Hope, disbelief, rage
President Hosni Mubarak told the Egyptian people late last night that he would delegate authority to Vice President Omar Suleiman but that he would not resign, enraging hundreds of thousands gathered to hail his departure and setting in motion a volatile new stage in the three-week uprising. (By Anthony Shadid and David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times)
As I post this he is -- according to the TV news -- gone.
Egyptians in Mass. worry for homeland
Across Massachusetts yesterday, jubilation turned to dread among Egyptian immigrants after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak dashed hopes that he was on the verge of resigning by declaring that he would stay until September, despite nearly three weeks of massive protests demanding an end to his 30-year regime. (By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff)
In Tahrir Square, swelling hopes of a dramatic change collapse (By Ernesto Londono and Leila Fadel, Washington Post)
And as you may have read from my commentary, the Egyptian reporters have shamed their AmeriKan counterparts in the corporate media.
Related:
"The Founding Fathers Would Be Proud of the People of Egypt ... And Disgusted With the People of America
America's founding fathers stood up for their freedom, winning it from the British (with the help of the French).
The Egyptian people have stood up for their freedom, winning it from the Mubarak dictatorship (with the help of the army, which refused to fire a shot at the people, and may even have helped convince Mubarak to leave. See this and this).
The Egyptian people found their courage even when Mubarak's thugs flew fighter jets low over their heads, beat and murdered protesters, and otherwise threatened violence.
But the American people today have been cowed into passivity by an irrational fear of terrorism, laziness and mindlessness.
Comparisons
But obviously, the American government is nothing like the Egyptian dictatorship, right?
Let's compare:
But unlike the Egyptian people, Americans have become scared of their own shadow. We have forgotten that courage and hope are choices - which do not have to come from John Wayne levels of testosterone, but can simply arise from loving something enough to want to protect it.
How Did We Turn Into the Oppressor?
England oppressed America. We were the downtrodden who broke free. But now, America has helped to repress the Egyptian people (and see this and this).
How did we get on the wrong side of history?
The Egyptian People Have Changed the World
Minister Jim Wallis writes in an open letter to the Egyptian protesters today entitled "The Egyptian People Have Changed the World -- It's Their Turn to Lead":
As I post this he is -- according to the TV news -- gone.
Egyptians in Mass. worry for homeland
Across Massachusetts yesterday, jubilation turned to dread among Egyptian immigrants after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak dashed hopes that he was on the verge of resigning by declaring that he would stay until September, despite nearly three weeks of massive protests demanding an end to his 30-year regime. (By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff)
In Tahrir Square, swelling hopes of a dramatic change collapse (By Ernesto Londono and Leila Fadel, Washington Post)
And as you may have read from my commentary, the Egyptian reporters have shamed their AmeriKan counterparts in the corporate media.
Related:
"The Founding Fathers Would Be Proud of the People of Egypt ... And Disgusted With the People of America
America's founding fathers stood up for their freedom, winning it from the British (with the help of the French).
The Egyptian people have stood up for their freedom, winning it from the Mubarak dictatorship (with the help of the army, which refused to fire a shot at the people, and may even have helped convince Mubarak to leave. See this and this).
The Egyptian people found their courage even when Mubarak's thugs flew fighter jets low over their heads, beat and murdered protesters, and otherwise threatened violence.
But the American people today have been cowed into passivity by an irrational fear of terrorism, laziness and mindlessness.
Comparisons
But obviously, the American government is nothing like the Egyptian dictatorship, right?
Let's compare:
- There is a stunning amount of equality in Egypt. But America is even worse
- Mubarak stole billions from his people, while the American oligarchs may have stolen trillions. See this, this, this and this
- Egypt have been living under a state of emergency for 30 years. But Americans have been living under a continuous state of emergency for 10 years straight
- Mubarak was supported by the military. But the military -industrial complex has taken over America as well (moreover, there is a tradition in countries like Turkey for the military to ensure that religious fanatics do not take over the country)
- Mubarak ignored the wishes of his people. But the American government hasn't been listening to it's people either. For example, a 2010 Rasmussen poll found that "just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed". A 2010 Gallup poll determined that nearly half of all Americans believe "the Federal government poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". Poll after poll shows that "both national parties are deeply unpopular with an electorate looking for something new and different". Polls reveal that 82% of all Americans wanted Wall Street to be reined in in a substantial and meaningful manner, and yet nothing has really changed, and the government has let Wall Street have it's way on all the important issues. Polls find that Americans want the big financial players who acted with fraud to be punished, and yet the government has let all of the big fish off the hook. And the government has ignored many other desires of the American people, including investigations into torture and spying on Americans, impeaching George W. Bush if he lied about Iraqi WMDs (which he did)
- Mubarak repressed his people and stifled dissent. Bush and Obama have haven't been all that protective of liberty either
- Mubarak murdered and tortured people without following the rule of law. America hasn't been wholly saintly in this regard over the last 10 years either (and see this)
But unlike the Egyptian people, Americans have become scared of their own shadow. We have forgotten that courage and hope are choices - which do not have to come from John Wayne levels of testosterone, but can simply arise from loving something enough to want to protect it.
How Did We Turn Into the Oppressor?
England oppressed America. We were the downtrodden who broke free. But now, America has helped to repress the Egyptian people (and see this and this).
How did we get on the wrong side of history?
The Egyptian People Have Changed the World
Minister Jim Wallis writes in an open letter to the Egyptian protesters today entitled "The Egyptian People Have Changed the World -- It's Their Turn to Lead":
You have changed the world.
***
Remember, the United States was not talking about democracy in Egypt, not advocating it, not saying a transition is necessary and urgent, UNTIL you risked your security, safety and lives for the sake of democracy. You changed the conversation, and the conversation would be the same as it has been for decades if you hadn't done what you did. Your generational peers are now watching what you are doing in countries across the Arab world, and beyond. This is the moment for you and for us.
***
You represent a new generation, a new leadership, and a new hope for the possibility of real democracy. Keep leading. My government, which still calls itself the beacon of freedom, has sacrificed democracy in your region of the world (and many other places) for American "interests." And our foreign policy around the globe has put our interests before our principles. But they are not really the interests of the American people, but of oil companies, big banks and corporations, and rich and powerful people. Their interest in stability is very different from ours in democracy. So don't be fooled, don't listen to the so-called "wise" voices that have been part of the old reality and want to now thank you for your service to democracy, but are offering to take it from here.
Don't let them. Keep demanding democracy -- real democracy. Because, for the rest of us, democracy is the best defense of our "interests," and the best path to genuine "stability." And, for our part, we will do our best to stand with you. That will likely take sacrifice from all of us, because real change always does.The Founding Fathers would be proud of the Egyptian people, just as they supported the French revolution. They would be disgusted at the spineless sheep that the American people have become.
Note: I love America and have lived here all my life. I criticize my country because I want to save her from the self-destructive, anti-American path that Bush and Obama have put us on. Just as the Egyptian people felt a need to speak out, so do I.
--MORE--"
For breaking news and more go HERE.
Related: Iran confines a leading dissident (By Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post)
Also see: Obama woos, exhorts business
White House is retooled and refocused
Who cares how they arrange the deck chairs.
Reagan legacy recalled on his 100th birthday (By Dan Balz, Washington Post)
He turned the country over to corporations and revitalized the military-industrial complex, yay!
Was that really the nation's top story that day?
Silence from Muslim- Americans
I notice a great silence from Jewish-Americans myself.
House lawmakers clash over GOP push to curb abortion
Political shift poses test for Warren
The Harvard professor has two big challenges: being a consumer watchdog in a more business-friendly administration and trying to quickly assemble and manage an new federal agency.
Soccer phenom opts to learn from the pros
Diego Fagundez, 15, of Leominster, will bypass much of high school to pursue a pro soccer career with the New England Revolution.
You know how much I love sports on the front page of my newspaper, right?
Grandmother of missing boy torn by hope, fear
Roofs still buckling under snow; schools in 3 districts stay shut
You know how much I love sports on the front page of my newspaper, right?
Grandmother of missing boy torn by hope, fear
Ernesto Gonzalez was accused in the August 2008 disappearance of his then 5-year-old son, Giovanni. Ernesto's mother, Lydia , said she wants son to tell truth about fate of the Lynn youth. (By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff)
More listed in state as same-sex couples
More listed in state as same-sex couples
The number of reported same-sex couples in the state climbed sharply, suggesting to many advocates that there is a growing public acceptance and that more gay couples are willing to declare their relationships openly. (By Peter Schworm and Matt Carroll, Globe Staff)
Hub may again play part in Irish theater’s survival
Hub may again play part in Irish theater’s survival
Fiach Mac Conghail, director of Dublin's Abbey Theatre, is looking to Boston for fund-raising and cultural exchanges. (By Kevin Cullen, Globe Staff)
US finds Toyota electronics weren’t to blame in crashes
The government’s 10-month study on safety problems in Toyota cars found no flaw in the vehicles’ computer control systems that would account for reports of sudden acceleration and other issues that led to the recall millions of its vehicles.
Volunteering spirit catches fire
Agreement to cut power plant discharge, send steam heat to Boston
US finds Toyota electronics weren’t to blame in crashes
The government’s 10-month study on safety problems in Toyota cars found no flaw in the vehicles’ computer control systems that would account for reports of sudden acceleration and other issues that led to the recall millions of its vehicles.
Volunteering spirit catches fire
Agreement to cut power plant discharge, send steam heat to Boston
Roofs still buckling under snow; schools in 3 districts stay shut
As homeowners and work crews scrambled to clear snow atop buildings across the state yesterday, more than a dozen roofs collapsed, bringing the total number of buildings damaged by snow in the past week to 149, state emergency officials said. (By Peter Schworm and Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff)
Related: Damaged schools may tap state aid
Also see:
Related: Damaged schools may tap state aid
Also see:
In Pacific discovery, traces of Nantucket and ‘Moby-Dick’
How oddly appropriate that the post ends with a white whale and sinking at sea.
