Would you realize what Revolution is, call it Progress; and would you realize what Progress is, call it Tomorrow.
--Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
Volume II, Book I, Chapter XVII
In this campaign season, we've seen countless blends of politics and popular culture. On that note, I'd like to share a few videos that I've found. They're both campaign videos that use music from my favorite musical, Les Miserables. (I'm not sure how much sense it makes to those who aren't familiar with either the book or the musical, but hopefully you can get the general gist).
Right now, on the eve of a ground-breaking election, the musical and the book both have a lot of relevance to our lives. We can find ourselves in all the different characters. We are the impoverished factory workers who are oppressed by their bosses. We are the homeless, begging the government to remember us. We are the wrongfully convicted, waiting for justice. And we are the impassioned students, who see the dawn of change on the horizon and are willing to fight for it.
To quote the musical, “it is time for us all to decide who we are.” We are students and workers, but when we vote, we become revolutionaries. We need to take the initiative, as Hugo’s characters do, to go out and make change in the world. People need to know that they will make a difference. We may not be building barricades in the streets, but we are making history.
Hugo was not just writing about the French Revolution. He was writing about the revolutions that happen constantly, and will continue to do so throughout the future. I’m sure he would be proud to see the way his words and his stories can still be applied to new generations. It has always been my belief that that was his goal. On Tuesday, it is our responsibility to see the vision through. We need to stand up for ourselves, for the people Hugo saw in all of us.
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