The recent protests and revolutions in the Middle East started in Tunisia. Mohamed Bouazizi, a college graduate forced to sell fruits at a street corner, was harassed by government officials who wanted to confiscate his meager source of income. In desperation, the young man burned himself to death.
Thus began the “Tunisian Dignity Revolution,” a mass uprising of people from all walks of life demanding jobs, freedom and democracy. Two weeks after Bouazizi’s tragic death, the brutal dictator of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fled the country, bringing an end to 24 years of political repression and exploitive economic policies.
Protests then erupted in countries all over the Middle East, including Yemen, Libya, Algeria and Jordan. All of these countries suffer from similar issues: economic exploitation, political repression and a young population that expects lives of hardship and poverty regardless of educational background. Many of the protests were quickly extinguished through mass arrests.
Media pundits (and government officials) all over the world assured the Arab dictatorships that the revolution in Tunisia would not have a domino effect.
That is, until Egypt erupted. Over 100,000 Egyptians took to the streets on Jan. 25, calling the uprising a “Day of Rage” and demanding that their 82-year old dictator Hosni Mubarak resign immediately and let democracy run its course. The protests quickly escalated when the police force found itself unable to smother the dissenters as it had done in the past.
Unfortunately, our government is the main reason such repressive regimes have survived in the Arab world for this incredible length of time. The U.S. sends billions of dollars in aid to support and influence these Arab governments despite the fact that they are openly authoritarian. In an effort to maintain our short-term interests, we have helped these dictatorships stay in power.
We need to realize that our current strategy is a losing one. Brutalized people won’t remain silent for long, and no amount of funding will silence dissent. Such revolutions are inevitable and these governments will eventually reflect the wills of their people.
For the sake of our long-term interests, America needs to respect the national aspirations of the Arab people by supporting their uprisings and cutting funding to their oppressors. And for the sake of people like Mohamed Bouazizi who are fighting for their freedom, let’s hope we do it soon.
"Word to your moms, we came to drop bombs!"
What a great article.. its high time that the cougar gets someone to write that actually knows WTF they are talking about..
KUDOS to you DANA!!
What are you, her boyfriend? She's not the only competent writer at TDC.
I basically stopped reading this paper after the ridiculous and offensive article that argued it was ok for police to beat up kids, so I definitely see where Xaiver is coming from but she isn't the ONLY competent writing. Don't hate on her just because someone sees that she's intelligent. Maybe other people at TDC should stop writing so many offensive and ignorant articles.
Way to go, Dana. This is a great article that is full of facts. Don’t pay attention to the jealous and malicious comments.
An opinion article by definition isn’t about fact, nor does it pretend to contain fact. This article has an important message, but that doesn’t make it some gold standard that puts the rest of the cougar to shame.
Page I.
Unfortunately, our government is the main reason such repressive regimes have survived in the Arab world for this incredible length of time.”
Why do Muslims ALWYAS blame others for their self-inflicted problems?
It’s the colonialist’s fault, or the Americans, Israelis or imperialists. It’s always someone, or something else.
When a Sunni Islamist blow himself up in the middle of a Shi’ite funeral procession it is the colonialist’s fault.
When an Islamist blows himself up at a Moscow airport it is the Russian’s fault.
Because sending millions in military aid that is used against the people of Egypt isn't helping to oppress them? And when our government overthrows democratically elected governments(such as in Iran) that is the people's fault and had nothing to do with us? Have you ever read a history book or do you just listen to Glenn Beck make stuff up about how everyone who isn't a white Protestant/Mormon is evil? Last time I checked plenty of Christians go on killing sprees in this country, Also, last I checked the people are doing something about those dictatorships, but if other governments intervene to keep the dictatorship in place I think any reasonable person could agree that ISN'T their fault. WE exploit them economically, WE give dictators millions to do what we want them to, and WE overthrow democratically elected governments, Yes, the people can always rise up, but if we give millions to suppress uprisings there is little chance they will succeed.
Page II.
When an Islamist blows himself up at a Moscow airport it is the Russian’s fault.
When an Islamist blows himself up in a London subway or a Madrid train depot it is England and Spain’s fault for being such imperialist pigs.
When an Islamist beheads Buddhists in southern Thailand it is the Buddhists fault for being on land that the Islamist claims is his.
When an Islamist attacks Hindus in Kashmir it’s India’s fault for trying to control land that is not theirs even though Hindus lived there thousands of years before Muslim hordes even showed up.
When Muslims commit genocide in Darfur it is the Animists fault because they are filthy kuffar.
When Islamists blow up churches in Alexandria or Mosul it is the Christian’s fault for being, I guess, Christian.
lol how twitchy do you think this guy is around actual muslims? like, does he just sit and stare, getting all scared and whatnot?
anyway you're ignorant trash hth
Page III.
Am I the only one tired of this?
So it is America’s fault for the problems happening in Egypt, eh? Is it also America’s fault that after WWII and the Marshall plan that Germany and Japan became great nations?
Let’s face it, it is Islam’s fault that every single Islamic country is a repressive theocratic or despotic country. This is how Mohammed ruled when he was alive and very little has changed since then.
Quit blaming us for your self-inflicted problems. Change the problem, i.e., reform Islam, assuming that is even possible.
No dude….. your not the only one…… Im tired of all these babies blaming the USA…….. Keep on doing what you're doing man…..
What is really sad is the lack of coverage when the protest were happening in Iran and then squashed faster and more ruthlessly. Yet no one complained about that totalitarian government that Iran is, but get themselves in a tizy over an authoritarian that is a key player in middle eastern peace that isn't wanting and trying to wipe a group of people off the map. Just sad.
I actually see a completely different dynamic. I personally saw plenty of positive news reports of the "Green Revolution" in Iran but the media is portraying these revolutions as "protests" or "uprisings" and "chaos". Also, the government has not only refused to acknowledge that Mubarak is a dictator but is working to fuel fear of the revolution instead of supporting what could be a new, democratic ally.Not to mention the media has been trying to convince people to go to war with Iran for years even though Iran hasn't attacked anyone in…how long? We've attacked a lot more people more recently than Iran. They ARE a totalitarian government, but so are our buddies Saudi Arabia and China, and so was Iraq when we were their ally until it was politically favorable and we decided to "save" the Iraqi people. I support the Iranian, Tunisian and Egyptian people and all others who fight for self-determination.
Great article…the US interests including promoting peace in the region are severed more by supporting true democratic middle east than by engaging corrupt leaders who are welling to do what it takes just to stay in power.
you are obviously JEALOUS… hehehe
Yeah. . . no. It was Mister Xavier who decided to go and bash everyone else as he put Miss Dana on a little pedestal for doing the same thing everyone else does: spout their opinion. I'm simply what you call the equivalent tide.
Because she is smarter than you, and I am certain now that you are JEALOUS…
Wow, you must be majoring in the UH college of trolling. I mean damn, you try and use an opinion article to say someone is "smart"??? Is this the part where I'm supposed to press the caps lock key and begin yelling from some make believe inferiority complex? Would you like that?
lol you didn't need to use the caps lock key. just by responding over and over again, you've proven what he says. lmao..