⛏️ The Mineriads of the 1990s
In the early 1990s, Romania’s fragile democracy faced a dark chapter. The government, desperate to silence critics, called upon coal miners from the Jiu Valley to descend on Bucharest. These so-called Mineriads were not spontaneous protests. They were orchestrated campaigns to intimidate and crush opposition voices.
The miners, incited by those in power, attacked students, intellectuals, and anyone perceived as “enemies of the state.” The result was fear, chaos, and the silencing of dissent under the false banner of “defending democracy.”
🇷🇴 My Own Memory of Romania
I grew up in Romania. I was only 13, yet I went out into the public square and manifested against communism. I remember the courage, the chants, the unity – but also the danger. That same day, they started to shoot. I will never forget the sound of gunfire or the fear in people’s eyes.
As a teenager just before going to university, I lived through the Mineriads. I remember how mobs were unleashed on students and intellectuals to crush dissent. And I also remember the Romanian Revolution – it was my generation that sacrificed their lives for freedom. Those experiences shaped me forever.
🏘️ The Modern Parallel
Fast forward to today: I see echoes of the same tactic in our own community. Instead of miners, it is residents mobilized by misinformation and fear. Instead of protecting democracy, these orchestrated outbursts are designed to crush legitimate dissent and silence those who speak for fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Just like in Bucharest, intellectuals and professionals – people who bring reasoned, evidence-based arguments – are drowned out by a staged mob, encouraged by those in power who fear scrutiny.
🪧 The Tactic is Always the Same
The pattern is old:
- Discredit the critics – Label them as troublemakers, outsiders, or enemies.
- Mobilize the crowd – Rally those who are easily swayed with fear and slogans.
- Drown out the truth – Prevent meaningful dialogue, ensuring only one voice dominates.
This is how fragile governments, corporations, and yes – even condo boards – suppress accountability. It is not democracy. It is mob rule disguised as democratic participation.
✊ Why I Refuse to Be Intimidated
Because of where I come from and what I have lived through, I will not let this incompetent board scare me. I have seen far worse, and I have lived through times when real courage was required to stand up. If I could stand in a public square at 13 and protest against communism, I can certainly stand up to incompetence and abuse in my own community today.
If we allow intimidation to silence us, we surrender not just our voices but our future. I refuse to be silent.
