The only reason you are reading anything about Kyrgyzstan on a blog primarily devoted to Christian thought, culture, and the occasional recent news item may be because I happen to be staying a few miles from the national capital, Bishkek, and the site of the overthrow of the government. To most Americans, Kyrgyzstan is not a word found in their vocabulary and its possible that, after doing a bit of simple research on the country, many Americans might very well shrug at the nation’s current political instability, convinced that it is the inevitable fruit of a country long-influenced by communism and secularism.
It is notable, however, that the country has undergone two revolutions in five years and both revolts have been spurred on by a dissatisfaction with the ruling powers who have acted according to their own interests, stolen from the people, and refused to develop transparent political processes or give power to the people. It seems that the Kyrgyz people are infected with a democratic impulse of sorts that refuses to allow their leaders to run roughshod over their self-determining desires. They currently are demanding the resignation of their president, have placed an opposition leader in power, and are emphasizing their rights to fair and equitable government. They are in revolt because they have been treated unfairly, not because they feel like the government owes them more than it has given. Nothing to complain about here, right?
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