We take our freedoms for granted. Contrary to what some talking heads may say, we’re not on the verge of civil war.  We have problems, but are fires in the street of your capital common?  Protesters occupying city hall and demanding to be listened to?

The answer is probably no.

A civil war involves chaos. How many people do you see dying on the streets here?  None?  I hope so.  I don’t want to be where you live if the answer’s yes.

Ukraine just saw 9 die today alone.

Let’s zoom in on them for a moment.  Essentially, Ukrainian leadership didn’t listen to people who wanted to turn closer to the European Union (rather than Russian President Putin), and people are quite unhappy to say the least.  They were even more unhappy when the government cracked down on them with force..

The legislature in turn drafted several laws that restrict right to expression and assembly. President Viktor Yanukovych then signed them into law, in turn kind of proving the overall point that the government really is kind of a dick worth protesting.

I haven’t seen that here yet.  It makes me understand one thing though: the power of a free press and social media.  While some higher-ups might say it’s “fueling the hostilities,” for some reason I can’t help but think that sending guys in riot gear to silence complaints “fuels hostilities” a bit too.