Revolution

       Revolution is something that can occur on many different levels - be it locally, nationally, and even globally. Location and size are two important variables in a revolution, but there are also many different types of revolutions. For example, social, cultural, and industrial revolutions have all swept the world at least once. Despite these many factors, I have come to identify revolution as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.

       In relation to this definition, the people who participate in a revolution are opposing the current governmental system, and when those in power are rebelled against, they often respond by means of violence in order to keep control. Because revolution often implies the opposition of at least two forces, violence may seem like the only way to settle the disagreement. Using violence is easier and quicker than trying to amicably come to a compromise. For this reason, I think violence will always be one of the first potential solutions people use when faced with a revolution.

       For example, in Born In Flames, the women seeking a revolution started their revolutionary pursuits by using non-violent methods, but when they were not taken seriously and no one acknowledged them, they were forced to turn to violence. Even when the armed women approached the male newscasters, the men thought it was all a joke. This part of the film showed the prevalence, and sometimes necessity, of violence in a revolution, but it also demonstrated that women were forced to use violence in order to get people to listen to them and take them seriously.

       Because weapons are so easily attainable, I think that violence will always be a factor in revolution and revolutionary pursuits because of how easy it is for individuals and organizations to obtain weapons.