get pyramids? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/525 "2011-02-17T00:00:12Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Actually, the always delightful Rush Limbaugh is suggesting if “Obamacare” isn’t repealed his listeners may “go Egypt on Obama.”:rolleyes: Here’s the [link.](http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102140026) We already **had** the Tea Party rallies. I think Mr. Limbaugh will find that’s as Egyptian as it gets around here. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/526 "2011-02-17T00:03:21Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > So my gosh, maybe he really was playing out a fantasy of her being Cleopatra to his Caesar. Which assumes equality. Cleopatra was a queen. This lady could maybe be one of Caesar’s slaves, or favorite whores, or fellow senators’ wives. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/527 "2011-02-17T01:39:57Z")
Bahrain is, by all accounts from news people on Twitter, kicking off tonight. US Fleet is at least partly based there. Awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/528 "2011-02-17T01:51:29Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Actually, the always delightful Rush Limbaugh is suggesting if “Obamacare” isn’t repealed his listeners may “go Egypt on Obama.” Talk is cheap. Let me know when Limbaugh uses self-immolation to express his antipathy for Obamacare. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/529 "2011-02-17T02:10:59Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Talk is cheap. Let me know when Limbaugh uses self-immolation to express his antipathy for Obamacare. Yeah, me too! I wouldn’t miss that for the world. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/530 "2011-02-17T02:40:44Z")
He would certainly burn for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/531 "2011-02-17T04:25:07Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Bahrain is, by all accounts from news people on Twitter, kicking off tonight. US Fleet is at least partly based there. Awkward. And the Bahraini authorities are whooping ass on the protesters like Mubarak could only have dreamed of. Story [here](http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/16/bahrain.protests/index.html?hpt=T1). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/532 "2011-02-17T04:29:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > And the Bahraini authorities are whooping ass on the protesters like Mubarak could only have dreamed of. Story [here](http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/16/bahrain.protests/index.html?hpt=T1). The strain of the reign is painful for Bahrain! I am **so** going to Hell . . . ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/533 "2011-02-17T04:46:16Z")
BBC is speculating the Bahrainis may feel that if the protesters are successful there, it could have implications for Saudi Arabia. I wonder if the Saudis have been putting pressure on the Bahrainis. Wasn’t it just the other day that the Bahraini king promised an inquiry into protester deaths? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/534 "2011-02-17T11:49:58Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is speculating the Bahrainis may feel that if the protesters are successful there, it could have implications for Saudi Arabia. I wonder if the Saudis have been putting pressure on the Bahrainis. Wasn’t it just the other day that the Bahraini king promised an inquiry into protester deaths? Yes - the mystery of how his thugs under his command came to kill people demands an inquiry. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/535 "2011-02-17T23:52:16Z")
Important Article In Foreign Policy Review! > **[Revolution U](https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/02/17/revolution-u/)** > [@](#): > > The Serbian capital is home to the Center for Applied NonViolent Action and Strategies, or CANVAS, an organization run by young Serbs who had cut their teeth in the late 1990s student uprising against Slobodan Milosevic. After ousting him, they embarked on the ambitious project of figuring out how to translate their success to other countries. To the world’s autocrats, they are sworn enemies – both Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko have condemned them by name. (“They think we are bringing a revolution in our suitcase,” one of CANVAS’s leaders told me.) But to a young generation of democracy activists from Harare to Rangoon to Minsk to Tehran, the young Serbs are heroes. They have worked with democracy advocates from more than 50 countries. They have advised groups of young people on how to take on some of the worst governments in the world – and in Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, the Maldives, and now Egypt, those young people won. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/536 "2011-02-18T00:04:47Z")
Point of fact: Hugo Chavez was popularly elected three times, in genuine elections certified by international observers. Venezuela has the 19th-oldest continuous democracy in the world (despite some attempted coups, including the 1992 one which involved but did not install Chavez). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/537 "2011-02-18T00:41:13Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Point of fact: Hugo Chavez was popularly elected three times, in genuine elections certified by international observers. Venezuela has the 19th-oldest continuous democracy in the world (despite some attempted coups, including the 1992 one which involved but did not install Chavez). 😕 All true . . . but has anyone in this thread even suggested a Tunisia/Egypt style revolution against Chavez is on the horizon? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/538 "2011-02-18T00:57:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 All true . . . but has anyone in this thread even suggested a Tunisia/Egypt style revolution against Chavez is on the horizon? No. Chavez was mentioned in **Bosda** ’s cite, though, in contrast to “democracy advocates.” And I’ve seen Chavez mentioned elsewhere on SDMB in ways that suggested similar misunderstandings. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/539 "2011-02-18T01:19:44Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > No. Chavez was mentioned in **Bosda** ’s cite, though, in contrast to “democracy advocates.” And I’ve seen Chavez mentioned elsewhere on SDMB in ways that suggested similar misunderstandings. Chavez is a sort of elected strongman with an iffy but not obscene human-rights record, who despite or perhaps because of that remains popular enough with his people to keep getting re-elected – all of which puts him neither for nor against the side of democracy-as-such. FWIW, the [Democracy Index](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_index) classifies Venezuela as a “hybrid regime” with democratic and authoritarian elements. Still and all, if I had to be a South American, I’d rather be Venezuelan than Colombian. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/540 "2011-02-18T02:04:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > FWIW, the [Democracy Index](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_index) classifies Venezuela as a “hybrid regime” with democratic and authoritarian elements. See, I think that points to the misunderstanding that I’m talking about. _Democracy_ and _authoritarianism_ are not opposite ends of the same scale. A government may be highly undemocratic without being particularly authoritarian, or the other way round. A substantially democratic system can still produce authoritarian oppression with majority consent (as some people say they fear in these Muslim countries). I’m pro-democracy _and_ anti-authoritarian. These are two different things. If you look closely, you’ll find that a not-insignificant number of Americans are pro-democracy and pro-authoritarian (some will smugly say “majority rules!” or “democracy in action!” when they go roughshod over minority interests; the latest smoking thread has some examples). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=28)