Chutzpah defined in one cartoon.

[HughBeaumont]

Uh, Jeff? Neither America nor it's "spirit of freedom" had any role in Egypt's liberation. That was their citizens. Could we please not immediately credit America for everything good that happens in the world?

[Whisp]

1. thats's a clinton, not the liberty statue

not sure which one tho

[Nye Bevan]

2. Sorry, I'm dim. What is going on in that cartoon? (nt)

[HughBeaumont]

3. Jeff D'Arcy . . .

. . . a "neither party" guy :eyes: , is implying that the spirit of American freedom, exemplified by Lady Liberty, in some way served as an inspiration for Egypt's citizens staying in the streets until Mubarak resigned, thus the makeover of the Sphinx.

The point (and irony) that the USA! USA! USA! BACKED and supported Mubarak for thirty years seems kind of lost on the cartoonist.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Since we credit everything bad that goes on in the world to the United States.....

Why can't we give a bit of credit to the USA on this?

Why can't we at least entertain the thought that the Egyptian army
From the start to the finish didn't roll their tanks into the cities
and shoot the protestors down dead? Must we speculate that this couldn't
have happened? Why is that?

Is America only recognized for the ills it brings to the world,
and never anything positive that goes down?

Do we believe that we can assign nefarious negative sub-plots and conspiracies
when results are fucked up ones, and never have conspiracies that might make
the US look more on the positive in any instant, ever?

This article helped me see things from a more positive
perspective than the one you hold: http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2011/02/12/community-organizing-social-media-once-again-change-the-world/

[HughBeaumont]

6. Uh . . . because America DOESN'T DESERVE IT??

Because this was completely due to the actions of the Egyptian citizens being far and away the bravest collective people in the modern era? Because they're the ones who should be credited for no longer accepting a dictator's boot on their faces?

Let me ask you and everyone else something, and be completely HONEST. If, somehow, the American citizenry woke up and decided to stop or at least, by the MILLIONS, demand an abrupt halt to the CEO looting of this country or ELSE . . . if they invaded boardrooms, country clubs, gated communities, estates, DC, financial districts and vowed NOT TO LEAVE unless their bullshit stopped . . . . who do you think the police and the military would side with?

Who would be arrested, beaten and shot when the CEOs, predictably, would not budge an INCH??

COME on.

[blondeatlast]

7. I get your point, but you are diminishing the acheivements of the Egyptian people.

We didn't stop those tanks. Well, actually, we did--along with the entire world. Whatever he may be, Mubarek was not an idiot. He know how the world would respond (not kindly) if his troops opened fire. It wasn't just the fear of the US that stopped hiom, it was FEAR of the world.

May I ask specifically what the US did to achieve what happened in Egypt? Obama was indeed appropriately, aggressively cautious, but beyond that--what did the US do?

Don't diminish what happened. The Egyptian people did this on their own and I'm proud to be a world citizen today for that.

[uppityperson]

13. No. The USA didn't do anything here, it was the Egyptian people, including their army

The Egyptian army did what they thought morally right, protect the people. I don't see what the USA did to give them any credit for, beyond not interfering. Some of the Egyptians looked at what Pres Obama stood for and how he ran his election, but no. USA didn't do this.

It was about and for and by the Egyptian people.

[JackRiddler]

17. Credit for what? Frank Wisner? The attempt to install CIA torture man Suleiman as the new Mubarak?

It's untrue that the US had nothing to do with this transition.

On the contrary, Washington at first tried to stop it, then reluctantly gave in, and now is hypocritically pretending they were for it all along.

Even if those were not the undeniable facts -- which don't seem to matter to you -- your question would still be absurd. It's like asking, for once, can't we give credit to Australia, or Botswana, or Planet 23Z in Andromeda for what happens in Egypt?

The answer is NO.

Furthermore, there IS a country to which Egyptians owe their freedom, and that is TUNISIA for setting off the wave of Arab uprisings, including the Egyptian uprising -- directly.

[uppityperson]

5. Lady Liberty was a gift from France.

[PBS Poll-435]

8. Recognizing Liberty and Freedom

Amazing that this is missed on so many.


This has nothing to do with the United States.

[uppityperson]

10. It isn't all about USA indeed. Liberty. Freedom. Libertas, the Roman Goddess of Freedom

Both symbolized in a statue that was given to USA from France. All based on Libertas, the Roman Goddess of Freedom.

Heh, read this...
http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/statue_of_liberty.html
"Originally, Batholdi tried to sell the idea of such a statue to Egypt, a giant lighthouse standing at the entrance to Suez Canal. Bartholdi envisioned a statue of a woman veiled after the Muslim fashion. Bartholdi presented his plans to the Egyptian Khediev, Isma'il Pasha, in 1867 and, with revisions, again in 1869, but, this being a time of economic depression for Egypt, the project was never commissioned, so he decided to sell the idea to America."

[HughBeaumont]

9. Right, those "sissy cheese eaters" who wouldn't side with "Great Leader" on his folly wars.

Those "wine drinking, get everything for free socialists" who only helped shape, build and defend this country.

;)

But I think he's alluding to what the statue represents.

[uppityperson]

12. Yes, the statue represents liberty and freedom. You are more cynical than I in seeing it only USA

I see Libertas as representing freedom everywhere. I found something interesting, that originally the idea of a statue of liberty was supposed to go to Egypt, but they couldn't afford it so it was sold to USA. Ironic, eh?

[uppityperson]

11. The "statue of liberty" was orginally meant for Egypt...

http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/statue_of_liberty.html
Originally, Batholdi tried to sell the idea of such a statue to Egypt, a giant lighthouse standing at the entrance to Suez Canal. Bartholdi envisioned a statue of a woman veiled after the Muslim fashion. Bartholdi presented his plans to the Egyptian Khediev, Isma'il Pasha, in 1867 and, with revisions, again in 1869, but, this being a time of economic depression for Egypt, the project was never commissioned, so he decided to sell the idea to America.

[xchrom]

15. +1 for interesting historical twist. Nt

[dems_rightnow]

14. I just don't see it as crediting America

I see "Liberty crushes Tyranny", using a recognizable symbol of liberty.

[HughBeaumont]

16. Yes, an AMERICAN symbol of Liberty.

Sitting on a crook that represents what AMERICA supported for 30 years.

I wish people would just be able to credit a brave collection of average impoverished citizens for doing something on their own.

[sibelian]

20. Oh, so the Statue of Liberty isn't a uniquely American symbol?

Gosh. I didn't know that.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. Chauvinism rears its head once again.

I would be very insulted if I were Egyptian, especially considering all the support the US gave to Mubarek.

[malaise]

19. Amazing isn't it

It's sick