Shut it Down! – Excuses I’ve heard
Posted by webofhistory on February 6, 2011
Shut it down!
Those of us who live in the “First World” countries, aka “Developed Countries,” can have a strong and far-reaching impact if we would participate in a world-wide General Strike or Hatal in support of Democracy for Egypt.
Refuse to work, refuse to spend, refuse to cooperate with the “First World” governments who would assume to control the Egyptian government and who would appropriate the Pro-Democracy demonstrations and message in order to increase “First World” power and their strangle-hold on the Middle East.
Shut it down!
Here are some of the excuses I’ve heard as to why someone can’t, won’t, or refuses to support/participate in a General Strike or Hatal on behalf of Democracy for the Egyptian people against a 30 year dictatorship.
I don’t believe in the cause. Authoritarianism+Paternalism=Ignorance
This person believes the simple minded message being catapulted in the media about security versus chaos. This type of person can look no further than the “common knowledge” of “accepted wisdom.” They will question nothing and accept the message as given. They can’t, or won’t, trouble their “beautiful mind” with the knowledge that people in Egypt are arrested and tortured for blogging. They can’t, or won’t, trouble their “beautiful mind” with the knowledge that the current ruling regime in Egypt runs an apparatus that would be the envy of the Kremlin in its “glory” days. They can’t be bothered to think of the Egyptian people as…people. They view them as ignorant and violent and bloodthirsty children to be ruled over and controlled by “our” more knowledgeable and sophisticated Western governments because, “We” know what’s good for them. They are filled with authoritarian and paternalistic filth that oozes from their “beautiful minds.”
It won’t work. The self-fulfilling-prophecy excuse.
A General Strike/Hatal won’t work so they won’t participate. They don’t participate, the numbers are reduced, and it doesn’t work. They sabotage a movement because they refuse to try then point and those others who refuse to try as to why it won’t work. See? They were right.
The multinationals have too much money; it won’t hurt them.
Besides, they say, it won’t really hurt xyz multinational corp; their profits are huge! There are millions of “Us” who do business with them. It’s not about destroying them with one fell-blow, it’s about smacking them upside the head to get their attention. There are millions of “Us.” See, for example, what a world of hurt the housing crisis put them in. They all started screaming then, didn’t they. It can be done. We can get their attention. This time, the “First World” governments can’t afford to bail out their sorry asses.
I can’t afford to lose my job!
Ah, this is the person watching what is happening to the Pro-Democracy protesters as the state-run thugs throw petrol bombs and bricks at the unarmed protesters. This is the person who will watch a police van mow down the protesters or snipers pick them off and wish, just Wish and Hope and Pray for their safety. But can’t be bothered to risk their job much less their life in the name of Democracy.
They will Pray. Give them an address and they will donate money. They will “go to the streets” in their safe country, far away from the atrocities happening in Egypt, and they will chant slogans and support. But don’t ask them to risk their job, a late fee on a bill, or their credit rating. The new “yuppie, Nuremberg defense;” I can’t lose my job! While watching “others” die.
Prejudice+”religion”+ignorance=Fear
OMG!!!! Muslims! Islamists! and Terrorists! OH, MY!
The common refrain of the “First World” governments whose long, bloody history is rife with tales of conquest under the banner of “christianity”. Using “religion” and “God’s Will” and “Manifest Destiny” to justify the destruction of indigenous peoples as they moved into one country after another exploiting resources and enslaving people to gain power, wealth and control. Then discarding them and their countries while claiming the enslaved are incapable of self rule, are less than human, are heathens and barbarians.
These are the fearful, the violent, the weak…the collaborators.
Again I say;
Shut it down!
Those of us who live in the “First World” countries, aka “Developed Countries,” can have a strong and far-reaching impact if we would participate in a world-wide General Strike or Hatal in support of Democracy for Egypt.
Refuse to work, refuse to spend, refuse to cooperate with the “First World” governments who would assume to control the Egyptian government and who would appropriate the Pro-Democracy demonstrations and message in order to increase “First World” power and their strangle-hold on the Middle East.
Shut it down!
