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The Founding Fathers Would Be Proud of the People of Egypt ... And Disgusted With the People of America
America's founding fathers stood up for their freedom, winning it from the British (with the help of the French).
The
Egyptian people have stood up for their freedom, winning it from the
Mubarak dictatorship (with the help of the army, which refused to fire a
shot at the people, and may even have helped convince Mubarak to leave.
See this and this).
The
Egyptian people found their courage even when Mubarak's thugs flew
fighter jets low over their heads, beat and murdered protesters, and
otherwise threatened violence.
But the American people today have been cowed into passivity by an irrational fear of terrorism, laziness and mindlessness.
Comparisons
But obviously, the American government is nothing like the Egyptian dictatorship, right?
Let's compare:
- There is a stunning amount of inequality in Egypt. But America is even worse
- Mubarak stole billions from his people, while the American oligarchs may have stolen trillions. See this, this, this and this
- Egypt have been living under a state of emergency for 30 years. But Americans have been living under a continuous state of emergency for 10 years straight
- Mubarak was supported by the military. But the military -industrial complex has taken over America
as well (moreover, there is a tradition in countries like Turkey for
the military to ensure that religious fanatics do not take over the
country)
- Mubarak ignored the wishes of his people. But the American government hasn't been listening to it's people either. For example, a 2010 Rasmussen poll found
that "just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government
enjoys the consent of the governed". A 2010 Gallup poll determined
that nearly half of all Americans believe "the Federal government poses
an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens".
Poll after poll shows that "both national parties are deeply unpopular with an electorate looking for something new and different". Polls reveal
that 82% of all Americans wanted Wall Street to be reined in in a
substantial and meaningful manner, and yet nothing has really changed,
and the government has let Wall Street have it's way on all the
important issues. Polls find that Americans want the big financial
players who acted with fraud to be punished, and yet the government has let all of the big fish off the hook. And the government has ignored many other desires of the American people, including investigations into torture and spying on Americans, impeaching George W. Bush if he lied about Iraqi WMDs (which he did)
- Mubarak repressed his people and stifled dissent. Bush and Obama have haven't been all that protective of liberty either
- Mubarak murdered and tortured people without following the rule of law. America hasn't been wholly saintly in this regard over the last 10 years either (and see this)
I'm not saying that America is Egypt. I am saying that America today has a lot
of problems also. (And if you think those problems started on 9/11,
remember that virtually all of the current domestic and foreign policies
were already in place or planned before 9/11.)
But unlike the Egyptian people, Americans have become scared of their own shadow. We have forgotten that courage and hope are choices
- which do not have to come from John Wayne levels of testosterone, but
can simply arise from loving something enough to want to protect it.
How Did We Turn Into the Oppressor?
England oppressed America. We were the downtrodden who broke free. But now, America has helped to repress the Egyptian people (and see this and this).
How did we get on the wrong side of history?
The Egyptian People Have Changed the World
Minister Jim Wallis writes
in an open letter to the Egyptian protesters today entitled "The
Egyptian People Have Changed the World -- It's Their Turn to Lead":
You have changed the world.
***
Remember,
the United States was not talking about democracy in Egypt, not
advocating it, not saying a transition is necessary and urgent, UNTIL
you risked your security, safety and lives for the sake of democracy.
You changed the conversation, and the conversation would be the same as
it has been for decades if you hadn't done what you did. Your
generational peers are now watching what you are doing in countries
across the Arab world, and beyond. This is the moment for you and for
us.
***
You
represent a new generation, a new leadership, and a new hope for the
possibility of real democracy. Keep leading. My government, which still
calls itself the beacon of freedom, has sacrificed democracy in your
region of the world (and many other places) for American "interests." And
our foreign policy around the globe has put our interests before our
principles. But they are not really the interests of the American
people, but of oil companies, big banks and corporations, and rich and
powerful people. Their interest in stability is very different from ours in democracy. So
don't be fooled, don't listen to the so-called "wise" voices that have
been part of the old reality and want to now thank you for your
service to democracy, but are offering to take it from here.
Don't
let them. Keep demanding democracy -- real democracy. Because, for the
rest of us, democracy is the best defense of our "interests," and the
best path to genuine "stability." And, for our part, we will do our
best to stand with you. That will likely take sacrifice from all of us,
because real change always does.
The Founding Fathers would be proud of the Egyptian people, just as they supported the French revolution. They would be disgusted at the spineless sheep that the American people have become.
Note:
I love America and have lived here all my life. I criticize my country
because I want to save her from the self-destructive, anti-American
path that Bush and Obama have put us on. Just as the Egyptian people
felt a need to speak out, so do I.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
-Thomas Jefferson
"Patriotism
means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the
president or any other public official save exactly to the degree in
which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him
insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to
oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he
fails in his duty to stand by the country."
– Teddy Roosevelt
"To
announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we
are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only
unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American
public."
– Teddy Roosevelt
"This
country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.
Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can
exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their
revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it."
- Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural
"These
economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the
institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek
to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions
requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide
behind the flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget
what the flag and the Constitution stand for."
- Franklin Roosevelt
"Those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Ben Franklin
»
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Greetings farttrader and buggery...
Boy you guys jumped on this thread pretty quickly... 8 minutes and 15 minutes respectively. Congrats! Is this your day job?
Tough for anyone to lead with the likes of you two and your worthless piece of shit comments stinking up the place but hey... it's your families we truly feel sorry for.
Crawl back under those rocks will you and let your masters fuck you up the ass just the way you've always liked.
pwnt
>>>Tough for anyone to lead with the likes of you two...blah, blah, blah<<<
Leading is not being a keyboard commando in an echo chamber.
I understand you're a GW synchophant, but when you compare the original content of someone like Reggie Middleton to GW's kindergarten copy paste posts we are subjected to on a daily basis, do you really think there is any comparison?
Never mind.
I'm certain you can't see the difference.
@flattrader: Reggie and Geo operate in entirely different modes. Both of course have their unique styles. Sorry you don't like Geo's . . . but then I rarely read Reggie due to my own unique sensitivity to his style. That doesn't make him a bum, however. Or deserving of my public ridicule.
For my part, I think this was Geo's masterpiece.
"Reggie and Geo operate in entirely different modes."
TD has set the culture of ZH as an information site. Reggie does informative articles, consistent with site culture.
GW does whinny editorial articles, inconsistent with site culture, why I view his articles as a waste of ZH resources / bandwidth.
I don't see any style to GW's posts other than that found in a kindergarten collage of cut and paste content he picked up elsewhere.
It's like reading regurgitation.
Even the whinyness (sp?) and preachiness is hardly original and growing tiresome.
My assessment hardly constitues ridicule.
This is weird. Extremely weird, flattrader.
I was just traveling down the page from the top and posted a response to anon's comment that absolutely addresses your every criticism without in any way speaking of you. Before I read and responded to this comment.
Now that's just plain weird. Read it and perhaps you'll see what I mean.
Edit: I just went back and did a spell check in case you noticed that the time stamps were not working out with my story.
The Lord moderates in mysterious ways ;-)
flag as brilliant (1)
you need to understand his perspective, GW writes good stuff but you need to balance it with some MSM reporting to arrive at the truth (but not too much MSM)
understatement
GW writes suff out of passion, that most others (Alex Jones excepted) dare not write and while GW stretches the facts on occasion to fit the theory he offers an important if not always accurate perspective
Reggie pays to post on ZH as in "subscription mill" just like MHFT, it would be interesting to know the numbers but I bet it's a good deal for RM and ZH
I see we share sensitivities.
I think the primary reason people can easily overlook the depth and scope of Geo's work is his extensive use of web links as footnotes within his arguments. They require work on the reader's part and someone who doesn't like the sound of Geo's narrative voice can just fly on by and then cast off the work as a light summary. It's what they wanted to do. Of course, not all posts are "heavy," but I think it's the argument's reliance upon links that loses a few people.
They're easy for me to appreciate because I don't need to hit the links.
If I'm not interested in transvestite porn I stay out of transvestite porn shops.
You? You on the other hand go in and complain about the quality of the XXX DVD's they are selling.
I love Reggie and I love G.W. It's stupid cockgobblers like you I have problems with.
And I am certain you can not understand what I have just said. :)
Awesome responses, ZerOhead!
Any argument promoting a theme such as Leading is not being a keyboard commando in an echo chamber is hollow. I cannot speak for what anyone on this site does away from this site to lead, but can attest to the fact that ZerOhead and multitude of other commenters here have helped me become aware of what’s going on in the world, and have subsequently led me to do more “good” in my world. (“Good” is in quotes as I am not attempting to convey its meaning to me to anyone on this site.)
So if that’s true for me, then it stands to reason it’s true for others out there, too. The genuine, intelligent commenters on this site are leading, even if they are not cognizant of it.
Thanks Ted... I really don't deserve the praise however... that belongs to the trolls that fire me up!
"It's stupid cockgobblers like you I have problems with."
Hello troll.
Get some meds man...and a better dictionary so you can express yourself like an adult.
It's 10 to 4 on the JUNK count.
I suggest you finally wake up like Mubarak did.
Enjoy your DVD.
And thanks for reminding me about the meds! :)
George says things that need to be said.
If FT doesn't like it, can't say why he doesn't [except in a vacuous, ad hominem attack style], can't/won't contribute to the discussion, then he should go away and read econophile.
He's just taking up space, but in this case, trolls and what to do about them is almost on topic.
ZerO it is posts like yours that are giving ZH a bad name
Why not troll some other blog, I hear Ritholtz is looking for some extra traffic.
WTF has happend to the good ol' Zero Hedge commenters?
Substance or humor ANONYMOUS. I saw neither in their remarks however you think differently... please explain your position.
And by good ol' ZH commenters you mean?
ZerOHead--you have been dearly missed! So glad to see you, cat.
Thanks Mr. Beale... good to see you as well!
I am returning from a self imposed exile of sorts. Perhaps things have become more gentrified during my absence. If the masses wish for me to dial things down a touch please respond to my CatPoll Technologies questionaire.
Love the poll. I think you have finally figured out a good mechanism for using the junk flag. Brilliant!
Yeah, I agree Howard. Clever idea, but confusing implementation, to wit.
Full disclosure: I am a Cat fan.
Tell the Cat to dial it down.
(Junk = back off critter)
IMO - more intuitive to say
Tell the Cat to dial it down.
(Junk = show no mercy :) < Junk as in disagree with the line 'Tell the Cat to dial it down.' = 'show no mercy :)'
That was definitely serious innovation!
Tell the Cat to crank it up!
(Junk = show no mercy :)
Great poll ZerOhead. I am number 6!
I think you're correctly reading the prevailing climate, Cat. We're going through a spell when force is often legitimate . . . since it would appear to be the only thing alot of people understand.
Tell the Cat to dial it down.
(Junk = back off critter)
to quote a recent post by ZerOhead
is that an example what you meant Howard?
The cat can say whatever he likes--and even apologizes when crossing the line. But you, me, and ZerOhead are oldtimers. And we don't take down the integrity of the blog. Maybe we can bring it back to a level of integrity that is sorely missing. Because this place is not what it was a year ago or more. I have stated my case before and will not do it again. I rarely post anymore because the threads get hijacked immediately. Just look at the Sprott post. Cat was just sick of it and the claws came out. And I am glad they did! I will say though, at 1:20 AM EST, this has been one of the better post playgrounds in a very long time.
I've been a bad bad kitty ANONYMOUS.
I apologize sincerely to anyone I may have offended. There... I said it!
Now why don't you try working on an apology for G.W. from farttrader and buggery?
If Anon was in Egypt he'd be saying 'ZeroCat, don't address Hosni. Hosni doesn't get it.'
IMO - These trolls need addressing. They must have a buzzer that goes off under their seats whenever a GW post appears. They're here on a mission to suppress GW. They're afraid of what he has to say. Annon sounds like the troll good-cop to Flattrader's bad-cop.
It's a real compliment to George that he generates this amount of push-back from the PTB minions. Please keep up the good work GW. I'm a big fan.
they just don't get GW, but that is no reason to have them drawn and quartered, instead of ridicule a bit of reason and if that doesn't work then perhaps it's open season
and I hate comment timers and post trackers - I mean if you can monitor the elapsed time for someone to comment you really need a life or at least a day pass.
Speak of the devil a feral cat just walked across my patio
The devil would be a Federal cat ANONYMOUS
I'll dial back some then. Until open season that is!
ZerO, I guess I am making a generalization that in my absence ZH has become inhabited by numerous troll like creatures including but not limited to those who make racist, sexist, homophobic and similar comments, spew bile towards any with an opposing view, use profanity gratuitously and generally add nothing to the discussion.
As for the good ol' ZH commenters, if I have to explain it ... Try going back to the blogger days and read some of the articles and some of the comments ... then again perhaps I'm just being nostalgic, but I don't think so
But to be fair your response to my response was a surprise, and was none of the above.
You're certainly tapping nostalgia, anon, but I know what you mean. Back at blogspot was different times, though. It's like a honeymoon--it just can't stay the same. But then, as I remember it, it was no bed of bright roses there, either. I fought to sustain a place for people like me, liberals. It wasn't all fun, but it was worth the effort. I've become far more tolerant as a result. Not to mention all that I've learned. And I feel like I contributed to something important.
I see no reason to tolerate trolls who discredit the community, however. I never did at blogspot and I don't here. As I see it, this is a crowd-sourced experiment in figuring shit out and that includes fully questioning everything. There are too few places in the world where that is possible.
As ZH has continually gained in popularily, it has drawn a lot of trolls. In addition to the regular freaks of life, they now arguably include Wall Street, a wide variety of dotGov agencies including the much-feared DHS, traditional media and so on. There is practically no end to the list of "enemies" who would profit from shitting up ZH.
So house cleaning is important. Some people bring a decidedly negative net return on their use of the space. Those who just don't know better have an impressive opportunity to learn.
I thought that was one of the best troll burns I've ever read. You do ZH proud, ZerOhead.
Nice Work Zero and of course George too.
Thanks Bob... but that was just my warm up act.
Listen up guys... there are a lot of contributors here who have something to say... and while we may or may not agree with their points of view we should extend them a little courtesy for their efforts.
No courtesy? No mercy.
You're right. They fairly determine the rules of engagement themselves. When you have the energy, go with it. It's a vital part of keeping our community honorable.
Bwa! Ha! Ha! Good one.
ATTENTION!!!
If you value your time in the slightest, skip over the following 20 (or so) comments as they are a bunch of, "what happened to the good ole days" stroking and .. Why be so mean and hurt people's feelings and crying.. I just saved you 10 minutes. You're welcome.