Last night, the people of Egypt awaited a press conference from President Mubarak. It was rumored that Mubarak was giving in to the will of the people and resigning his position as the head of Egyptian government. However, Mubarak refused to give up his title and refused to leave the country as demanded by the people, he would however transfer most of his power to his vice president, Omar Suleiman.
What is gained from this?… according to the people of Egypt, nothing. Suleiman is simply an extension of the same corrupt government lead by Mubarak. This transfer of power has caused some confusion in Egypt. Who is really in charge now – the military, Vice President Suleiman, or Mubarak?
According to reports from Cairo, the mostly peaceful protestors are at the brink of becoming violent. The Military had made a statement earlier in the day saying, “all the demands of the protestors would be met…” – clearly not so.
Given Mubarak’s history of corruption is this transfer of power enough? And if the people of Egypt do become violent against their government, are they justified in doing so?
What do you think?
“We hold these truths be self evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government…when a long train of abuses and usurpations…evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security…”
The people of Egypt have the right to take over the government. It's their government. I believe that if the president and his staff isn't working for the people, they have to start taking matters into their own hands. If that means riots and possibly violence, so be it. The people have been suffering from their corrupt government for over thirty years. It was bound to happen and now Mubarak will get what he deserves.
ReplyDelete-Brandon Maxwell
I do not believe that it is justified to violently revolt against their President. The people either need to do something peacefully or leave the country if things are so bad that they cannot stand it any longer.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not support what President Mubarak is doing, he is still the leader of the country. If the people of Egypt are violently protesting against their government it will only make things worst.
-Shawn Patrik Clayton esq.
I have mixed feelings about the problems in Egypt right now. I don't support President Mubarak and how he runs things but at the same time, the people can't just revolt and become violent. I'm on the side of the people, I just think however, that they need to look for a different way to get what they want.
ReplyDeleteI think that the people have the right to be protestng right now but maybe they shouldnt be doing it. The military will probably come in and they will get hurt but I deffinatly think that the government over there right now is messed up. It is not bennefitting the people at all and they should have the right to pick their president.
ReplyDeleteI think that what ever happens we should finally stay out of it for once. Even though we are their allies they can find a way to solve it on their own. We have gotten ourselves in enough trouble with snooping in others business we should be focusing on our own problems. Just a thought.
ReplyDelete-Sarah R.
Well, at least he did step down. That situation had the potential to become really nasty. But will the stepping down of Mubarak create a vacuum for every faction to fight over? Will Egypt become the same as the former Yugoslavia? For those of you who don't know, the result was the Bosnian genocide. The situation really hasn't gotten better, it's just been altered.
ReplyDeleteSo much has happened since I posted this topic this morning. President Mubarak has indeed stepped down; power is now in the hand of the military. I just hope that the generals in control continue to use restraint as Egypt goes through this transition.
ReplyDeleteWhatever your politcs are, I think we can agree that it is amazing the power that the people can wield if motivated to do so...
I agree that it is amazing that the people of Egypt were able to make President Mubarak step down, however is a miliatry dictatorship any better? Even though Egypt's president has stepped down, I think Egypt's rough times have just begun. Violence may become more prevelant, creating a civil war within Egypt.
ReplyDeletethe citizen of Egypt want mubarak out, and not transfer his power. Its better for him and the people of Egypt if he just steps down from his position. Good thing he stepped down. Better late than never.
ReplyDelete-Saman