American Hegemony

            The resignation of President Mubarak has been finalized and the American media outlets have covered the entire process with much speculation. I find it amusing and alarming at the same time concerning the rhetoric and debate surrounding Egypt’s future as being depicted from a mainly westernized approach and perspective. Without living and understanding their lifestyle, empathizing with their culture, understanding their religious structure, and comprehending the expectation level of the Egyptian people surrounding their government, all the American media can possibly do is speculate. In addition to the speculation of the “Father knows best” type mentality that is presented in most of the American foreign policies, there is a large emphasis placed upon what is best for the American people, and no one else. The media assists promulgating these types of behaviors and attitudes through fostering and furthering the governments’ inverted agenda, whether advertently or inadvertently. The single most evidenced problem that I have with the American media coverage of the events that have unfolded in Egypt are solely related to the ethnocentric point of view from which it is sourced. To say that we know what is best for the Egyptian people is a ridiculously fraudulent claim. Rather to make the claim that we know what is best for Egypt, which in turn benefits the United States the most is much more accurate.

            Concerning a separate issue, there has been recent news coverage in regards to an American citizen that is being held prisoner in Pakistan for murder charges. The details of the case are as follows: the American citizen was engaged by two gun-wielding Pakistanis at an attempt of an armed robbery, however, the American citizen also carried a weapon and was able to protect his own life by ending the perpetrators’. Under the current foreign policy laws that are in place he has diplomatic immunity, thus making it illegal to detain him under these circumstances. The Pakistani government is showing no signs of releasing the American citizen at the request of various United States officials. White House representatives are reported to have made an official response to the Pakistani government that states unless the American is released that millions-billions of dollars of aid will be cut off. This is a bold statement in troubling times. I say this in relation to the recent middle-eastern turmoil in Egypt as well as in Iran. It has been reported that the Iranian government will ‘silence’ the opposition to the current political regime that is in power. The Iranian government has been portrayed in a very recent history as being an oppressive, anti-free speech, anti-women’s equality, anti-homosexual, and anti-Semitic regime that pressures, silences, and kills all of those who hold opposing views/ideals. The media’s recounting of these views has led to the American general populations’ resentment (which I also hold), against the oppressive Iranian regime (which has a striking resemblance to Nazi Germany pre-WWII). History has a way of repeating itself, and I feel as though if the media is able to (unlike in Nazi Germany) uncover these kinds of human rights violations then we are giving humanity a fighting chance.