USA, why you support dictatorship?

An Egyptian protester holds a sign that reads, ''No More US $ For The Bloody Mubarak Dictatorship''

Millions of people demonstrated in Egypt’s Tahrir Square in an unprecedented movement for democracy, yet US leaders and US media remain patently apprehensive of a change in government.

The US which purports to stand as a beacon of light for democracy around the world, seems to be holding its breath as this popular movement demands that a dictator step down from power. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can only produce wary criticisms of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak demanding his government make needed reforms.

In an address to the Egyptian people, Clinton implicitly beckoned the Egyptian people back into their homes and encouraged use of the conventional political process to achieve reforms. She said all this while Mubarak’s brutal central security forces were violently breaking up demonstrations. Vice President Joe Biden claimed that Mubarak was no dictator on television just a day before Mubarak began shutting down lines of freedom of speech, first by disabling Facebook and Twitter, later turning off cell phone networks and internet access all together.

After 28 years under the Mubarak regime, the Egyptian people have no reason to believe that Mubarak will produce reforms now. And considering the regime has been propped up by the US Government since it’s inception, the people of Egypt must find the words of US Secretary of State Clinton disingenuous at best.

Rather than stand in solidarity with the Egyptian people in their pursuit of democracy, the US seems to be taking a neutral view on the events unfolding in Egypt. But the real view is anything but neutral. Egyptians know that the US has had a long-standing supportive relationship with the tyrannical Mubarak government. In fact, Egypt is the second largest recipient of US foreign aid because of it value as a geographically strategic ally in the Middle East.

The Egyptian people are fed up with Mubarak’s deference to US interests over the interests of his own people and they are justified in demanding that he step down. The response of US diplomats, however, has made it quite clear that the US is far more concerned about it’s own influence in the region, then being a beacon of light for democracy.

The US not only stands to loose its influential and illegitimate hold on the Egyptian government, but US officials are worried that democracy may actually be dangerous for Egypt! US leaders are afraid that the Muslim Brotherhood will commandeer the revolution. They echo Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fear that this popular revolt could lead to an anti-US Islamist theocracy like the one that was produced in Iran subsequent to the 1979 Revolution. And they’re afraid other nations will follow Egypt in this manner in a domino effect across the Arab world.

But here’s where a good knowledge of history becomes critical–a history that powerful leaders in the West tend to ignore. Long before the Iranian Revolution, the US had its meddling hands in Iran as well. In 1941, the CIA overthrew democratically elected Iranian President Mohammed Mossadegh, and installed the brutal Shah dictatorship in Iran, who oppressed the Iranian people, but protected US oil interests in the country. The Iranian people grew furious with the US control of their government, and it created an incredibly hostile attitude toward the US and it’s allies like Israel and Britain. The result? Iranian anger at the US intrusion of their government fueled conservative Islam and anti-US sentiment in response to the US threat to their country’s sovereignty. And so it’s no surprise, that when the people of Iran finally revolted against the Shah, he was replaced by an extremely anti-US Islamist.

Similarly in Egypt, the US support of the dictatorial Mubarak regime is creating resentment toward the US once again. Would it really be a surprise if a new Egyptian government developed a less-then-friendly attitude toward the US, when US interests stand as an obstacle to their right to democracy? Of course it shouldn’t be a surprise. The US has fueled anti-US sentiment itself by undermining democracies around the world for decades. It’s not because “they hate everything we stand for” as former New York City mayor Ruddy Giuliani would put it, its because we’ve been conniving in their governments for years.

But the Egyptian revolution is an enlightened revolution as compared to the revolution in Iran. It is a popular revolution, and so far is remaining a popular revolution. It’s not a Muslim revolution or an anti-US revolution. The Egyptian people understand, that it is up to them to take control of their government, but first the US must stand aside by cutting ties to Mubarak and allow the democratic movement in Egypt to move forward. A neutral stance in this case, is an opposition stance as long as we continue to prop up a dictator. If the US government continues to support Mubarak and act as an obstacle to democracy then the US should expect to be viewed as an enemy to the interests of the Egyptian people.

It would be an unusual foreign policy move for the US to take a ‘hands off’ policy in the unfolding events, but it is the best move. The US has an incredible opportunity to resolve tensions in the Middle East by demonstrating a measure of good faith and supporting the will of the Egyptian people. As for the potential domino effect of democratic movements and revolutions in the Arab world, this is not something to regard with apprehension. It is the most encouraging development in the Middle East for decades. Perhaps it will be the spark that sends Iranian revolutionaries into the street to end the oppressive dictatorship that has ruled the country as a reaction to the US infiltration of their government 50 years ago.

Today is the day proceeding Election Day and there is no time where patriotic sentiment runs higher. A competition arises between presidential candidates as to their national pride. And a great argument is engendered among citizens as to what vote will most benefit the country.

Senator John McCain’s nationalist slogan “Country First” implies invidiously that Senator Barack Obama won’t put the country first–as if Obama’s proposed “Change” will be a strike against the country. Obama claims otherwise, that his “Change” will strengthen the country.

But I’m rather put off by all the pageantry and this contest for Mr. Patriarch of America. I’m tired of listening to these unctuous politicians and their meretricious monologues about “this great country.” How can any man look out earnestly upon this society and be proud?

How could you overlook the fact that over 2.25 million Americans are incarcerated (2006)? How could you overlook the fact that 63% percent of American children do not grow up with both biological parents How could you not realize what this statistic indicates about the of our countries social health? How could you miss the fact that 9.5% U.S. adults–that’s about 18.8 million people, suffer from a depressive illness , where millions and millions more self-medicate themselves with illicit drugs or alcohol? How could you dismiss the fact that over 32,000 Americans commit suicide in a single year , even where many suicides go unreported due the stigma our culture attaches to it?

Photo by qwrrty

Is it really rational to get so worked up with anger and hate over this presidential election?

We’re fast approaching Election Day, but I’m not rallied behind one candidate or the other. I’m not struck with anticipation for Nov. 4. Would it be a crime to say I’m rather ambivalent?

Presidential Candidate John McCain even visited my home town, Durango, Colorado, just a week ago. It was the first time a presidential candidate had visited Durango in 48 years, but I really didn’t feel the need to hear him speak. What was he going to say that I hadn’t already heard before?

I could have marched outside the gates in protest with an Obama sticker on my forehead. I could have made myself a fancy McCain sign and cheered in the crowd. But I just can’t buy into that nonsense. How absolutely foolish all these folks look in their big white McCain/Palin sweaters and in their SUVs with “Obama/Biden ‘08″ bumper stickers. What kind of persuasive tactic is that anyway? It’s not an appeal to reason, that’s for sure.

Politics is this big absurdity. We all recognize it. We all know how dirty and unsavory it is. It’s about men with money and connections soliciting the vote. They’re not appealing to any noble standard of truth or harmony or righteousness. We don’t vote for a politicians because they are honest, or because we trust them. Its a big game–a tantalizing theatrical performance–where each player appeals to as many people as possible while revealing the least about what they really think. The candidates hand out promises in the form of tax-cuts and energy policies, like handing out candy to children and asking for their favor. In return, American’s vote for the man who promises them the most sugar and the actual direction of the nation as a whole is an afterthought.

As much as the big two candidates stress their differences, really, for all practical intents and purposes, they’re leading American in the same direction–the way it’s been headed for a long time. They only have trivial differences about the best manner to get to the same destination. Obama might offer government health insurance to citizens, which is just one additional step in many taken in the past toward a more socialist government. But McCain wants to establish a New New Deal, but this time instead of socializing the highway construction like Roosevelt did in the 1930s, we’ll be socializing the construction of nuclear power plants. In addition, both candidates backed the final draft of the bailout plan to spend $700 billion in tax payer dollars to rescue the financial industry, which gave the U.S. government partial ownership of many major banks.

McCain and Obama are both behind the continuing expansion of government. When I first heard Obama speak of “Change” I fantasized for a moment that he really meant to challenge the current paradigm of growing government. But I’ve found he represents the same paradigm with a new face and some unoriginal ideas. He’s just a politician. His message and his campaign are not revolutionizing politics. The supposed “fundamental change” he says he is going to bring this country, just isn’t fundamental enough. It’s not fundamental at all! But at least he is straight-forward about his intent to increase government spending.

McCain still speaks of the dying ideals of conservatism, and if I felt he really meant them, perhaps I would even vote for him. I like the “I’m-not-going-to-continue-to-throw-money-at-a-problem” McCain. I like the “freeze-government-spending” and the “I’m-a-Federalist” McCain. But Republicans like McCain will hail free markets, small government and power to the states when everything is fine, and when there’s a predicament like 9/11 or the housing crisis they swipe up unwarranted power and abuse it without a second thought and we end up with the Bailout Plan and the PATRIOT Act.

Whichever way you vote, this country heads down the same path. This is no revolution! Despite this, tensions run especially high between opposing parties. The streets are loose with blue and red zealots. Neighborhoods are split apart, marked overtly by yard signs that might as well read, “We don’t serve blacks.” Idiots from each faction hurl stupid insults at each other. What madness it is to believe so whole-heatedly in any politician! These people look and act like buffoons.

Photo by Bob Bobster

A family divided.

I’m not likely to vote for president in 2008. I’m sure there are folks out their who will hear this and gasp as if it’s an utter sacrilege, but I really think that abstention is the only respectable decision. It’s undignified to cast a vote for the lesser of two evils, especially when they are practically one in the same. And I’m definitely not going take part in this ridiculous political warfare, that divides families and communities.

When it comes down to it, politics is a very limited realm. Only so much can be accomplished with money and power. There is so much more that we can accomplish outside of political systems. It’s time to forgo the presidential rallies; let’s reunite with our neighbors and forget our party affiliations. Let’s take a personal investment in our communities. Let’s have an affect on the people in our lives. This is where real tangible progress is made. In the smiles and the warm embraces of those we love. Let’s have faith in our own power to bring good into the lives of the people nearest us. Whatever we do, we cannot place our faith in politics.