Saturday, January 29, 2011
Egyptian Unrest. What can we learn.
At first look the Egyptian riots and civil unrest, is a nation whose people thirst to drink the water of freedom. We in America know the quenching drink that freedom can be. However if we look at Egypt more closely, we will notice that the unrest comes from a population that has seen their standard of living drop precipitously. The rich under a corrupt government has widened the gap between the wealthy and the poor. The rioters are middle class, poor, conservative, student and the population that has lost hope that they will be able to work hard and enjoy the fruit of that labor, by improving their status and incomes. The wealthy elite led by Egyptian president Hosni Mubararak have been corrupt for thirty years. The people could not turn any where for relief. This is the proverbial, back someone into a corner and prepare for them to come out fighting. I do not know what the outcome for Egypt will be, but I do know that a lesson should be had for America. We are experiencing high unemployment. We feel as if the government is controlled by big business. The people we elect turn a deaf ear to the average citizen, no matter which party is in control. Now more the ever it is important that we take the time to let those, who were sent to Washington to serve us, we are the people and we will be heard. Our nation's leaders must hear us and help. The alternative could be devastating.
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The key phrase from the article is no outlet for the frustration. Although our Amnerican tendencies are much more controlled, yes we still live with unemployment on the rise, debts piling high, foreclosures, minimum wage, no healthcare coverage, corrupt politicians and law enforcement. we live in a society where social networking seems to substitute the avenue to vent out our concerns. However stepping back and analyzing this unrest, we notice we are no different than the Egyptians. Personally I think massive protestors are easier to handle than a single extremist mind who quietly goes into a building and randomly shoots at innocent bystanders. They are silent killers. These are people we see unfortunately frequently. Case in point: the Arizona tragedy. Pleading insanity seems to be tolerable than accepting that societies have voices and numbers prove to be the evidence of people looking to escape and make a drastic change.
ReplyDeleteIts almost funny how pre-disposed we both are to our own way of thinking. All is see is an oppressive government (aided with 60 billion dollars over the past 30 years from America). I do not mean this as an argument but simply a point about what is most important and perhaps what is most aggravating to the people of Egypt.
ReplyDeleteI have watched quite a few videos on the subject of the Egyptian protest... (I can not claim to be highly educated on the subject) however, do you knwo what I have not heard from the protesters. I don't think I heard any talk about money. Now, they did mention corrupt, and over-controlling government but never the "rich".
Also to be fair, I have heard "other outlets" express "increasing poverty". But I associate that with the over-controlling government, not that the "rich" are keeping it all.
What is more damaging to the people, the fact that there is a wealthy person down the street that owns the factory they work at... or the fact that their government can turn off the internet, and cell towers when the people want to rise up?
Did you knwo that Joe Lieberman introduced this same type of legislation here in the states? It would be a "protection" against a viral attack of terrorism.
Thats perfect "fear" for "freedom" policy!!!
I also heard a BBC reporter talk about how he was arrested and beat badly and how he refused the "government hospital" because it was well known that once you were sent there you were treated and immediately arrested once again.
We dont think about that do we. Lets give them our hospitals, give them our internet, give them our food, give them our schools, give them our cars, give them our homes... and then wonder why there is "increasing poverty" and our internet is getting cut off when we fight back.
John, my argument is simple. We are not special. We are human, and our leaders are human. The day will come where the American people will need to fight back against their government or at least protest in the streets by the thousands to get the point across. Dont you want you internet when that happens? Dont you want to be able to get treated without the government knowing where you are and paying the doctors that treat you? Dont you want the ability to get food without the permission of the the government? Dont you want to educate your children about the trickery of their leaders as well as the good qualities?
I am not be crazy when I say that day will come for us, my children, grandchildren, or maybe great-great grandchildren. I for one will not empower their enemy before they are even born.
Protection against the Federal Government not the greatness of the government is the genius of the American experiment... I want to keep it that way.