Every now and then in world history, there are dramatic periods of revolutionary upheavals that roll across the landscapes of the human condition.
There were revolutions in science that began in the late period of the Grecian classical period, and continued on through until the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
There were revolutions in medicine that began in the early period of the Islamic Caliphate, which also saw revolutions in mathematics, spurned on by the use of the Arabic system of numerals. By adopting a system that allowed for the use of non-fraction numbers whose values were less then one, and also instituting a number for nothing (zero,) mathematical accuracy surpassed anything the Romans had been able to achieve with their awkward numbering system, giving birth to new mathematical forms.
The Arabic system of numbering was so efficient that it is the same numbering system we use today.
Of course, I'm skirting around the type of revolution I plan to speak about, because I want to emphasize what a revolution is first.
While a quick search of the dictionary in invariably turn up several references to political and social revolutions that are usually achieved through use of violence, reading further, one can find the more universal definition of the term.
My favourite is the third offered definition in the Oxford dictionary: A sudden, complete or marked change in something.
This blanket term is useful when considering that all revolutions, political or otherwise, in the end revolve around change, usually prompted (though not always achieved) by a desire to improve a situation or structure.
Political revolutions also tend to cross the world in patterns and waves.
The birth of the modern democratic state was part of one such wave of revolutions that had swept through the globe during the late 1700s, and continued on until the late 1800s.
Beginning with the 13 Colonies and their successful revolution that birthed the United States of America, the achievement of the people in changing their form of government emboldened other populations to act against their governments.
France came next, though, without an ocean to separate them from the now-threatened monarchies of the European mainland, the end result of that revolution was nearly constant warfare as the other European powers sought to subsume the new republic before their own citizens were stirred to revolt by the French success.
This is why revolution tends to move in waves.
When the discontent of people has grown enough, and when the desire for something better has been enlivened by seeing success elsewhere, revolution becomes like a virus among peoples in similar situations.
Which brings us to the story in Egypt that has been developing over the last few weeks.
The Egyptian state of affairs did not happen overnight.
Pro-democracy advocates have been working for years, writing columns and papers, lecturing at halls and schools, for many years.
They have been imprisoned, tortured, and occasionally killed for their desire to see a truly representative government sitting in Cairo.
Enlivened by the success of the somewhat spontaneous revolution that unseated an authoritarian regime in Tunisia, the Egyptian people have taken to the streets (and haven't left,) in what so far has been a relatively peaceful revolution.
While many commentators have sounded the warning bells about what might come after Mubarak, should the revolution succeed, I do not necessarily share their worry.
As long as the outcome of the revolution is a democratic system, I believe that the tools will be in place for a responsive and responsible Egyptian government to form.
This is because the secret success of democracy, the reason why truly democratic states seldom have problems with popular revolutions, is because democracy IS revolution.
Thinking back again to the blanket definition of revolution that Oxford has provided for us, a sudden and complete change, a properly functioning democracy offers that possibility to its people.
It is the promise and possibility to change government direction and policy with just a simple vote.
Therefore, when the majority will it, there can be a sudden and complete change, without anyone having to take to the streets.
