Belarus

The valiant efforts of the protesters in Belarus are inspirational. Fighting against unbearable odds, students are standing up against the autocratic rule of President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko.

"We live in a country of total fear, and very few people are brave enough to come out like this," he said, standing in front of the ranks at 4 a.m., as the temperature dropped to 10 degrees. "This action destroys fear inside the country because it tells people it is possible to fight for your own destiny."

The protesters see little chance of changes in government anytime soon. To the extent that this is a revolution, Mr. Milinkevich [the second place finisher in the presidential election] often says, it is a revolution not on the streets but in the mind.

An opposition has been born. It is small, but one sign of its early resolve is that almost everyone who stands until dawn not only gives his or her last name for publication, but also insists that it be written down, knowing then that the authorities will see who they are.

Sadly these protesters were arrested in a cowardly attempt of suppression at 3am this morning.