nPosted on January 3, 2018
n
n
n
nThe full name of this public holiday is “Anniversary of the 1966 Upper Voltan Coup d’État.”
n
n
n
nLet me translate that a bit:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nCoup d’état is the term for a sudden, usually violent, illegal change of government. A coup can be the military snatching control of a civilian government, or it can be a well-armed group killing or forcing into exile governmental officials, or it can be the people as a whole rising up and taking over from a corrupt and unpopular government.
n
n
n
nOn this date in 1966, a general strike began against the harsh and corrupt president of Upper Volta. President Yaméogo had not only made opposing political parties illegal, he had unfairly rigged elections in his favor and had restricted labor unions.
n
n
n
nWhen huge numbers of protesting workers stormed the ruling party’s headquarters and the National Assembly, the military turned against the president – they did not follow the president’s orders to shoot protesters. Soon, a military leader stepped in and grabbed power for himself.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nUnfortunately for the people of Upper Volta – now Burkina Faso – the new leader wasn’t that much better than the old. Tragically, since then most governments have been unseated through force rather than from the peaceful transfer of power. Coups, not elections, have tended to be the way rulers got their power.
The current president, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, WAS elected, and he is the first non-interim president in half a century to have no ties to the military. Hopefully he will rule his complete legal term, the people will elect his successor, and the nation will continue on a more democratic path!
n
n
n
nCheck out some of the gorgeous sights of Burkina Faso:
n
n
n
nAs always, I love these uniquely decorative structures.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAs always, I love falling water…water falling…
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAs always, people are beautiful! Their eyes, their smiles, their styles!
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlso on this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
|
n
n |
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Anniversary of Vi Hart + Khan Academy
Anniversary of Vi Hart + Khan Academy
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nJ.R.R. Tolkien Day
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nGreat Day for the Yankees
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of patent for drinking straws
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of the founding of the March of Dimes
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlan ahead:
n
n
n
nCheck out my Pinterest pages on:
n
- n
-
n
-
nJanuary birthdays
n
-
n
n
n
n
n
nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
n
-
n
-
n
n
n
n
n
n
