(05 Feb 2010) Following some good comments on the revolution but some strange references to its universalism (that is not shared by the west even though it is its humanist philosophy) by the apparent 'Elvis of cultural theory' (Zizek), and earlier preparations by Merkel of Germany, the UK PM David Cameron responds to the peoples uprising in Egypt with a diatribe against multiculturalism in the name of universalism.
"Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," the prime minister will say.
from <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12371994>
And he picks out Muslims as the cause of this failure. Given the example in front of him of multiculturalism in the Egyptian Revolution by anti regime protesters against the Mubarakobama axis of extremism (supporting dictators like Mubarak), this is either very bad timing or very cynical and nasty. He gives with one hand, and condemns the violence 'if' the state is involved, and takes away with the other, and blames Islam for all the problems of the world. Fanning the flames of nationalism just like Mubarak is doing in Egypt, what a coincidence!
Meanwhile President Obama 'raises he stakes' on Mubarak by saying exactly the same thing again. And meanwhile also, protesters for democracy and against a police state in Egypt are being killed.
"We are the heart of the Egyptian people, the ones who make this country work," said Samar Atallah, a 29-year-old anti-Mubarak protester. "We're here for peace. We are not hundreds, we are not thousands, we are millions."
from <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/day-of-departure-hosni-mubarak>
The western press is very strict in keeping out any mention of class in the protests in Egypt, you might say this is censorship. For them this represents the 'unthinkable', a term they are fond of, since they are often in that condition. But the working class of Egypt have been striking, and are the bedrock of the movement, and the idea somehow that it is underpinned and originated by a coterie of adolescent computer savvy internet users is overplayed to provide some substance to this image. The role of the youth and communications has nevertheless been vital in this struggle, given that today the world has regimes so expert in the control of all avenues of the expression of dissent.
One notices a heightening of references to the Tiananmen Square 'massacre' (with constantly inflated figures of the deaths in that protest, 300 - 3000) as if this will or may be used to justify morally a big crackdown against the unprecedented millions who have demonstrated in Cairo and Alexandria and across Egypt.
Is it just a threat or a real possibility if they get the chance and completely stifle the media from reporting, as they have been attempting to do? Responsibility for any such atrocity would be laid at the foot of the US ultimately, and we would be living in a different world, one where state terrorism was openly supported and condoned, and thus where no holds are barred.
"As a mark of how secure this anti-Mubarak stronghold has become after days of fierce fighting with armed supporters of the current regime, Egypt's defence minister walked among the hundreds of thousands who packed the square. Hussein Tantawi was welcomed by the crowds, who chanted 'Marshal, we are your sons of liberation'."
from <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/day-of-departure-hosni-mubarak>
Personally, I did not notice this welcome of Tantawi on the images shown on aljazeera, all I saw was a rather hurried photo-op, and the body language of his minders, which did not seem happy with the situation at all. I think a more accurate description of the military, or at least the army, may be gained from the intrepid Guardian news reporter Dan Shenker, who described tensions between the ordinary soldiers and officers, one soldier describing his officer boss as 'mad'. This also explains the following fact:
"But after state TV accused those in Tahrir of fomenting unrest and being in the pay of unnamed foreign powers, Tantawi's message – that the government was responding to the people's demands and they could now go home – got a colder reception."
from <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/day-of-departure-hosni-mubarak>
The regime tries therefore the classic response to uprisings everywhere by police states: inflame nationalism against foreigners, blame the press, incite chaos, blame the youth, blame anything and anyone but themselves, and try to buy (albeit in a rather parsimonious way nonetheless) pro regime support, and resort to criminals and the brutalised (the thugs, goons, or beltagi in Egypt) to get your job done.
Throughout, the Egyptian protesters, heroes, display a sense of humour - one report shows a young man who was wearing a shiny cooking pot tied by a rag to his head to make a helmet, donated apparently by his neighbour, he kept a straight face but those around were trying not to laugh.
