New York Times: "I find it sad that Egyptians are lecturing Americans on the virtues of democracy."

[Better Believe It]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/opinion/01kristof.html?_r=1

Exhilarated by the Hope in Cairo
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
January 31, 2011

As I stand in Tahrir Square on Monday trying to interview protesters, dozens of people surging around me and pleading for the United States to back their call for democracy, the yearning and hopefulness of these Egyptians taking huge risks is intoxicating.

Yet one thing nags at me. These pro-democracy protesters say overwhelmingly that America is on the side of President Mubarak and not with them. They feel that way partly because American policy statements seem so nervous, so carefully calculated — and partly because these protesters were attacked with tear gas shells marked “made in U.S.A.”

Everywhere I go, Egyptians insist to me that Americans shouldn’t perceive their movement as a threat. And I find it sad that Egyptians are lecturing Americans on the virtues of democracy.

All of this presents the White House with a conundrum. It’s difficult to abandon a longtime ally like Mr. Mubarak, even if he has been corrupt and oppressive. But our messaging isn’t working, and many Egyptian pro-democracy advocates said they feel betrayed that Americans are obsessing on what might go wrong for the price of oil, for Israel, for the Suez Canal — instead of focusing on the prospect of freedom and democracy for the Egyptian people.

Read the full article at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/opinion/01kristof.html?_r=1

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. I find it encouraging.

:shrug:

[immoderate]

2. Yeah, somebody needs to do it.

--imm

[EFerrari]

6. To be fair, he tweeted earlier that he witnessed Mubarak thugs

coming into his area with machetes, pipes and knives.

[LynneSin]

3. American 'Democracy' is a bunch of teabaggers sitting on lawn chairs listening to Beck

Hardly revolutionary

[BeyondGeography]

4. We have been mind-numbed and neutered by corporations

Any such interventions are most welcome.

[some guy]

5. I find it sad,

that too many Americans need the lecture, and sadder, that those most in need are least likely to listen.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. "even if he has been corrupt and oppressive"

Not only did we allow that to happen but we gave him the money to do it. We didn't mind because he was our guy. This type of foreign policy begs for blowback.

[gratuitous]

8. Mr. Kristof, I generally regard you as one of the good guys

And far be it from me to advise you to bite the hand that feeds you, but your employer has had a big hand in blunting the effects of democracy in the United States. Democracy isn't dead here by any means, but it has sure taken its lumps in the last 30 years. If your employer spent a little less time and effort cozying up to the powers that be and a little more time afflicting those comfortable ones, we might not need to learn these lessons from our Egyptian brothers and sisters.