As we reflect on the passing of one of the greatest men of our time we should also take a moment to consider just how his actions-and those of people like him-have impacted the world around us.

Nelson Mandela was a revolutionary. He fought the system to make a difference in a place many felt he didn’t belong. His sacrifices and tenacity changed the lives of countless people and set the wheels in motion for continuing growth.

But in light of his achievements and those of other revolutionaries, do you have an accurate perception of what it really stands for?

rev·o·lu·tion

revəˈlo͞oSHən/ noun a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. an instance of revolving

Revolutions have always been a necessary part of human advancement. Almost every freedom that we enjoy today has been a product of a type of revolution, of someone who said that things weren’t right and spread the seed of change to the people around them. Most major leaders in history that have been held in high esteem have been revolutionaries-from Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King to William Wallace and Mahatma Gandhi. We should also remember that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were revolutionaries. They changed everything about how we see the world, destroying old ideas and creating new ones through their discoveries in science.

So why is it that western society puts these leaders up on a pedestal and yet the very thing they stood for is often considered negative?

When you look at the synonyms for Revolution it is no wonder that it becomes a scary word or idea for some; rebellious, insurgent, rioting, mutinous, renegade, insurrectionist, seditious, subversive, and worst of all “extremist”. Words that are similarly used in today’s mass media to describe terrorist groups like the Al’Qaeda. But as bad as these words are made out to be we can’t forget that Einstein was also a rebel, Lincoln was considered a renegade, and both were often called “extreme”.

The treatment of digital age revolutionaries like Julian Assange of Wiki leaks-or the thousands of people behind the singular face of Anonymous-is often shocking, but the work they do is to show our nations and our people honesty and transparency. Despite that, they have been made examples of; virtual criminals and scapegoats. Our governments and the media have brought them forth to show the people that searching for truth isn’t worth it. But we must remember that in the end it doesn’t matter whose side you are on, good or bad, you will always be seen negatively by someone.

The truth is revolutions don’t have to be negative or evil, they don’t even have to be big. The dictionary definition of a revolution simplifies a broad idea with many facets into something that could be considered cold and ugly. A revolution can also mean the small victories;in changing something for the better for even a handful of people. All the good that has happened in this world is a result of things failing, and the ensuing revolution was the catalyst for some amazing changes. Like water on a dying seed it can bring life, hope, and beauty in to this world.

A way to think of ‘Revolution’ is by using its literal definition “to revolve”. Revolving implies something travelling in a circular or elliptical pattern. The word or meaning “Whole” is also represented with this pattern, and thus to be whole as a people or nation we must revolve. Revolutions are a natural cycle-our entire world exists based on it. We can’t let something that is natural become unnatural because of the fear of change. It needs to happen for the survival of everything.

Out of respect for the revolutionaries like Nelson Mandela, who have fought and given their lives to show the world that change CAN happen, and for the people that have made your life what it is now, understand that Revolution exists to take something that is broken and fix it for the betterment of mankind.

If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world.”

― Noam Chomsky

Choose not to remain blind. Choose not to remain ignorant. Choose not to remain apathetic. Choose Courage

-C. Perreault