I have gotten a dose of much-needed inspiration from what just happened in South Korea.
In case you missed it, the political opposition there joined with members of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s own party and succeeded in resisting his declaration of martial law. He made his decree at 11 p.m. on Dec. 3, and it was in place for just six hours before being rescinded by the legislature.
The declaration ordered that “all political activities, including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, and political parties, political associations, rallies and demonstrations, are prohibited” and that “all news media and publications are under the control of the Martial Law Command.”
The people rose up and resisted, with opposition legislators climbing over walls past armed paratroopers to get to their assembly hall and then barricading themselves in so that they could carry out their duty to vote — in this case, to resist military rule and to consider impeachment of the president. So far, he has avoided that fate. But he has apologized for his decree and is now under criminal investigation on charges of insurrection.
After the president’s attempt to establish military rule, people took to the streets overnight. It’s remarkable that in a country where authoritarian regimes, coups, and the strife that ensued are recent memories, the people organized themselves and prevailed. And the news media across the political spectrum stuck together in opposing the actions of the president to limit a free press.
Here is a model of people asserting the power of resistance against top-down, militaristic, autocratic leadership, and it exemplifies popular support of free speech for everyone.
I am hoping the next U.S. administration can shake a few things up that need shaking, as it says it intends to do, without shaking us down by suppressing free expression and so many other freedoms we take for granted. Of course, they have indicated an intention to do just that kind of shakedown.
And I’m wary in my optimism about how marginalized people may fare here — these are always the first people to be imperiled when authoritarian regimes gain strength.
I am reminded that we are wise to support our many local community resources that aim to feed the hungry, house the poor, and welcome the stranger. And we are very lucky to have locally owned and situated journalism — whether or not we agree with every editorial we read in it.
We know that authoritarianism is a trend around the world. But that does not mean we must be swallowed up by it. It gives me strength to see people in one of our dwindling number of democratically led allies rising up in successful resistance to tyranny.
