Posted on 08/19/2013 10:18:50 AM PDT by jazusamo
Nothing symbolizes the Utopianism of our times like both liberals and some conservatives calling for us to cut off aid to the Egyptian military, because of the widespread killings in what is becoming a civil war in Egypt. Such utter lack of realism from the left is not new, but hearing some conservatives saying the same things takes some getting used to.
President Obama's call for the Egyptians to end the violence and form an "inclusive" government, with all factions represented, may sound good to many Americans. But there is not a snowball's chance in hell that it will happen.
Egypt existed for thousands of years before there was a United States of America. In all those millennia, Egypt has never had a free or democratic society. Nor is Egypt unique in that.
Of all the different nations that have existed at various times and places throughout recorded history, it is doubtful that even ten percent were free or democratic.
Even free and democratic nations existing today took centuries to achieve freedom and democracy. Barack Obama may have enough ego to imagine that he could accomplish, during his White House years, what took centuries to accomplish elsewhere. But do others, including some conservatives, need to share that delusion?
Yet Obama is only the latest in a long line of American officials, including Presidents, who have thought that a universal human desire for freedom meant that freedom and democracy could be exported, even to countries where they have never existed before.
However widespread the desire to be free, that is wholly different from a desire to live in a society where others are free. Nowhere is such tolerance harder to find than in the Middle East.
(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...
Why does the left not get it ?
We’ve blown how many billions of dollars in Egypt over the last 30+ years, and we’re left with NO influence.
Good going, State Department!
While what we do now is certainly up for argument, what is not arguable is the TOTAL FAILURE of the last 30 years of pumping cash into Cairo.
The next strategy has to fix that.
” Nothing symbolizes the Utopianism of our times like both liberals and some conservatives calling for us to cut off aid to the Egyptian military, because of the widespread killings in what is becoming a civil war in Egypt. Such utter lack of realism from the left is not new, but hearing some conservatives saying the same things takes some getting used to. “
I get the irony, Tom. They aren’t conservatives : )
Mr. Sowells ability to explain complex problems in terms rational people can understand is truly amazing.
As a corollary, I would had the legitimacy of a democratically elected government rests with its desire to protect the natural rights of its citizens.
My thought also...Juan and Linda are not conservatives.
Up until the “Arab Spring”, and the meddling of the Obama administration, which lead to a MB government; things seemed to be going pretty well in Egypt, from the perspective of the USA, Israel, the “west”, secular Egyptians, and anti-communist Egyptians.
It didn’t take long for Obama and H.R. Clinton to destroy all of that; but, the policy of the previous 30 years didn’t fail until Obama and Clinton failed it.
I suspect he's alluding to Rand Paul, who went on at great, idiotic length the other day on Hannity's radio show about pulling our aid from the "military coup" in Egypt, to show Republicans' respect for the "rule of law." If he really cared about that, he'd be satisfied that the only rule of law in Egypt is the military.
The desire to live FREE is different from a desire to live in a society where OTHERS are free!
Mr. Sowell has hit on the most accurate definition of the attitude of Islam I’ve ever read.
Sadly and most disturbing, it also defines the attitudes of all too many of our American LEFT.
You’re probably correct regarding Rand Paul and without a doubt you are on the only rule of law in Egypt being the military.
“Why does the left not get it ?”
Because the left constantly ignores human nature.
The following article is a bit long but if you are interested in the current state of Egypt, especially for Christians, you will find this interesting and enlightening. It is written by Peter Justin, son of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who was studying Arabic there for the past 20 months. Scroll down to the third article entitled as follows:
“The representation of Egypt in the Western media is completely wrong” http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/
That was a particularly good statement of an intractable problem.
Islam does not tolerate free thought, democracy is all about freedom, hence the twain will never meet.
It’s disturbing that Paul and also Cruz were misinformed about Egypt. It’s as if they got their briefing from the MB sympathizers at the WH or MB surrogates in the MSM.
It’s disturbing when politicians that conservatives at times have admired are seen to end up sticking their foot in their mouth or otherwise show their ignorance and their willingness to go with a script handed to them; Gingrich on man-made global warming, Rubio on immigration, Bush on the Swift Boat Vets and so many others.
Thanks for that Dr. Sowell. You put it so well. Thanks for the ping jaz. Right on the mark.
Good piece! Must read for all Americans.
bump for later
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