A Carnival of Revolution: Central Europe 1989 A carnival is full of boisterous activities, a time for merriment, joy, and perhaps fear. This carnival that Padraic Kenney describes is full of many roller coasters, the carnival of revolution in Central Europe that would help culminate to form the end of the Soviet Union. Indeed, the times of the 1988-1989 became a circus, with three countries in particular that Kenney specifically visits. The countries of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland each had their own means of overcoming their communist regimes. Although the revolutions may have been different in each country. The roots of how their revolution helped toppled their regimes was from a common place, the streets. The revolutions were sparked
…show more content…
This very large street demonstration was met with brutal force by the police officers. Being corralled into small streets and being boxed in by lines of policemen the students were systematically beaten. One of the largest mistakes for the regime, like we have covered in the other instances of student lead demonstrations is that attacking the students only hardens the resolve of the parents to fight the injustice. The communist regime may have stopped the small carnival of revolution that the students were putting on. However, the regime failed to halt the largest wave of protest to come. They had sparked the largest wildfire that would lead to their undoing. People joined in on the protests in Prague by the droves, from 200,000 to 500,000 people chanting slogans, singing, and waving flags of blue, red, and white. This was easily the main event of the Central European Carnival of Revolution.
Furthermore, much like the how the Poles in Wroclaw marched through the city toward Wroclaw Square. Czechoslovakians marched through the many streets and alley ways toward Wenceslas Square. Among the singing of the national anthem and songs of a happier time, they chanted, “Those who control the horse, control the square!” The communist regime looked through their windows to see banners demanding they leave. The voices of hundreds of thousands of people heralding their exit from office. I could feel the goose bumps of victory, watching news reels of the people filling the square cheering and
This very large street demonstration was met with brutal force by the police officers. Being corralled into small streets and being boxed in by lines of policemen the students were systematically beaten. One of the largest mistakes for the regime, like we have covered in the other instances of student lead demonstrations is that attacking the students only hardens the resolve of the parents to fight the injustice. The communist regime may have stopped the small carnival of revolution that the students were putting on. However, the regime failed to halt the largest wave of protest to come. They had sparked the largest wildfire that would lead to their undoing. People joined in on the protests in Prague by the droves, from 200,000 to 500,000 people chanting slogans, singing, and waving flags of blue, red, and white. This was easily the main event of the Central European Carnival of Revolution.
Furthermore, much like the how the Poles in Wroclaw marched through the city toward Wroclaw Square. Czechoslovakians marched through the many streets and alley ways toward Wenceslas Square. Among the singing of the national anthem and songs of a happier time, they chanted, “Those who control the horse, control the square!” The communist regime looked through their windows to see banners demanding they leave. The voices of hundreds of thousands of people heralding their exit from office. I could feel the goose bumps of victory, watching news reels of the people filling the square cheering and