Once dictators get laughed at, their days are numbered. They don't mind fear and anger. They hate ridicule.

I taught in Prague. I had some students who were about 5 years old when the Velvet Revolution took place. I asked them what they remembered. I wondered what a revolution looked like to a five-year-old child.

They told me that children were laughing in the playground, and saying the government was stupid.

When children are laughing at you, you're toast.