Hosni Mubarak has destroyed the economy and the rights of the people in his country much like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush in this country. He ran his country with the iron fist of a police state turning his own people on one another countless times. Around election time, these mobs would turn out to frighten people into voting the "correct" way. These same mobs have turned out to threaten, beat, and murder the peaceful protesters involved with the Tahrir demonstrations. It should not come as a surprise that during his 30 year reign as dictator that Egypt has been the second largest recipient of US foreign aid next to Israel.
In true Washington fashion, this strong-armed dictator was favored due to his policies of autocratic rule which allowed US corporations and International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies to take hold in his country's economy. They drown the beast, prop up the military with foreign aid, and when the bill comes due the IMF will come in with structural adjustment programs that lay the cost at the feet of the people who didn't want those policies in the first place. This process of busting out countries much like the Mafia busting out the local bar, has been appearing repeatedly in the third-world and they have become wise to the ways of the western elites. It has already happened in Latin America and is now happening in the Middle East.
This is a historic and celebratory time in Egypt, however, it is also a frightening and trying time. It is that reason why I believe Egypt needs Thomas Paine now, more than ever. His famous quote when the American Revolution was near defeat must ring loudly, "These are the times that try men's souls." Paine tells us that we must hold onto that small amount of hope and desire in the darkest days of the revolution in order to move forward. Right now in Tahrir there are many men whose souls are being tried. Journalists are being jailed and beaten by Mubarak's police mobs, basic communication is being cut off and live rounds of gunfire are hailing towards the peaceful protesters. The dark days are here for Egyptians.
In this moment Paine is also speaking to Americans and those around the world. Paine informs us, "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." This spells out to all that anywhere on the planet we must seek out oppression, challenge it and overthrow it. People in power will always try to maintain power at all costs but the masses have the power when united together. We have to recognize that we are Egyptians and Tunisians as much as we are Americans. Every country has an element of power which dominates the economic and political sectors and distributes wealth upwards. We must stand with the third world to ensure them standing with us when our time arrives. And when that time comes, like the Egyptians, peaceful disobedience will be the key to demanding a truly democratic state where the people play a meaningful role in the process.
