Written by sarthanapalos
The past few days I have heard so many stupid things from friends, blogs, pundits, correspondents, politicians, experts, writers that I want to pull my hair.Ā So, I will not beat around the bush, I will be really blunt and give you a handy list to keep you from offending Egyptians, Arabs and the world when you discuss, blog or talk about Egypt.Ā Honestly, I would think most Progressives would know these things, but letās get to it.
- āI am so impressed at how articulate Egyptians are.āĀ Does this sound familiar?Ā Imagine saying this about a Latino or African American?Ā You donāt say it.Ā So donāt say it about Egyptians.Ā Ā Gee, thank you oh great person who is of limited experience and human contact for recognizing that out of 80 million people some could be articulate, educated and speak many languages.Ā Not cool.Ā Donāt say it.Ā You may think it, but it makes you sound like a dumb ass.
- āThis is so sadā:Ā No, sad were the thirty years of oppression, repression and torture.
- ā I loved Sadatā:Ā Mubarak was made of the same cloth of Sadat.Ā Same repression, same ill-treatment of their people, yet you were all in love with Sadat.Ā Hmm, where and when do you think the repression started?Ā The State Of Emergency?Ā Sadat was not loved by the Egyptian people.Ā Ā Why do you love Sadat?
- āWhat they did to the Mummies is horribleā:Ā Yes, but who did it?Ā Think, Mubarak, for years has been playing the āI am the stabilizing forceā.Ā The one thing you know about Egypt, the stuff that was underground and from the past, you will be distraught and find the protestors to be disgusting.Ā Yet it was not the protesters who did it.Ā In Alexandria, the young people protected the library.Ā Did anyone carry that story?Ā Statement from the Director of the Alexandria Library:
The library is safe thanks to Egyptās youth, whether they be the staff of the Library or the representatives of the demonstrators, who are joining us in guarding the building from potential vandals and looters.Ā I am there daily within the bounds of the curfew hours.Ā Ā However, the Library will be closed to the public for the next few days until the curfew is lifted and events unfold towards an end to the lawlessness and a move towards the resolution of the political issues that triggered the demonstrations.
- āThe Muslim Brothers are TerroristsāĀ Maybe you should look at their English Website, or try something easy like this link Check this out:
The Muslim Brotherhood is not on the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organizations list. It renounced violence in the 1970s and has no active militia (although a provocative martial arts demonstration in December 2006 raised some alarm that they may be regrouping a militia.)
Nevertheless, the Muslim Brotherhood or Ikhwan Al Muslimun in Arabic, is frequently mentioned in relation to groups such as Hamas and Al Qaeda.
- āThe Twitter Revolutionā. No, this is the Revolution of the Egyptian people.Ā Egyptians resisted for decades.Ā They were tortured, jailed and repressed by the Mubarak and Sadat regimes.Ā Twitter and Facebook are tools.Ā They did not stand in front of the water canons, or go to jail for all these years to get the credit.Ā There were demonstrations all summer long and for a several years through out Egypt but they are rarely covered, because we are worried about what Sarah Palin said, or some moronic Imam saying something stupid.Ā Does it sound a bit arrogant to take credit for a peopleās struggle?
- āThe women are so braveā:Ā Egyptian women have always been brave.Ā If you want to know about Sadatās Egypt, read Nawal El Saadawiās memoir while in jail.Ā Memoirs from the Womenās Prison
- āAl Jazeera has come to itās ownā: Al Jazeera has been on itās own, you just only noticed. .Ā Do you think you believed the Bush administration spin about Al Jazeera?Ā Just maybe you believed the bullshit?Ā They must be doing something right if all the factions on the ground want to shut them down.Ā The tyrants, the US and the Israelis.Ā Hmm, maybe they are speaking truth to power?
- āMubarak kept the peace treatyā: So, what do you think, if the Egyptian people choose another government, they will go to war with Israel?Ā Maybe they will demand a few more things from Israel in how they negotiate with the Palestinians.Ā Maybe Gazans will get better treatment?Ā Maybe the balance of power will not be tipped over to Israel?Ā Egypt protests: Israel fears unrest may threaten peace treaty.Ā Ā Hmm, so we should support the oppression of 80 million Egyptians for a false stabilization?
- āIf they get Democracy they will elect extremistsā.Ā Imagine if the world said that about America.Ā The Tea Party threatens world stability, as did the Bush administration.Ā How would you like if others used that as a threat to support an autocrat who made all opposing parties illegal?Ā In truth, US politics threaten world stability more than Egypt does.Ā Second, the implication is that democracy is not to be trusted in the hands of ācertainā nations, people and religions is offensive, racist and ignorant.Ā You do not claim to value human rights, democracy and freedom and then you make exclusions based on race, nationality and religion.Ā Donāt say this shit.
- āThe people are so niceā:Ā Yes they are, itās your ignorant self that assumed they are all terrorists and fanatics.Ā What did you think?Ā Glad you went to Egypt and found the Egyptians nice.Ā After all, they do have a cosmopolitan civilization of over 5,000 years, yet you reduced them to ārag headsā , ājihadistsā, āali babasā, āterroristsā, the list is endless.Ā Imagine saying this about African Americans?Ā Asians?Ā Nope.Ā Just donāt fucking say it.Ā Itās patronizing.
Itās time Egyptians were heard.Ā Itās time the pundits and āEgypt handsā (old recycled western diplomats) were retired. These people were as good at predicting the current events as our economists were in predicting the economic calamity.Ā I am glad you all got to see things from Egypt outside your comfort zone.Ā Maybe now, you can give Egyptians and Arabs some respect.Ā The people in Egypt are struggling for human rights, dignity and freedom.Ā Like the rest of us, they want the economic means to care for their families.Ā Break down those closed ideas that dehumanize the Arab and Egyptian people in general.Ā That is all I ask.
Bonus:My response whenever a theist asks me: “What if you’re wrong?”
Seriously the quality of articles goes downhill the second politics gets brought into this site.
You claim to justify this revolution, but these are the same talking points used to justify the revolution that occurred within Iran. “The Shah was *oppressive*; the Muslim groups aren’t that radical; this is a revolution for the people” blah blah blah.
I seriously wonder how this article got approved with its rampant anti-semitism.
So you’re saying us Egyptians DON’T deserve a democracy because of the choices we may make? And where is the anti-semitism here??? If you know anything about Muslims, you would know that Shiite and Sunni are completely different and that the Egyptian population DOESN’T want the “Iranization” of Egypt. That being said, Democracy means to choose what the people want. And if we want an Islamist country, then we have the right to choose that and neither you nor any foreign entity has the right to deny democracy to people you BELIEVE will make the “wrong” choice according to your own set of beliefs.
Remember that Egypt is in Africa for some reason most Americans don’t realize that Egypt is in Africa. Besides not understanding the dynamics of the culture,and politics we are bad with geography.
Completely agree with the first comment.. I follow this site for the articles they have been publishing in the past, most of them funny or interesting.. So now I dont understand why this type of article is published
At least a good article on this blog.
To the comments above : You claim to justify this revolution, but these are the same talking points used to justify the revolution that occurred within America. āThe Queen was *oppressive*; the Quakers/Mormons/Christians groups arenāt that radical; this is a revolution for the peopleā blah blah blah.
“āThe people are so niceā: Yes they are, itās your ignorant self that assumed they are all terrorists and fanatics. What did you think? Glad you went to Egypt and found the Egyptians nice.”
No, it’s a compliment, can’t you take a fucking compliment?
There are many countries where people are generally dicks.
I won’t give examples because there will always be someone from said country who will complain.
But yes, many countries like to sabotage tourists for fun.
Seeing a hidden malicious content behind a simple comment just show how insecure you are.
That’s not a compliment any more than telling an african american that they are “so articulate, so well spoken”. It IS rude to assume that the population of a country of multilingualists (most know at least 3 languages) doesn’t speak english. Only arrogant americans don’t see that as an insult. Its like if we had lunch together daily for a year and you had sandwiches EVERY day and then after a year you had spaghetti and used a fork and I said “Wow, you learned to use that fork really quickly and really well.” You’d be like F– You, of course I can. You wouldn’t take it as a compliment. It’s the same thing.
You’re absolutely right š
This article was obviously not written by a professional journalist. I am not oppossed to swear words but their use in a journalistic piece is unessecary and shows personal emotion, not the news. The subject matter is an important one, something most americans admire, as our ancestors had to do the same to relinquish us from Tyranny, Oppression, and Persecution over 2 centuries ago. But to bring the journalist’s own political views (obviously a Democrat) is unprofessional and not someone I would ever listen to. If you wonder where some Americans might come from in their statements toward Egypt, then take a look at the video clip of the Egyptian crowd telling Christina Amanpour to leave because they hate America and all Americans. Thats the problem with generalizing a society. Everyone must take time to understand that where we live says nothing about who we are!
please try to understand what you’re talking about before replying , you seem to’ve just seen a clip and then went to the keyboard……if you paid attention you’d know that the people who said that to CHRISTIANA amanpour are paid by mubarak’s party to say that and intimedate and threaten all journalists (they’re called pro-mubarak thugs on all news chanels),please try to watch news carefully not just clips on youtube,And BTW,here anyone can write any article he wants (even democrates),if you want republican journalism go to fox news ,and to the guy with OCD called anti-semitism,…WTF are you talking about…how did you get anti semitism from these points about egyptians and democracy?really ignorance is bliss…BTW egyptians are semitic people too but I guess they don’t have copyrights.
Finally; yes egyptians are articulate (college education is free in egypt to any high school graduate …..anyone knew that?)and 43% of 80 million people have a degree above high school,these people mostly heading the protests
Yes they deserve freedom and democracy,and it will not be like iran(haven’t anyone here SEEN the protestors,how could anyone with brain say these are extremests or will elect extremests?)
Think rationally,fairly,but first think.
Agree 100%! Thank you š
Thanks, Omar , for this handy list of talking points; it’s helpful when trying to get it through the heads of some of my fellow Americans that what is happening in Egypt is a good thing and that it’s the sort of democratic revolution that we should be supporting unlike fiasco that our government foisted upon Iraq. I think now about what might have been if Bush had not forced his agenda through on that country—with what has happened in Tunisia and now Egypt and Yemin—I have no doubt that Iraq would have followed suit and all the destruction and loss of human life might have been avoided.
I wish you and your countrymen the best in all things-God bless you all.
You’re welcome Valerie š And thank you for taking the effort to talk to your fellow Americans about what’s happening in Egypt. I lived and studied in Virginia for 4 years, so I unfortunately understand the stereotype given to “Arabs” in American minds. I blame it mostly on the media and on the fact that not many people seek to look outside their domain and seek information from other news outlets such as BBC or Aljazeera English. I completely agree with you when it comes to the Iraq fiasco..You just can’t force “Democracy” or any other idea or belief on anyone, specially when you don’t really understand their culture…change has to come from within or else it’ll never endure.
God bless you and thank you for your kind wishes š
If you have any questions or would like any information, feel free to email me at [email protected]
Very good points, especially love the “If they get Democracy they will elect extremistsā one
Well, we got the democracy we fought for..now we’ll elect whoever we want.