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What Can We Do to Support Egypt?
Address in Solidarity with the Popular Revolution
We have all been moved by the courageous actions of the Egyptian people in recent weeks. In response to their inspiring example, we might ask the following question: What effective steps can we take to support their struggle for liberation, and to support similar struggles throughout the world?
There is a very easy, and very bad, response to this question. Unfortunately, it is also the one that is most popular. This response is to express our great sympathy and admiration for their struggle, and then to go on acting as we have in the past. I propose that a more constructive response would be, first, to become better educated about what has made their struggle necessary, and, next, to begin to act in ways that that will make it, and similar struggles, more likely to succeed in the future.
If we look at the actions and statements of the U.S. regime over the past days, we see the strategies of a system that has long supported dictatorship and oppression and now finds itself in an embarrassing situation. Its heart and soul are on the side of dictatorship, but its words must now be on the side of the people. It finds itself in the unenviable position of trying desperately to manipulate a difficult situation so that the interests it defends will not be compromised by the catastrophe at hand — the catastrophe of democracy breaking out.
Let’s look at some of the recent statements of our rulers.
Last week, Vice President Biden said, “I hope [that] President Mubarak … is going to respond to some of the legitimate concerns that are being raised. Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things and he’s been very responsible … relative to geopolitical interests in the region…. I would not refer to him as a dictator.” Thus, as late as just over a week ago, it was still acceptable to express friendship with the dictator and to hope that a few gradual reforms would appease the Egyptian people. The following day, the senator and former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry could still call Mubarak “a friend to the United States and a friend personally.” And on the heels of this, U.S. envoy Frank Wisner could still say, “I believe that President Mubarak’s continued leadership is crucial — it’s his chance to write his own legacy.”
Soon after, however, in the face of growing mobilization by the Egyptian people, it became clear that at least some degree of significant change was necessary, so that the emerging official goal would be the containment and direction of that change to whatever degree possible. President Obama had reached the point of advising Mubarak that there must be “an orderly transition,” though a transition to precisely what was not at all clear. We were told only that “it must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.”
What Obama did not, of course, mention as he pronounced these pious sentiments, was that what U.S. regimes have supported for thirty years — up to just a few days ago, when such a policy became impossible — has been the precise opposite of what he now espouses verbally. These regimes have supported not peaceful change but rather the violent enforcement of a disastrous status quo. The many billions of dollars that the U.S. government has sent to Mubarak — which is now widely known to be $1.5 billion per year — have been primarily in military aid to keep his violent, repressive regime in power. And contrary to any ideological illusions, intimidating a people into submission through force and the threat of force is not a “peaceful” process.
As of today, the Obama administration has reached the point of expressing its support for a gradual transition of some sort under the tutelage of the dictator’s handpicked vice president, Gen. Omar Suleiman. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explained regarding this necessary transition, “That takes some time. There are certain things that have to be done in order to prepare.” She did not define “certain things.” However, we can safely assume that these “things” include finding ways of assuring that a form of “democracy” emerges that has safeguards against the will of the people diverging too radically from the will of the dominant global powers.
Secretary Clinton refused to address the question of how the necessary preparations for “democracy” relate to the question of Israel and Palestine. However, her ally, Mr. Davutoglu of Turkey commented, “It is better not to talk about Israel-Palestine now. It is better to separate these issues.” It is, however, quite obviously impossible to separate these issues. Thus, the question posed is how to read this statement in support of the impossible. The obvious reading is the following. What is “better” is that the public and the press should not inquire into how the dominant forces are planning to engineer a solution to the crisis that is compatible with the goals of the U.S. and Israeli regimes and of various allied interests, whatever the views and aspirations of the Egyptian people may be.
There are many other intriguing statements by our rulers that might be analyzed — including Senator John McCain’s comparison of the movements against authoritarian regimes in the region to a “virus” that is “spreading throughout the Middle East” — but I hope that the point has been made. All of this recent history must be understood in its larger context, which includes a long history of U.S. government support for dictatorships around the world. We might refer merely to such notable examples as Francisco Franco, Ferdinand Marcos, and Suharto — one of the greatest mass-murderers of the horrifyingly genocidal 20th century. This support continues, as dictatorial conditions persist among U.S. allies including Cameroon, Turkmenistan, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia (as recently documented by Joshua Holland for AlterNet).
The conclusion we must draw from this long and consistent record is that U.S. support for dictatorships is not a historical anomaly, but rather points to something systemic about the U.S. political and economic structures. If we sympathize with the liberation struggle of the Egyptian people and others around the world, it is incumbent on us to find out what that something is and to do something about it.
So what we can do? First, we might ask who we are. As I use the term here, “we” are those who believe that it is completely intolerable to live in a world of material abundance in which a billion people nevertheless live in absolute poverty. “We” are those who believe that it is intolerable to live in a world with abundant potential for freedom, justice and peace, while that same world is fraught with oppression, exploitation, and aggression. “We” are those who believe that it is intolerable to live in a world capable of providing for all while living in harmony with nature, but which nevertheless continues on a path to global ecological catastrophe.
What we can do is to become educated and to act. It is important that we find dependable sources of information and that we avoid dependable sources of indoctrination. Look to the alternatives to the dominant corporate media. As we come to understand the dominant political system, we begin to see how it is designed precisely to reproduce all those injustices and irrationalities that have been mentioned. More specifically, we begin to see how it is designed to support dictatorship and oppose struggles for liberation.
Our own ruling party is quite brilliant in that, unlike that of Egypt, it has two branches. One, called the Republicans, takes the initiative in developing the trajectory of the system. It experiments with how far the limits of that system can be pushed. When this development causes too much disorder and opposition, the other branch, called the Democrats, steps in, introduces measures to restabilize the system, diffuses dissent, and then, before long, turns power back over to Republicans.
Repeatedly, we hear well-intentioned people say, “I can’t believe that Obama has done X.” “I can’t believe that Obama has escalated the war.” “I can’t believe that Obama supports dictators.” Et cetera, ad infinitum. There is a solution to this perplexing condition. Grow up and believe it. President Obama does exactly what he has been hired to do.
Understanding presupposes that one can finally step outside the system of domination. It means that one has become conscious of the ways in which that system has colonized not only the whole world, but also our own minds. When one understands, one can then move on to action, and will indeed feel a powerful need to act.
So what does it mean to act? To act means to organize to create another world. A world in which people will laugh when told that the way to defend “democracy” is to support dictators. A world in which people will laugh when told that a regime that refuses the majority of its people the elemental right to return to their homeland is a “democratic” regime. It means that after laughing, we will find a way out of these tragic absurdities. It means that we will find the courage to stand in the way of the genocidal, ecocidal machine, that we will finally learn how to become a collective force that blocks its advance, and that ultimately, we will change the course of history.
Today, we might say that it means not only supporting the brave people of Egypt, but following their noble example and doing the same thing here … and everywhere.
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52 Comments so far
Show AllAbsolutely.
We can overthrow our own government, without which, Mubarak and similar tyrants would not exist.
Long live the freedom to live!
barb wire-smart, exactly!
We can't do much for the brave Egyptian people there --- only here, indirectly for them, but particularly for our own children, innocently entrapped in a disguised global EMPIRE --- the very same global empire that is now tyrannizing the Egyptian people.
Unfortunately, "The Coming Insurrection" here, in the cancerous heart of the Empire, will probably come too late to help most Egyptians.
As I wrote yesterday on CD's "Egypt is the Future" by Lewis:
Fortunately, for we people living in the country formerly known as the US, this revolution in Egypt will bury the last false illusion of 'change', for which Obama was the last smooth-talking actor.
The supposed 'change' that the political front-men (and woman) of this global corporate/financial/militarist Empire, which guilefully controls our former country by hiding behind the facade of its 'bought and owned' Two-Party 'Vichy' sham of faux democratic government, are enforcing on the Egyptian peoples' revolution should be the last time the American populace will fall for the illusion of 'change' from this "Empire of Illusion" --- as Chris Hedges calls and disrobes it.
Yes, but, unfortunately, for the populace of Egypt, they are likely to be the last people screwed blue by the global Empire to maintain the illusion that revolution is not primarily, nay essentially, required in the heart of this global Empire --- right here in River City.
Lewis's gutless conclusion should actually state that, "the larger story is about the US".
'Who' would have thought that a little peaceful revolution in Egypt, and the Empire's deceit about insuring 'change' there, would unexpectedly become the catalyst, the blasting cap, that sets off the Second American Revolution right here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydAs5bRW1U
But now, and for the last time in history, the ruling-elite's global Empire posing as the US has used the word, oath, and power of the country that most Americans still think, but by barely a thread, is their country, and their "leaders" (sic); faux Emperor Obama, Hillary 'war goddess' Clinton and the whole stinking facade of democracy to endorse and insure the Egyptian commitment to 'change'.
Obama, the already distrusted agent of 'non-change', and Hillary of dripping lies, and McConnell, and Cantor, and Kerry, and Biden, and Gates, and all the "Court or Liars" are now pledging their honor --- [insert laugh track] --- that Mubarak will go and the Egyptian people, who have died for it, will be assured of getting 'change', and that that holy and ennobeled 'change' will be assured, as it was in our country by Obama and the whole system of faux-democracy here.
But this 'bridge too far', of extending the lie one too many times, and of the American people seeing that Obama and the global Empire that this political pawn fronts for, will do the same thing to the Egyptian people in that territory of the Empire that the bastards did only two years ago now to us in the US headquarters of the very same disguised Empire.
Well, as the song goes, "We won't be fooled again" ---- and this seemingly inconsequential event in Egypt will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, that allows the American "Multitude" of citizens to finally see what Lucy is doing by pulling the football away again, and again, and again ... and to see clearly that we, us, in the US are living in the belly of the Empire.
And historically, Americans don't like Empire, and don't let it stand once they see it, and recognize it, and really understand that all the 'symptom problems' they (and Egyptians) face; like the economic oppression, police-state tyranny, financial looting, deadly and expensive wars, and all manner of political lying are all traceable right back to the seminal cancerous CAUSE of EMPIRE both in Egypt and right here in the heart of that EMPIRE.
As I have stated in many posts on CD since the Egyptian people's revolution has started, --- the real unexpected explosion of revolution will now explode here, in the heart of the global Empire --- because the American people will very clearly see that the 'change' that the Empire's smooth-talking front-man promises is worth NOTHING anywhere, including at home.
"Empire abroad entails tyranny at home" Hannah Arendt (speaking about the Nazi Empire and all Empires)
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
"Democracy over Empire" party headquarters
PS. As far as being "unexpected" and not "foreseeable" by anyone, as Adm. Mike Mullen said, the CIA has a very good metric for predicting revolutions in any country --- it is the GINI Coefficient of Income Inequality --- but as I have noted elsewhere on CD, that metric under represents the likelihood of Americans revolting because our nearly 'worst in the world' economic inequality has been partially buried by the 'best in the world' propaganda that "there's no Empire here".
We may have been fooled by a better propagandist than even Goebbels with his crude one-party 'Vichy' facade, but after Egypt, "We won't get fooled again"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zydAs5bRW1U
"We won't get fooled again"
Who?
No, Who's on first.
Not that Who. The Who.
O. Well, surely, not us, at any rate.
Oh yeah?
Yeah, and don't call me Shirley.
Hope your toes are warming up, Barb.
You haven't said much about your toes, Alan.
The United States of Mind. Very good!
So true!!!!!!
What Can We Do to Support Humanity?
our own government has been overthrown by Cruelty and Averice.
What fails to amaze me is that despite all these atrocities that the United States government does to us and the world us American citizens still are sheep and care not that the world is burning around us.
While i have not lived long on this earth (only 18) i have seen our rights stripped away by the Patriot Act, billions our money sent to bail out Wall Street, thousands of our men sent to die in the Middle East to protect the selfish rule of dictators, and forced socialistic health care.
So long as we have our American Idol and Jersey Shore the Empire could do whatever we want we don't care.
What happened to liberty? What happened to Democracy?
WAKE UP AMERICANS THE TIME FOR REVOLUTION IS NOW!
"What happened to liberty? What happened to Democracy?"
the americans never had liberty or democracy.
yes, they know their bank account is empty, their retirement gone, their paycheck stopped. but they haven't traveled from their abject poverty to the questions of liberty and democracy yet.
Hey kid,
You got a lot to learn. Take it easy, Big Brother is watching.
Are you trolling? Hmmmnnnn? (No offend intended)
curious, you're right.
The Egyptians are smart enough and brave enough to attack the oppression which they understand is being imposed by their local strongmen, but at the directive of the Empire abroad.
The only thing the Americans could do for the Egyptian revolutionaries fighting for 'democracy over Empire', and the action that ONLY Americans can take, would be to be equally insightful and brave in attacking the Empire centered here, in the US, which is the central cause of all oppression 'at home' and 'abroad'.
But Americans (other than politically aware oppressed blacks), while sympathetic, do not nearly understand the source of this global oppression --- nor even the existence of the disguised global Empire herein.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
"Democracy over Empire" party
One of the better things we can do is to learn from the ongoing Egyptian revolution.
We can also try to neutralize our own government's stealth institutions (e.g. the CIA) from meddling in the affairs of Egypt, by alerting our Congress (I say 'try' for I realize how unresponsive Congress is to the requests and demands of the citizenry).
We can relentlessly expose the business as usual machinations of the Obama administration. For instance, supporting Suleiman is business as usual.
They are us. They are fighting for us. We have a common enemy and face the same problems. What we can do here is the same thing we (some of us, those who happen to be in the Egyptian occupation zone) are doing there.
Unlike most people here, when I say "we" I mean we the working class people everywhere. Most people here when they say "we" mean "Americans" and they then describe the plans and actions and needs of the ruling class as "we" are doing this that or the other, or "we" want this that or the other. Clearly, when people do that they are acting as spokespersons for the ruling class. (Not that you are.)
Research who Wisner, OilyBombers point man in Eygpt, is and weep.
Oilybomber sent in a corporate criminal zionist.
Please anyone who is still willing to vote for OilyBomber please line up for the thickest cranium in history contest.
The Neanderthals had eggshells in comparasion.
Voting third party is a necessary beginning for change.
As Gahndi or MLK said even if it seems futile, if its correct, do it.
When one lives in an Orwellian dystopia, ths sort of thing becomes routine, commonplace and expected. But the Emperor said stuff about freedom, change and peace blah blah.
For a description of the Wisner operator, Obama's present envoy to Egypt, and his sinister career (and Wisner Senior's "achievements" in the CIA, for instance the coup he enabled against Iran's democratically elected president, Mossadeq, in 1953), see today's Democracy Now!'s broadcast.
In fact, the whole broadcast is a "must see" and a great eye opener.
"President obama is doing exactly what he was hired to do."
That's it in a nutshell. The ones who hired him could care less if we like him, his actions, or maleloquence, or care if we agree with opposing views. The game plan is simple, as are the spectators.
As VP, barb wire and others have already commented:
The ideal manner in which to support the people of Egypt is to call for a global rebellion against the Empire.
Here in the imperial Homeland, a general strike, if supported by the critical mass, would be very effective.
If students, unemployed, folks lucky enough to have jobs, unions, the poor and disenfrachised of all races etc. banded together to shut down the system for a few days, we could begin to be heard by the Oligarchy.
Otherwise, we are going to have to sit by and watch helplessly. They simply divide and rule
"Here in the imperial Homeland, a general strike, if supported by the critical mass, would be very effective."
that's like saying if you eat, you won't be hungry, when there's nothing to eat.
here in the US, the enemy of the people have all the money and guns, trigger-happy, and promptly squish any rabble rouser.
the people have few tools for organizing or little understanding of the alternatives, never mind agreements on any alternative.
plus there's little time to waste.
at this point, direct challege by small groups will only meet crushing blows.
however,
people can undermine the system one little daily action at a time,
by NOT participating in the system,
by not consuming corporate products and services.
recycle, repair, share.
produce and barter.
use local money.
and spread the word.
This article appeared in Harper's Magazine three years ago, when its editor was the one and only ..... Lewis Lapham.
Specific Suggestion:
General Strike
By Garret Keizer
Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust.
—Isaiah 26:19
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/0081720
general strike would be the ultimate sabotage of the evil system.
but how do you pull it off,
when there's hardly any real left to organize it, no alternative vision for the left to offer, and few people that call for general strike based on the leftist vision?
More is indeed required.
Get to the land. Build your natural home.
With bees, mushrooms, cheese, and trees
kiss the plastic corporate world good-bye.
And good riddance.
This buys into the myth of American Exceptionalism, that we can all be Davy Crocketts. Put down your pipe, come back to Earth with its 7 billion people and diminishing resources.
Furthermore, the bee population has collapsed.
Back with us yet? What can you propose that is realistic?
if the host body rejects the parasites, the parasites are done for. what more is there?
"economic and thereby political independence" of the people is the biggest threat to the parasitic elites.
there's nothing more to their power.
This is like telling incarcerated people, or slaves, that all they need to do is stop participating and the gates will open and the chains disappear.
This fantasy is comforting to people whop are relatively immune from the worst effects of the system and who are seeking to avoid facing the reality of the situation.
It is a deadly error - one that trades off death and suffering of others for the sake of making the few here feel better about themselves.
All of the positive things that the people promoting these consumerist and lifestyle approaches to politics can happen, and are happening right now in Egypt - once the police state apparatus has been backed off enough that these choices then become possible.
People promoting lifestyle and consumer solutions to the social problems want to skip directly to the results without having to face any of the difficult and scary preliminary work. It appeals to the bourgeoisie, to the "middle class," because it offers the illusion that they can have their cake and eat it too - go about their gentrified middle class lifestyles yet also support social justice.
your understanding of the problem leads to your understanding of solution.
i see the crux of the problem as one of global class struggle (the global capitalist class exploiting the global proletariat class, while keeping the exploited in their place through ideological manipulation through individualism and fascist fear-mongering tactics, by dividing the exploited class along the lines of race, religion, sex, sexuality, national borders, etc.
non-participation in the capitalist system isn't some fashion statement.
it necessitates a reflection on, the creation of, and the participation in alternatives.
Now we are reaching common ground.
I agree with what you say here, provided that your non-participation does not preclude self-defense and resistance. The ruling class does not permit any option of merely walking away, any more than slave owners permitted slaves to opt out of the system of slavery as a matter of personal choice.
i never moved, you just found me where i always has been.
anyway, where do you get such an idea that non-participation may exclude self-defense and resistance?????
your thoughts are so random.
you need to calm down, and think through before typing away.
"...anyway, where do you get such an idea that non-participation may exclude self-defense and resistance?"
From the other posters. You are one of the few who doesn't think that. So I asked. Is that OK? I am perfectly calm and give much thought to the subjects before I post. Your prolific posts on every topic are often brief and ambiguous or unclear, so you might want to take your own advice "and think through before typing away" yourself.
my brief comments can be "ambiguous if you bring a wrong or confused attitude / perspective. you can ask for clarification, before jumping to a hurried conclusion, if you are mature.
and you think people actually read all your long ramblings? wake up dude.
We won't act as long as we have beer, potato chips and football
The big difference between the US occupation zone and the Egypt occupation zone of the empire is that here people are more intimidated and under more tyranny, and here the intellectuals have been bribed more and indoctrinated more to protect and defend the system. Those same intellectuals then blame the everyday people for their supposed laziness, apathy, ignorance, complacency, etc. That - blaming the everyday people for what the ruling class is doing - is a product of the indoctrination to which I referred.
Or blaming the everyday people for letting the ruling crass bribe and indoctrinate them.
Our own politicians and president are directly against our best interests. I hope Egypt has found a way and will show the world the way to correct corrupt governments. The Egyptian people will have to win though, to prove it's a viable way.
"Countries" is a concept that serves the ruling class. We are talking about different occupation zones, and those do not always correspond to different peoples.
From a working class point of view, a blow against the empire anywhere is a blow against it everywhere. It is a variation on American exceptionalism to say "good luck to those Egyptians over there with their problems in their country. Wish we could do something like that here with our problems in our country." They are us, with the same problems and up against the same adversary.
Sundome,
and you compassionately defended Obamacare? Blah!!!!
we are given that democracy is the ultimate goal...what a shame that...
what does democracy have to do with owning property, or the industrial destruction of our world?
nothing...
if democracy reigned, and these things were desired by the majority, they would continue...if not, they would stop...
theoretically...
of course, in reality, force drives opinion, which negates the concept of democracy, altogether...and economics...and fairness, justice, etc.
so we protest, but for what? more working, owning, and destroying?
democracy is not the goal...a job is not the goal...
life, and a planet on which to live, is the goal...
oppressors are not concerned with democracy rising, they are concerned with, and preparing for, violence rising...
how does this author, John Clark, view the notion of private property?
untouchable?
whence, then, progress?
It is difficult to get a discussion going in the US questioning property.
yes, Two Americas...pretty fringe topic, at the moment, I agree...
unfortunately, survival may require questioning property...
of course, the property issue may resolve itself before too much longer...
many issues may...
while homelessness firms stomachs and opens eyes, it also hobbles limbs and weakens spirits...
may we each find the wisdom and strength to do what we can...
I suggest a time to act, all of us, around the world, in concert:
Global Start Date: September 22, 2012...a return to local living...
peace, brother...
the notion of private property is hardly a fringe issue.
in fact, it's at the heart of the problem.
that's why it's a non-starter, yet, in this country.
many still own too much private property to lose, to embrace alternatives..
In most places at most times owning something meant using it, making it, or trading for it. The idea of property being a social marker used for the purpose of controlling others, stetting up power relationships that can actually lead to some having no housing or no food, is what people use the word property to describe now. Imagine - people unable to get the basic necessities of life in the midst of unprecedented productivity and abundance. In this county we have two kinds of housing - over-priced for 90% of the working people - averaging $19,000 annual income and being asked to pay half or more of that in rent - or foreclosed upon and abandoned homes.
We still have the old usage here and there. For example, we might go to sit down on a public park bench, then realize that someone was there before us and stepped away momentarily and we will say "sorry, I didn't realize that was your seat."
But as with all of our social relations, the notion of property has been abstracted away from the social purpose for it - ownership becomes about a physical building rather than about the living itself. The shelter becomes a tool for one person to gain control and dominance over others, rather than a home. Two social purposes, two concepts of ownership for the same physical thing - housing people (isn't that what houses are for?) or used by a lucky or rapacious and predatory few to gain power over others, to take more out of the public wealth then they put back in.
Property is not about stuff. That is a grand shared delusion. Property is about social relations. Wealth is power over others, and power over others is the purpose of accumulating wealth and property. There is no possibility of going about one's life with peace, stability or predictability. One must be striving at all times competitively, or run the risk of being seriously deprived of the fundamentals for living. This system rewards anti-social behavior and punishes socially beneficial behavior. It is self-contradicting, destructive, certain to fail, and a serious threat to all life in all places and at all times.
Why not just get out of Egypt's way and let the people sack their dictator?
how do you make the interfering global elites quit interfering?
For the sake of the World and Democracy people had best hope the US economy does NOT recover.
i know what you mean.
DIPLOMATIC CAR RUNS OVER 20+ PROTESTERS IN EGYPT - THE TRUTH HAS TO GET OUT. -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVpXkcnKY
If I were a citizen of the US — and I thank god who ever you perceive him/her/it to be — that I am not, I would begin by publicising, by every means possible, the facts in easily digested bites on how much the US distributes in foreign aid each year, and specifically how much goes to Israel.
I would turn up at every meeting of the unemployed, wherever people who are losing their homes are gathering, on the website of all such people and I would name those politicians who support the distribution of this aid, again concentrating upon Israel, and how much the various Jewish organisations donate to these politicians.
It would not be a difficult exercise to make politicians who support Israel unelectable. However much money pro Israel organisations donate, they do not, cannot provide votes.
Defeating the pro Israeli politicians would be a revolution in the US and it would not even be difficult. The very fact that pro Israel lobby is so visible makes it an easy target and the dispossessed middle class once they understand the situation must/will demand to know why they are suffering deprivation while taxes are being wasted propping up ungrateful tin pot regimes overseas.
This would be as easy to set alight as throwing petrol on a fire! Appeal to every mean, racist, parochial, envious, self interested impulse in the US population, and the population has them in spades and this would be unstoppable!
I forgot the instilled 'american' sense of entitlement!
The short answer to your question is that we can support them by following their example and doing exactly what they are doing. This would not only support Egypt but also the rest of the world that is being oppressed by US economic and military policies, imposed by the Pentagon, White House, World Bank and IMF. As an added benefit, it could also lead to our own liberation, since the average American is also exploited and oppressed by the Wall Street banksters and the Pentagon thugs.
But of course, if people did rise up and take effective, militant action, not only would they be brutalized by the police, but also disavowed by middle America as well as the liberal left. Uprisings are only good when they happen in other places.
Thank you, John Clark, for writing what I have been saying for YEARS: The Republicans push us almost to the point of taking to the streets, and then the Dems step in to pacify us and give us the false promises of hope and change. Then once we've settled down, the Republicans move back in again and advance the corporate/military agenda a little further.
People are always taking me to task when I refuse to vote for "the least of the evils", in my case, Heath Shuler, Obama and other Democrats In Name Only (DINOs). It is so difficult to convince them that voting for most Dems is a vote for the status quo.
When they assert that voting for an independent or truly progressive candidate will help the GOP candidate, I tell them that might have to get worse before they get better. I tell them that if the status quo is preserved, things will get worse anyway. It all falls on deaf ears.
How can we break the chain?
Begin your own revolution.