Hello to those who think that I've disappeared. I apologize for being so out with this blog, and I promise that soon I will update with the end of my semester, India, Greg visiting China, and my new semester.
I just wanted to say Mazel Tov to the people of Egypt. I am so incredibly impressed with this grassroots non-religious demonstration of people coming together and demanding that their government treat them as human beings. And that's the truth of the matter. The people of Egypt are not using Israel, the United States, or religion as an excuse to get a corrupt leader out of power. They are demanding to be governed by a person or people who are not focused on their own personal gain and for once will respect the dignity of the Egyptian citizen.
It's been appalling the way the United States news organizations have been covering the situation. Every other sentence talks about the "Muslim Brotherhood" as if its a time bomb waiting to strike. I read an article announcing the resignation of Mubarak this morning on CNN international which had a large portion of the article devoted to different ways the organization could gain influence within a democracy. Well guess what? That's what a democracy fucking is! And to add to this hypocrisy, the organization, sensing that its participation will delegitimize a movement in which they are participants but not leaders, has even stated that they will not be fielding a candidate in the next Presidential election. And what's so terrible about a democratic state having a representation of religion? I can think of several other western countries which have similar issues, namely THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL.
And that's the other issue. The New York Times accurately stated that the situation in Egypt will be difficult in terms of balancing religion with politics. But in its example, they only stated that Iraq and Lebanon had Parliaments paralyzed by ruling religious factions. The situation in the middle east will only start to be addressed when a leading news organization can also add to that list the name of Israel, where it is also religious extremists who are preventing true democracy from taking shape.
As for the situation in Egypt, it will be a wildcard for the United States. Yes, Mubarak was a puppy who would do what we'd say, and not threaten Israel. But we've tried controlling groups of people with puppet dictators in the Middle East for years. And it comes back to threaten our personal security and our resource security when and entire region of the world hates our guts (and for somewhat legitimate reasons).
Let's hope the CIA stays the hell away from this situation. I think it could turn out for the best.
I just wanted to say Mazel Tov to the people of Egypt. I am so incredibly impressed with this grassroots non-religious demonstration of people coming together and demanding that their government treat them as human beings. And that's the truth of the matter. The people of Egypt are not using Israel, the United States, or religion as an excuse to get a corrupt leader out of power. They are demanding to be governed by a person or people who are not focused on their own personal gain and for once will respect the dignity of the Egyptian citizen.
It's been appalling the way the United States news organizations have been covering the situation. Every other sentence talks about the "Muslim Brotherhood" as if its a time bomb waiting to strike. I read an article announcing the resignation of Mubarak this morning on CNN international which had a large portion of the article devoted to different ways the organization could gain influence within a democracy. Well guess what? That's what a democracy fucking is! And to add to this hypocrisy, the organization, sensing that its participation will delegitimize a movement in which they are participants but not leaders, has even stated that they will not be fielding a candidate in the next Presidential election. And what's so terrible about a democratic state having a representation of religion? I can think of several other western countries which have similar issues, namely THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL.
And that's the other issue. The New York Times accurately stated that the situation in Egypt will be difficult in terms of balancing religion with politics. But in its example, they only stated that Iraq and Lebanon had Parliaments paralyzed by ruling religious factions. The situation in the middle east will only start to be addressed when a leading news organization can also add to that list the name of Israel, where it is also religious extremists who are preventing true democracy from taking shape.
As for the situation in Egypt, it will be a wildcard for the United States. Yes, Mubarak was a puppy who would do what we'd say, and not threaten Israel. But we've tried controlling groups of people with puppet dictators in the Middle East for years. And it comes back to threaten our personal security and our resource security when and entire region of the world hates our guts (and for somewhat legitimate reasons).
Let's hope the CIA stays the hell away from this situation. I think it could turn out for the best.
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