Presuming & ASSuming makes an ASS of you and me

The situation in Tahrir Sq. has been hijacked by people massaging their egos in public and now they are martyred as well!   I have a problem with the media blaming every piece of violence on Mubarak or pro-Mubarak supporters, even the language they use – 75% of the time the pro-Mubarak people are labeled “Thugs”.

It is quite possible that the people causing the violence are supporters of the government.  It is quite possible that the people causing violence are primed by other forces other than the government.  It is quite possible that other forces are setting it up to look like the government is instigating this violence.  It is quite possible that these people are not being primed by anybody.  Egyptians are very emotional people.  There are many people here who support Mubarak and are angry at what is being done to him, most especially by the foreign media.  It is quite possible and most probable that many of these people are merely acting on their own primal instinct.

Our most basic instinct when ourselves or our loved ones are threatened is to “Fight or flee.”  Egyptians usually take the “Fight” option when their emotions are roused.   My point is that there are several possibilities here, but the FACT is we don’t know the truth YET.  Therefore it is irresponsible and biased reporting to jump to conclusions and reprehensible in an already volatile situation.

Most of the foreign journalists here at the moment don’t live in Egypt and those that do keep themselves closeted among the upper class in Cairo – why are there no journalists anywhere south of Cairo?   Because there is no trouble there, no protests.  Tourism is the prime source of income there, and people realize that without stability there is no basis for a beneficial touristic economy.  In Cairo they are demanding freedom of speech – the rest of the country understands the economics of needing money for food and where much of that money comes from…TOURISM and foreign investment.

The people in Tahrir have had their requests publicly accepted, but now they are like sullen children refusing to go until Mubarak goes.   They are agreeing to talk, refusing to talk, agreeing to talk, and refusing to talk.   But no leader has emerged.  Nobody is brave enough to stand up in public and say, “I can lead the people.”  Why?  Because I don’t believe there is one person who can go to Tahrir Sq. and get all the people behind him.  That is why they are not doing it.  Baradei tried, and only a few people took any notice of him. The public are swayed daily by the foreign and domestic media.  I had hopes for President Obama, but that has faded in this situation.   America was Egypt’s ally and backed Mubarak until this happened.  If I were a leader in any country now, I would be thinking very hard about my loyalty to the US, and I wouldn’t be depending on them to keep my back covered should I need it!

When the Egyptian government agreed to the protesters’ demands for political and economic reform in front of the international media and international community, the EU and USA should then have been big enough and brave enough to say to the protesters PUBLICLY, “OK, enough is enough; you have gotten what you want, we have heard the promise, and we will see that the promises are delivered on.   If you are afraid for your personal safety, send us your names and details.   We will, through our embassies, keep an eye on you.

If you disappear let your friends contact us.  We guarantee your personal safety.  Form parties and now come to the table and start on the positive, concrete work needed to have these problems resolved.   The government has agreed to do their part, but you are Egypt, and it is now up to each and every Egyptian to get up, start businesses, educate yourselves, and get the Egyptian economy back on its feet.  It is up to you – without your cooperation nothing can happen; you must have the ideas, but you must also be willing to work to implement these ideas.  You have succeeded here; now GO HOME and come to the table tomorrow and rebuild Egypt!”

But the international community with Obama at the front didn’t do this.   They tried to hedge their bets; they wiffled and waffled and allowed their words to be misquoted and taken out of context by the international media.  Now today the media have started with statements that the army generals should be taken out.   What are they all up to?  Is Obama just weak, or does America actually have another agenda?   Could it involve the Suez canal?   How far is this going to go?

At the end of all this, Obama and the international community appear to have bowed to what is now essentially a mob.   They are the western political leaders, and they cannot take a stand!   I guess that is the difference between being a politician and a statesman.  A politician cuts his losses and runs for cover when the going gets tough.   A statesman makes a meaningful and firm statement, takes a stand, and bets his life and career on what he knows in his heart.  It is called having the courage of your convictions.

Western leaders would not stand for this in their own countries. They would not have to deal with this in their own countries, because there the protesters would know when they had gotten concessions and won and would go home.   The Egyptian-Middle Eastern mindset is not the same as western!   Go to a mosque on Friday, and even if you don’t understand the words, you will recognise the emotion being expressed…they are emotion-driven.

Oh…on the democracy thing…who says that Western democracy is right for this region?  Obama keeps saying Egyptians will decide what is best for Egypt, but the Egyptians are not deciding; the international community and the international media are deciding that democracy is best for Egypt.  Egypt is not just the protesters in Cairo.   Egypt is also those who recognise what Mubarak has achieved and look at the situation in full and the history in full, but these people are labeled “thugs.”

I am so ashamed of humanity at the moment – I thought we were more advanced in our thoughts and attitudes.  I am ashamed of our European and American leaders and their lack of appreciation, insight, and courage.   They are supposed to be capable of leading the world, making decisions on our behalf.  They are supposed to be capable of higher thought.  To see them held in check now and ruled by what amounts to children throwing a tantrum is shameful.

I am not negating what has happened in Tahrir.  I agree that the protesters in Tahrir Sq. have legitimate issues.  I agree that they have been exceedingly brave in what they have done.  I look forward to a better Egypt because of what they have done.   But there is a time to stop, accept the spoils of battle, and graciously let your opponent surrender.    In any battle we decry when the victorious slaughter the defeated.   That is what is happening here, and they are being supported and goaded to it by the media.