My two best friends through out the last six or seven days have been Twitter and Reddit. It has been quite stunning getting to read first hand accounts of fellow Redditors and Tweeters form Tahrir Square and other locations around Cairo. To help in getting information out when the Egyptian government shut down almost all forms of communication. To get to listen to exactly what the people marching were calling for. It has been an incredibly inspiring experience. Then......
I caught what was being reported and said on the US news. On CNN, FOX and MSNBC. As well as what was coming from the White House. It was almost like two completely different events. I was appalled. So I have spent a lot of time trying to come to terms and come to an explanation for this.
First, here is what I am getting from the actual people in Cairo taking part in the revolution. They are marching because Mubarak has increasingly become a ruthless dictator with a strong police presence in the country. 40 percent of the country lives below the poverty line. 45 percent live on little more than 2 dollars a day. The government had made it clear that dissent and protest will not be tolerated. It was seriously wrong.
Here in the US a completely different take on things. The protests were being reported as a violent uprising and that the government was working to get things under control. I do not think that was ever an option. I think it scared governments around the world, including here in the US. It needed to at least pretend that the, established and US backed government for 30 years, would soon regain control. Now, there are several reasons for this. Egypt has been a key ally in the Middle East for the US concerning affairs related to Israel. Cairo has been very friendly to Israeli causes. We need that in place. We now fear losing it. So the media starts inserting questions about organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood in the revolution. Worries about the pretests being anti American. I do not think they are anti American, but more like, thanks but no thanks America. The sentiment is we can keep our aid money if that means we will butt out and let the Egyptian people settle this. What has out money done for those 40 percent in poverty? They have watched a US government choose support for Mubarak ant the cost of wide spread suffering of the people.
I could continue to try and characterize this unfolding event in my own words but two pieces of media, one a picture taken by a fellow redditor. The other is a video by Tamer Shaaban. First the photo from Tahrir Square.
One of the most powerful videos I have ever seen. Especially the guy at :45. You can hear the heartbreaking passion and resolve in his voice. It sent chills up and down my spine. Still does.
"we will not be silenced, whether you are a christian, whether you are a Muslim, whether you are an atheist, you will demand your goddamn rights and we will have our rights, one way or the other! We will never be silenced" ----such powerful words. our prayers are with you Egypt.
