International News
See other International News Articles
Title: Every American Should be Proud of Egyptians
Source:
Dissenting Opinions
URL Source: http://jwpegler.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-day-16.html
Published: Feb 10, 2011
Author: Eric Blankenburg
Post Date: 2011-02-10 21:40:52 by jwpegler
Keywords: None
Views: 14662
Comments: 29
The brave Egyptian protesters are in day 16 of their protest against the dictator Mubarak. Mubarak refuses to leave. The Egypt military is starting to make veiled threats against the protesters. Yet, the protests continue. Every American should be proud of the civil disobedience the Egyptians are displaying. After all, Americans pretty much invented civil disobedience. Sorry President Obama, it wasn't Gandhi. Gandhi was a big fan of Henry David Thoreau. Unfortunately, there is a segment in American society that is alarmed by the protests in Egypt. It's a segment of the population that I have a great affinity with and respect for -- conservatives. One has to wonder how "conservatives", who champion American values, came to be alarmed by and even oppose the Egyptian's desire to be free of tyranny. It all started with the Cold. It continues with the desire of some "conservative" politicians (the neo-cons) who are trying to remain relevant by exploiting the fears of Americans, rather than exploiting our ideals. During the Cold War, America faced an organized, ideological enemy (Communism) that enslaved half of the world and had tens of thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at us. America did what it took to fight this tyranny. One thing America did was prop up anti-Communist dictators -- some of whom were pretty nasty at home. American did what we had to do for the future of world. I supported it 100% and I won't apologize for it. However, after the Cold War ended the U.S. government stopped propping up dictators in Latin America and Asia. Most countries in Latin America and Asia have progressed to market economies and pluralistic political systems. Unfortunately, the U.S. government did not stop propping up dictators in the Middle East. Who flew the Airplanes into the Word Trade Center? Hondurans? Chileans? Filipinos? South Koreans? NO. It was people who lived in oppressive regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, that are supported either financially or militarily by the U.S. government. Today, Tunisians and Egyptians are clamoring to be free. Others are likely to follow. Americans should be cheering. Unfortunately, many "conservative" politician are sounding the alarm bells instead. Why? Unfortunately, conservative politicians in America refuse to hear our own history. Instead, they demagogue the situation in the middle east by spreading fear that feeds off of the legitimate anger that Americans felt about 9/11. Why are they doing that? The GOP coalition is much more ideologically diverse than the Democrat Party. The only thing that held the GOP coalition together was anti-communism. After the Cold War ended, parts of the GOP coalition including libertarians like Ron Paul and paelo-cons like Pat Buchanan started questioning our expensive military commitments abroad. This alarmed some people in the GOP (the "neo-cons"), so they started looking for a new enemy. For a while during the 1990s, they were beating the war drums against "Red" China, which in many ways is more capitalist than the U.S. 9/11 saved the GOP coalition for while. But 9/11 is not the hot topic for Americans today. So the neo-cons are reaching for new solutions. Some are starting to beat the drums against China again, because this is all they have left. I love my country. I often call myself a "conservative". But I do hope and pray that the people in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East are successful in overthrowing U.S. sponsored dictators, for their own sake, but also for the sake of the American people so that we can finally put our Cold War mentality to rest and let the American and the world move on.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: jwpegler (#0)
What percent of the Egyptians are at the protests? Do you have any idea?
Don't forget the fine taxpayers that send their paychecks to Washington DC every week and finish their tallies on April 15th. Remember, they vote for the government of their choice! And they have voted for Mubarak to be supplied with 30 years of American taxpayer money, totaling some $50Bn.
Do you play candyland?
I happened to flip over to Beck today, he had some guy on arguing that Egypt would be a Muslim Republic operating under Sharia law before long. Unbelievable.
Since January 3, 2011, Republicans have controlled the power of the purse.
And I forgot to mention that those religious nutters in America have created the political tensions in the ME. They begged the establishment of Israel and for 60 years have provided trillions of tax payer dollars to save that artificial nation, meanwhile through the rest of the ME slid a buck or two to the tyrants most favorable to the "leanings" of political hot-air at the time in Washington DC. You can blame those Bible thumpers for all of the mess.
Buckeroo. Trillions? Have you hit the bottle again.
If you consider the wars and blood US taxpayers have spilled "protecting" this bastard curse, some of you 'people' call israel...trillions $$$ is indeed in the ballpark.
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
More money has gone to the Arabs then Israel. I like Rand Paul support cutting all foreign aid. Israel is the good guys though. At least as far as human beings can be "good".
Bull-fucking-shit. Further, the bastard zionist 'israelites' are the true evil in the Middle East. The region erupted once the bastard state was created by your beloved United Nations. Israel will be disassembled as the 'jewish state'. Look at the map and buy a clue. Didn't think it would happen this fast though but for the USA, the sooner, the better. I have some vintage wine in the cellar just for the occasion.
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
Prior to 1948 the ME was just a peaceful paradise, wasn't it, fuzzy muzzy?
Unbelievable. He's an idiot. Egypt is not Iran. There isn't any exiled Ayatollah waiting in the wings to take charge. The most popular institution in Egypt is the pro-western military.
Allahu Akbar!
Enough to bring down the government.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
Nope, it was occupied by colonial powers. With the exception of a couple of countries, Sweden and Switzerland come to mind, the West hasn't exactly been a peaceful paradise either.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
Like 10 percent.
Bull-fucking-shit. You aren't as informed as you seem sometimes. It is true your muslim brothers have got the most loot. Here is an incovenient chart.
Your chart was for the 2009-10 time frame. I don't remember a time-frame inclusion in your statement. I was considering 'money gone to the Arabs then Israel' over the past 63 years.
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
I think it would hold true. It is true that we give Israel the most money per country. But if you add up the arab countries that receive aid I think it is more. I guess what I offered isn't absolute proof but it shows the trend. Do you think we should cut all foreign aid to arab nations?
That's 8 million people.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
I don't know if my figure is accurate. I just heard it on TV or the radio or something. If it is 8 million protestors, which I doubt. That would make what 72 million not protesting? Probably even more staying home. Do you think the Iranian types will take over?
Any true democratic system would force any party to it to moderate their views and policies in order to maximize the number of people they get elected to a legislative body in it. The Muslim Brotherhood won't get anywhere in a true democracy, so lets what to see what the structure of that emerging representative system is before going hell bent to wacko over any participants in it.
No, I think Egyptians will be in charge.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
Radical muslims?
Hamas
I don't think he realizes Iran is in Persian and Egypt is part of the Arab world either. And he's probably really go wacko if he knew Iraq is the place Mesopotamia was, the cradle of Western Civilization.
The Muslim Brotherhood is analogous to Christian Reconstructionists. Both seek religious political domination through peaceful means.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
I agree with that, also. These Baptists down here don't want us to drink alcohol. Glug, glug, glug...
Bingo. Not to mention loosely formed Christian terror group called 'the Brotherhood' spreading lynching style murder and mayhem in Africa to promote their agenda of hatred and intolerence.
I don't think that's what the people who have been demonstrating over the past couple of weeks want. That being said, Mubarak has been pretty effective in squashing opposition so we'll have to see what emerges.
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. Thomas Jefferson
#2. To: jwpegler (#0)
Who flew the Airplanes into the Word Trade Center? Hondurans? Chileans? Filipinos? South Koreans? NO. It was people who lived in oppressive regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, that are supported either financially or militarily by the U.S. government.
#3. To: Kafir (#2)
#4. To: jwpegler (#0)
The brave Egyptian protesters are in day 16 of their protest against the dictator Mubarak. Mubarak refuses to leave. The Egypt military is starting to make veiled threats against the protesters. Yet, the protests continue.
#5. To: jwpegler (#0)
#6. To: Kafir (#5)
They begged the establishment of Israel and for 60 years have provided trillions of tax payer dollars
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6)
They begged the establishment of Israel and for 60 years have provided trillions of tax payer dollars
#8. To: Brian S (#7)
#9. To: A K A Stone (#8)
More money has gone to the Arabs then Israel.
#10. To: Brian S, AKA Stone (#9)
The region erupted once the bastard state was created
#11. To: go65 (#4)
I happened to flip over to Beck today, he had some guy on arguing that Egypt would be a Muslim Republic operating under Sharia law before long.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#12. To: jwpegler (#0)
#13. To: A K A Stone (#1)
What percent of the Egyptians are at the protests? Do you have any idea?
#14. To: Ibluafartsky (#10)
Prior to 1948 the ME was just a peaceful paradise, wasn't it, fuzzy muzzy?
#15. To: lucysmom (#13)
#16. To: Brian S (#9)
More money has gone to the Arabs then Israel.
#17. To: A K A Stone (#16)
More money has gone to the Arabs then Israel.
#18. To: Brian S (#17)
#19. To: A K A Stone (#15)
#20. To: lucysmom (#19)
#21. To: A K A Stone (#20)
#22. To: A K A Stone (#20)
Do you think the Iranian types will take over?
#23. To: lucysmom (#22)
No, I think Egyptians will be in charge.
#24. To: Ferret Mike (#21)
Any true democratic system would force any party to it to moderate their views
#25. To: lucysmom (#22)
#26. To: Ferret Mike (#21)
The Muslim Brotherhood won't get anywhere in a true democracy...
#27. To: lucysmom (#26)
#28. To: lucysmom (#26)
"The Muslim Brotherhood is analogous to Christian Reconstructionists. Both seek religious political domination through peaceful means."
#29. To: A K A Stone (#23)
Radical muslims?
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]