The Egyptian people took to the streets two weeks ago today to protest the way the Egyptian regime has actively oppressed them and taken away their hope for a better future. This is what the protests are about.
Egyptians' grievances are not much different than those of many living under dictators - particularly dictators who claim to be democratic.
There are many autocratic regimes in the Middle East. In fact, there is no really true democracy with perhaps the exception of Turkey. Which is not exactly in the Middle East. And Israel gets no prize for being democratic since it has about 4 million Palestinians living under occupation without citizenship or vote.
The rulers or Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates should be afraid. For Egypt to follow Tunisia's example of showing the power of the people is a big and dramatic departure from, what is that word everyone is using? Stability.
Stability for who might I ask? Stability for the millions of Egyptians and millions more in other Middle Eastern countries who are deprived of decent education? Stability for these same people who are then unable to find jobs, unable to have a future, unable to start a family, and face a lifetime of disappointment and humiliation? Stability for those who live in constant fear of the police and the bribes they might demand? Stability for those who can have no hope of having a successful business because of the amount of money needed to bribe government officials to do their job?
Whose stability are we talking about?
It is insulting for these other leaders to talk of stability. It is insulting for Mubarak to suggest that he is the zenith of stability in Egypt.
Let me tell you what these leaders mean when they talk about stability. They are talking about their own ability to stay in power and extract from their populations the life blood within them. Mubarak has sucked the hope out of the Egyptian people for long enough. Jordan is not much better. Saudi Arabia is so oppressive, particularly towards women, that what they are saying about stability is the material for comics not foreign policy. And Israel? Go sign a damn peace treaty with the Palestinians - with some real effort - before you open your mouth and utter the word "stability."
These leaders have no right to comment on Egypt's stability.
And the US? Oh my darling country who so often misreads the rest of the world.
Look, the US foreign policy has been to bribe Egypt into keeping a peace treaty with Israel and making it the focal point of American foreign policy. We've given billions upon billions of money to Egypt - mostly in the form of military aid. The Egyptian protesters had a point when the held up tear gas canisters that said "Made in the USA."
The US has allowed and supported Mubarak's rule. We turned a blind eye to the way he mistreated his population and are only now truly pushing for "democratic reforms" because it would be embarrassing for us not to.
A lot of Egyptians quite understandably want the US to mind its own damn business. But this time I don't think we can. If America has any respect for the democratic aspirations of people throughout the world, particularly in a country in which we have so actively allowed these aspirations to be quashed, then we must stand up to this Middle East peanut gallery. They don't want stability. They want power. They want control. They want to not be afraid of their populations resentment and anger
Obama, don't embarrass America. Don't insult the deaths of those Egyptians who have died because they felt they were fighting for real change. Don't allow these rulers to dictate Egypt's events. For the sake of Egypt, the people camping in Tahrir, and those continually rallying throughout the country, close your ears to Middle Eastern leaders and help the Egyptian people meet their goals.
Support the Egyptian people in their revolution of democracy.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Beginning or the Beginning of the End?
Today will potentially be a big day for Egyptians. Today will possibly be a day of change, a day of coming together, and a day of signaling to the government that the Egyptian people are still strong and courageous in the face of adversity.
The Egyptian people will gather today in Tahrir Square hoping that this will be the biggest day of protests yet. Egypt has always had an allure for people around the world as a symbol of the beginning of civilization with the last of the original seven wonders of the world still standing outside Giza. The layers of history in Cairo and throughout the country are evident at first glance.
It seems that years or political oppression has pried open the strength of the population and the hope of democracy has channeled the resilience of Egyptians into open opposition to the government.
Mubarak has tried to scare the Egyptian population into silence. He has helped create chaos in Cairo by shutting the banks and stock market, closed schools, turned off the internet and mobile phone networks, and recently, sent in thugs to injure and kill peaceful protesters. He has succeeded in creating a group of Egyptians that now believe that his concession of not running for reelection is enough. He has convinced this same group that he is a man of his word and that keeping him around - and therefore allowing life to return to normal - is better than the alternative: instability.
Change is never easy, change means sacrifice, change means risk, and mostly change means making firm decisions and action. Right now, Egypt is at a juncture: do we give up and go back to our lives hoping that Mubarak keeps his word and the world keeps its attention, or do we struggle forward and keep pushing until we have the change we want and deserve?
I hope, for Egypt's sake, that the answer to this is to stay in the streets. I hope that the people give a new meaning for the name "Tahrir" (Liberation). I hope that the name that will be given to this period is the 2-week revolution.
We are all with you today, Egypt. The Egyptian people have found their voice and have a renewed sense of their ability to create the country in which they live. You have been an example to all of us who want to change the world around us: keep going.
The Egyptian people will gather today in Tahrir Square hoping that this will be the biggest day of protests yet. Egypt has always had an allure for people around the world as a symbol of the beginning of civilization with the last of the original seven wonders of the world still standing outside Giza. The layers of history in Cairo and throughout the country are evident at first glance.
It seems that years or political oppression has pried open the strength of the population and the hope of democracy has channeled the resilience of Egyptians into open opposition to the government.
Mubarak has tried to scare the Egyptian population into silence. He has helped create chaos in Cairo by shutting the banks and stock market, closed schools, turned off the internet and mobile phone networks, and recently, sent in thugs to injure and kill peaceful protesters. He has succeeded in creating a group of Egyptians that now believe that his concession of not running for reelection is enough. He has convinced this same group that he is a man of his word and that keeping him around - and therefore allowing life to return to normal - is better than the alternative: instability.
Change is never easy, change means sacrifice, change means risk, and mostly change means making firm decisions and action. Right now, Egypt is at a juncture: do we give up and go back to our lives hoping that Mubarak keeps his word and the world keeps its attention, or do we struggle forward and keep pushing until we have the change we want and deserve?
I hope, for Egypt's sake, that the answer to this is to stay in the streets. I hope that the people give a new meaning for the name "Tahrir" (Liberation). I hope that the name that will be given to this period is the 2-week revolution.
We are all with you today, Egypt. The Egyptian people have found their voice and have a renewed sense of their ability to create the country in which they live. You have been an example to all of us who want to change the world around us: keep going.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
In A State of Instability
Last night, the Egyptian government cracked down on the almost completely peaceful protests in Tahrir Square in Cairo. People gave their lives, injuries were incurred, and journalists attacked.
On the one hand Mubarak is calling for reforms and on the other hand ordering violence. He's allowing his new vice-president to speak to the people while he refuses to step down from power.
Many non-Egyptians living in Cairo always comment on Egypt being a land of contradictions. But these protests have exposed the hypocrisy of the government contrasted to the very real efforts of the people to overthrow it.
I'm in Dubai right now, evacuated. That's what I am. An Evacuee. Not quite sure how I feel about that. But here I am able to talk about what's going on.
So what is next, for Egypt, for my friends in Cairo, for me? I'm not sure what country I will be in next week - but Egypt also doesn't know yet what kind of country it will be next week either. I guess Egypt and I are similar right now - we're both in a state of instability.
On the one hand Mubarak is calling for reforms and on the other hand ordering violence. He's allowing his new vice-president to speak to the people while he refuses to step down from power.
Many non-Egyptians living in Cairo always comment on Egypt being a land of contradictions. But these protests have exposed the hypocrisy of the government contrasted to the very real efforts of the people to overthrow it.
I'm in Dubai right now, evacuated. That's what I am. An Evacuee. Not quite sure how I feel about that. But here I am able to talk about what's going on.
So what is next, for Egypt, for my friends in Cairo, for me? I'm not sure what country I will be in next week - but Egypt also doesn't know yet what kind of country it will be next week either. I guess Egypt and I are similar right now - we're both in a state of instability.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Are You Safe? Are You Secure?
Everyone expects the people who were able to get out of Egypt to happy and feel safe and secure. Is it ungrateful to be anything less than relieved to be out of a potentially dangerous situation?
Right now, most shops are closed, people's cash is running out, food is not being replenished in the city, and security is uncertain.
But the only place I want to be right now is Cairo.
I'm watching Al Jazeera and they just panned down 26th of July street in Zamalek. It's the street I walk down everyday to get a cab in the morning and get dropped of of in the evening. It's the street I meet my colleague most early mornings to go running. "Sita wa ashreen Yulio." (26th of July). It's the words I speak everyday when I get in a taxi at the end of work.
Work. The building I work in was looted, the glass on the first two floors broken, and the entrance being protected now by men with metal rods and sticks.
How is this Cairo? How is this the place I had these moments of belonging? How is this the same city my fiance and I were planning on starting our life together after we get married?
I'm so proud of the Egyptian people for this uprising - of taking back what they deserve and what they want and demanding a true democracy. Selfishly, I want things to go back to normal as soon as possible so I can return. For everyones sake I hope Mubarak steps down and allows someone else to take power.
Now I feel guilty for not being there and guilty for being safe when so many of my family and friends are unsafe and uncertain of their situation. What will happen next? What will we be doing tomorrow or the next day? What country will I be in in one weeks time?
The only thing I do know is that my heart will be in Cairo tomorrow and the coming days even if physically I am not. Being safe and feeling secure are apparantely very different.
What kind of Cairo and Egypt will I return to? Hopefully it will be a better and more democratic place that will allow the Egyptian people to build the kind of future and life they so deserve after their courageous efforts on the streets.
Right now, most shops are closed, people's cash is running out, food is not being replenished in the city, and security is uncertain.
But the only place I want to be right now is Cairo.
I'm watching Al Jazeera and they just panned down 26th of July street in Zamalek. It's the street I walk down everyday to get a cab in the morning and get dropped of of in the evening. It's the street I meet my colleague most early mornings to go running. "Sita wa ashreen Yulio." (26th of July). It's the words I speak everyday when I get in a taxi at the end of work.
Work. The building I work in was looted, the glass on the first two floors broken, and the entrance being protected now by men with metal rods and sticks.
How is this Cairo? How is this the place I had these moments of belonging? How is this the same city my fiance and I were planning on starting our life together after we get married?
I'm so proud of the Egyptian people for this uprising - of taking back what they deserve and what they want and demanding a true democracy. Selfishly, I want things to go back to normal as soon as possible so I can return. For everyones sake I hope Mubarak steps down and allows someone else to take power.
Now I feel guilty for not being there and guilty for being safe when so many of my family and friends are unsafe and uncertain of their situation. What will happen next? What will we be doing tomorrow or the next day? What country will I be in in one weeks time?
The only thing I do know is that my heart will be in Cairo tomorrow and the coming days even if physically I am not. Being safe and feeling secure are apparantely very different.
What kind of Cairo and Egypt will I return to? Hopefully it will be a better and more democratic place that will allow the Egyptian people to build the kind of future and life they so deserve after their courageous efforts on the streets.
Are You Safe? Are You Secure?
Everyone expects the people who were able to get out of Egypt to happy and feel safe and secure. Is it ungrateful to be anything less than relieved to be out of a potentially dangerous situation?
Right now, most shops are closed, people's cash is running out, food is not being replenished in the city, and security is uncertain.
But the only place I want to be right now is Cairo.
I'm watching Al Jazeera and they just panned down 26th of July street in Zamalek. It's the street I walk down everyday to get a cab in the morning and get dropped of of in the evening. It's the street I meet my colleague most early mornings to go running. "Sita wa ashreen Yulio." (26th of July). It's the words I speak everyday when I get in a taxi at the end of work.
Work. The building I work in was looted, the glass on the first two floors broken, and the entrance being protected now by men with metal rods and sticks.
How is this Cairo? How is this the place I had these moments of belonging? How is this the same city my fiance and I were planning on starting our life together after we get married?
I'm so proud of the Egyptian people for this uprising - of taking back what they deserve and what they want and demanding a true democracy. Selfishly, I want things to go back to normal as soon as possible so I can return. For everyones sake I hope Mubarak steps down and allows someone else to take power.
Now I feel guilty for not being there and guilty for being safe when so many of my family and friends are unsafe and uncertain of their situation. What will happen next? What will we be doing tomorrow or the next day? What country will I be in in one weeks time?
The only thing I do know is that my heart will be in Cairo tomorrow and the coming days even if physically I am not. Being safe and feeling secure are apparantely very different.
What kind of Cairo and Egypt will I return to? Hopefully it will be a better and more democratic place that will allow the Egyptian people to build the kind of future and life they so deserve after their courageous efforts on the streets.
Right now, most shops are closed, people's cash is running out, food is not being replenished in the city, and security is uncertain.
But the only place I want to be right now is Cairo.
I'm watching Al Jazeera and they just panned down 26th of July street in Zamalek. It's the street I walk down everyday to get a cab in the morning and get dropped of of in the evening. It's the street I meet my colleague most early mornings to go running. "Sita wa ashreen Yulio." (26th of July). It's the words I speak everyday when I get in a taxi at the end of work.
Work. The building I work in was looted, the glass on the first two floors broken, and the entrance being protected now by men with metal rods and sticks.
How is this Cairo? How is this the place I had these moments of belonging? How is this the same city my fiance and I were planning on starting our life together after we get married?
I'm so proud of the Egyptian people for this uprising - of taking back what they deserve and what they want and demanding a true democracy. Selfishly, I want things to go back to normal as soon as possible so I can return. For everyones sake I hope Mubarak steps down and allows someone else to take power.
Now I feel guilty for not being there and guilty for being safe when so many of my family and friends are unsafe and uncertain of their situation. What will happen next? What will we be doing tomorrow or the next day? What country will I be in in one weeks time?
The only thing I do know is that my heart will be in Cairo tomorrow and the coming days even if physically I am not. Being safe and feeling secure are apparantely very different.
What kind of Cairo and Egypt will I return to? Hopefully it will be a better and more democratic place that will allow the Egyptian people to build the kind of future and life they so deserve after their courageous efforts on the streets.
Transition Y3ny Ay? (Transition Means What?)
Right, so we get the reasons for diplomatic talk. But let's start calling a spade a spade. Egypt doesn't need a transition - they need Mubarak to resign, get out of the way, and have the next leader step in to organize real and transparent elections.
While we're at it, can we tell him to turn the Internet back on? Tomorrow night it will be one week that Egypt has been without connection to the world.
Would be great if the banks were opened by the government. And that they allowed trains to run and the highways to open.
I think people probably will need to eat pretty soon as well.
Maybe we could also get some people to man the airports and ports?
Just some minor things that ya know, the country needs to, well, basically, exist.
It's understandable that the U.S. and Obama does not want to be seen as charting the course for Egypt's future, but it is not secret that the Egyptian military would not be nearly as capable or well-trained if it was not for American aid. It is also no secret that America has more or less used aid money to bribe Egypt into remaining at peace with Israel.
The longer these truths are ignored or rhetorically side-stepped by President Obama, the higher the chance of anti-American chants and sentiments will come to a boil.
Support the Egyptian people, support the downfall of the Mubarak regime and the National Democratic Party.
While we're at it, can we tell him to turn the Internet back on? Tomorrow night it will be one week that Egypt has been without connection to the world.
Would be great if the banks were opened by the government. And that they allowed trains to run and the highways to open.
I think people probably will need to eat pretty soon as well.
Maybe we could also get some people to man the airports and ports?
Just some minor things that ya know, the country needs to, well, basically, exist.
It's understandable that the U.S. and Obama does not want to be seen as charting the course for Egypt's future, but it is not secret that the Egyptian military would not be nearly as capable or well-trained if it was not for American aid. It is also no secret that America has more or less used aid money to bribe Egypt into remaining at peace with Israel.
The longer these truths are ignored or rhetorically side-stepped by President Obama, the higher the chance of anti-American chants and sentiments will come to a boil.
Support the Egyptian people, support the downfall of the Mubarak regime and the National Democratic Party.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Which Part of "Leave" Do You Not Understand?
I am convinced that Mubarak is not watching non-state run television - because I don't believe the protesters have been living on Tahrir Square for Mubarak to not run for re-election.
Mubarak wants to exit his time as presidency on his own terms, but that dream ended along with the dreams of the youth of Egypt.
Many people think that elections equal democracy. However, Iran has elections and it's viewed as extreme and Israel only enfranchises parts of the people under its control and is viewed as democratic. The people of Egypt have had their election for president. They had it starting on January 25th. They had it on the streets. They've had it in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Luxor, Aswan. They need no ballot box. They have taken their votes live and have lost their fear of persecution and repression.
President Obama, don't be on the wrong side of history. Stand by your word to support the democratic desires and aims of a people.
Mubarak, it's unclear why you don't understand that your people no longer want you. They speak your language. In fact, many are educated to speak several. The longer you remain digging your feet into the sinking sand beneath you the more you will hurt the country and people you profess to love and want to protect. If you want to go down as a leader who respected the wishes and sacrifice of its people, step down. Your people have sacrificed with their lives long enough for your political ambitions.
Freedom of choice is one of the most powerful desires a people can have. Respect it, support it. Support the people of Egypt in their struggle for democracy and change.
Mubarak wants to exit his time as presidency on his own terms, but that dream ended along with the dreams of the youth of Egypt.
Many people think that elections equal democracy. However, Iran has elections and it's viewed as extreme and Israel only enfranchises parts of the people under its control and is viewed as democratic. The people of Egypt have had their election for president. They had it starting on January 25th. They had it on the streets. They've had it in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Luxor, Aswan. They need no ballot box. They have taken their votes live and have lost their fear of persecution and repression.
President Obama, don't be on the wrong side of history. Stand by your word to support the democratic desires and aims of a people.
Mubarak, it's unclear why you don't understand that your people no longer want you. They speak your language. In fact, many are educated to speak several. The longer you remain digging your feet into the sinking sand beneath you the more you will hurt the country and people you profess to love and want to protect. If you want to go down as a leader who respected the wishes and sacrifice of its people, step down. Your people have sacrificed with their lives long enough for your political ambitions.
Freedom of choice is one of the most powerful desires a people can have. Respect it, support it. Support the people of Egypt in their struggle for democracy and change.
Here President Obama, I'm Giving You a Plan
So apparently Obama is assembling a team of Egyptian experts to put together a strategy with how to deal with the ongoing situation. Here is the plan if he would like to avoid Egypt turning anti-American and becoming Iran's new BFF:
Drop the rhetoric. Everyone knows that using a phrase like "orderly transition" is about as hazy as the pollution over Cairo. Come out strong. I know that pragmatism and diplomatic statements are your forte Mr. President, but in this situation, be straightforward because you're dealing with a people who are used to propaganda and have X-ray vision when it comes to statements by political leaders.
Mubarak has achieved stability and peace in his country. But his focus has been on his place in the foreign community and propping up the businessmen in Egypt rather than on the plight of his people. Talk to most Egyptians and they will tell you that the public schools - a hallmark of American culture - will most likely make you dumber rather than smarter by attending. America has allowed Mubarak to get away with human rights abuses and political suppression in the name of peace. Peace is about to be gone.
Israel. Oh, Israel. Netanyahu talks about democracy like he knows what that means. If he really knew anything about democracy how can he keep 4 or 5 million Palestinians without vote or passport. While we're on the subject of thinking about our relationship with Egypt, why don't we rethink our relationship with Israel as well? If we want to say America supports democracy, what is going on in Egypt is more democratic than most of the policies coming out of Israel in recent years. Violence? Peace? Which country is it that bombed a helpless population two winters ago and has since decimated the local economy by it's brutal blockade? Pretty sure that was Israel.
In 1776 our founding fathers came together to form a more perfect union. They fought with their words and they fought with their lives. The Egyptians are doing something similar right now and we have every obligation to support them. Not just obligation for them, but for our own country. It would be a tragedy to allow Egypt to miss this opportunity and it would be a tragedy for America to miss the opportunity to support a truly democratic movement.
Support the Egyptian people in overthrowing Hosni Mubarak. Support America supporting them to do this.
Drop the rhetoric. Everyone knows that using a phrase like "orderly transition" is about as hazy as the pollution over Cairo. Come out strong. I know that pragmatism and diplomatic statements are your forte Mr. President, but in this situation, be straightforward because you're dealing with a people who are used to propaganda and have X-ray vision when it comes to statements by political leaders.
Mubarak has achieved stability and peace in his country. But his focus has been on his place in the foreign community and propping up the businessmen in Egypt rather than on the plight of his people. Talk to most Egyptians and they will tell you that the public schools - a hallmark of American culture - will most likely make you dumber rather than smarter by attending. America has allowed Mubarak to get away with human rights abuses and political suppression in the name of peace. Peace is about to be gone.
Israel. Oh, Israel. Netanyahu talks about democracy like he knows what that means. If he really knew anything about democracy how can he keep 4 or 5 million Palestinians without vote or passport. While we're on the subject of thinking about our relationship with Egypt, why don't we rethink our relationship with Israel as well? If we want to say America supports democracy, what is going on in Egypt is more democratic than most of the policies coming out of Israel in recent years. Violence? Peace? Which country is it that bombed a helpless population two winters ago and has since decimated the local economy by it's brutal blockade? Pretty sure that was Israel.
In 1776 our founding fathers came together to form a more perfect union. They fought with their words and they fought with their lives. The Egyptians are doing something similar right now and we have every obligation to support them. Not just obligation for them, but for our own country. It would be a tragedy to allow Egypt to miss this opportunity and it would be a tragedy for America to miss the opportunity to support a truly democratic movement.
Support the Egyptian people in overthrowing Hosni Mubarak. Support America supporting them to do this.
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