Opinion: Egypt’s need for peace

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While Egypt’s cities are filled with chaos, due to angry protesters fighting for a reformed nation, Americans should support their efforts to promote change.

As an ally, America should assist the Egyptian people in every way possible to push this political reform. This would be beneficial to Americans and to Egyptians so they can be a nation free of dictatorship and so the joys of democracy that we enjoy can be spread.

Citizens of Cairo are protesting because they are enraged with their leader of three decades. Due to the corruption of his power, and the country’s economic strife as a result, the people are acting out.

Protesters demonstrate “thuggishness and corruption of the Egyptian police force” as they raid the streets of Cairo this week, according to the New Yorker. Looting civilians and police brutality have also contributed to the chaos that has infested this city.

Due to the Egyptian president’s supposed greed, most inhabitants of the country live on less than $2 a day and 40 million cannot read. Even if they can, they can barely obtain jobs.

So, why should Americans care about the Egyptian elections and the violence?

The United States has been allied with the Egyptian government for over 30 years, the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak has meant that the citizens’ needs have suffered from neglect and they could also benefit from becoming a democratic nation through our support.

The U.S. has had interests in Egypt that include “peace between Israel and other Arab nations, contributions to help maintain stability in the area and to protect resources of the Persian Gulf,” according to the Middle East Forum. If we can help protect this nation from foreigners and maintain stability, there is no reason why we cannot support the Egyptian people’s needs internally.

According to CBS News, Cairo’s citizens have made demands for “freedom of speech, press, assembly (and) free/honest elections, which they believe is impossible as long as Mubarak (or his son) is in power.”

I’m not arguing that Americans should step in and take control of Egypt to give its citizens democracy. I am simply arguing that the Egyptian people deserve to receive aid from the U.S. I think that as allied nations, we should be able to reciprocate support of one another and avoid conflict with foreign nations as much as possible. Only the Egyptian people have the power to improve the conditions of their economy and political system.

Egypt has been one of the “friendlier” nations toward the American people since we began our alliance with its government over three decades ago. With the war that we are already engaged in within the Middle East, it is rare that we would have any diplomatic relations with a Muslim country.

All people, even those in weaker nations, deserve democratic freedom. Cairo’s citizens have made this quite clear as they make demands for it. In spite of what any leader may strive for, the citizens of a nation still deserve to be heard. While most may live in poorer conditions than someone of political significance, their needs overrule those in power due to majority.

The demonstrations and protests showcase what happens when people have been denied basic rights for so long. Now that Mubarak has promised to step down, the government can be rebuilt by people who, rather than being corrupt, will actually give rights to the citizens and protect them.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Stacey Sams at Stacey.sams@colorado.edu.