Today the plan is to review the exercises in WLTC and save time for a discussion of WLM (the Preface, Born to Belonging and perhaps start Privilege. The book is dense so don't try to speed through the text. Savor the intellectual discourse especially those topics that ruffle one's conscience.
Homework is already specified below. You can always do more in WLTC and read ahead in Wise. Just don't forget to take notes and for Wise, keep the reading log.
Homework for this evening is Writing Assignment 1 (15). The topic: recent political unrest in Egypt. Read an article from a newspaper and then compare that to perhaps a broadcast or print source outside the USA. You could also watch a TV broadcast and/or listen to a radio broadcast. Make sure you document your two sources correctly using MLA guidelines. 250 words or 1 typed page is fine. http://www.democracynow.org/, http://english.aljazeera.net/, http://www.hardknockradio.com/, sfgate.com, KPFA.org, CNN.com, CBS.com, kqed.org, sfbayview.com, etc. are all okay to use as sources.
Keep reading Wise. Thursday students can continue Privilege (17-60). Next week, February 15 we will discuss Denial (61-88). We meet in the Library Thursday, February 17 at 11 for an ortientation with Professor David Sparks (61-126). We'll continue Wise on Tuesday, February 22 (Washington's birthday) with Resistance and start Collaboration Thursday, February 24.
Prepare Loss (147-172), Redemption (173) and the Epilogue (179) for March 1 & 3. I will give you the essay assignment in a separate assignment.
The plan can change depending on how involved the discussions are. Within groups students can agree to read further and certainly there are no gag rules, so if a student has read ahead, he or she can certainly interject new information into the discussion.
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Mercedes Rawlyk
ReplyDeleteSabir
English 5
09 February 2011
Political Unrest in Egypt:
Reading two different articles, one from Egypt and the other from America, I noticed different things in the writing of these two areas. There was also similar things as well. In the article, Labour Unions Boost Egyptian Protests, by Al Jazeera, he spoke of mainly the protestors and their actions. The main point of this article was that many are protesting in numbers and staying away from work as pro-democracy protestors. This is currently a nationwide strike and the people are upset because they were promised a fifteen percent increase in pay. These workers are very upset with Hosni Mubarak, the president of Egypt, and claim the rioting will continue until he steps down from presidency. Government is scrambling under pressure and are trying to get things under control. When a famous pop-star comes to make statements about people leaving the Cairo Tahir Square and defends the president, the protestors become very enraged and the military is forced to step in. Ahmad Salah, an activist, states that,” This movement is not shrinking, its growing!” Mubarack refuses top step down from presidency.
In the article, Egypt’s Tumult Day by Day, by CNN Staff tells a different but somewhat similar story of the chaos in Egypt. This reporter mentions all the violent situations that are being experienced. Three people are pronounced dead, forty-nine have been wounded just in clashes with the protestors and the police in Egypt. The police used water cannons to tear gas against all the protestors. The largest opposition bloc in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood. This group called on all supporters to join the protests. The government stepped in and arrested the leader and cut off all internet and text-messaging services. Also in this article Mubarack announces that he has fired his cabinet and acknowledges the “legitimate demand.” Obama as well, as other political leaders had tried to step in and give Mubarack some advice. As of right now government is trying to change things such as specific laws to amend what is happening.
Within these articles, there are many different things that were said and the writings of these two authors is different. In the Egyptian article it mainly focused on the protestors. What they had to say and the actions that were being taken. Also focused on the hate for Mubarack their president. In the American article the main focuses were the violence implicated on the protestors and how many political leaders are trying to step in and help. Also, it motioned many times of how this situation must be resolved and ways that this could happen. In the Egyptian article it did not mention any kind of resolve, basically stating that this incident is going to continue. These articles are of the same story, but very much different.
Jeff Norkunas
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
February 9, 2011
The unrest in Egypt is growing by the day; the people of the country are fed up with greedy dictator and are demanding to be treated fairly. These are the underlying causes of the rioting and strike in Egypt right now.
The AOL article is far more in-depth than the BBC report. In the AOL article there are far more detailed reports of the events that are taking place all over the country. Focusing on the actual situations that have erupted each day in the country as opposed to their implications on the ruling power. The reporters have cited events such as “Some 8,000 protesters, mainly farmers, set barricades of flaming palm trees in the southern province of Assiut, blocking the main highway and railway to Cairo to complain of bread shortages. They then drove off the governor by pelting his van with stones. Hundreds of slum dwellers in the Suez Canal city of Port Said set fire to part of the governor's headquarters in anger over lack of housing.” (micheal) These reports give a true feeling to the real issues that have been caused by the dictator, President Hosni Mubarak.
Yet in the BBC article there are references to some of the events taking place, but much more of the article is dealing with how Vice-President Suleiman is coping with the growing rebellion. With remarks like “the crisis must end, adding: "We don't want to deal with Egyptian society with police tools." (Leyne). With the response of Abdul-Rahman Samir, spokesman for a coalition of youth protest groups saying “But what would he do with the rest of 70 million Egyptians who will follow us afterward?" (Leyne) It seems that the point of this report is to start looking at the next few days and the possible resolutions or lack thereof; will the country move to a state of martial law? Can negations be reopened?
After reviewing both articles, there seems to be a great amount of overlap between the two with very little difference in content, except for the focus points.
Leyne, Jon. BBC News. 09 February 2011. 09 February 2011 .
Michael, Maggie & Tablawy, Tarek el. AOLnews. 09 February 2011. 09 February 2011 .
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
8 February 2011
Political Unrest in Egypt
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been chaos in Egypt as protestors demand a change in the government. They want the resignation of the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak. These events have been reported by various news sources. However, depending on the writer, the news articles have different primary focuses.
Both articles mention that Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke to the Vice President of Egypt, Omar Suleiman, by phone. Suleiman is a strong supporter of Mubarak. During this conversation, Biden urges the government to continue with the political transition that had started and to negotiate even though protestors want no concessions unless Mubarak resigns. Biden also wants the Egyptian government to stop harassing journalists and activists.
According to the Associated Press, Suleiman is taking steps towards reform which has gained some support from the United States, but protestors believe it is only superficial. Matthew Lee from the Associated Press wrote that even though President Barack Obama is pushing for transition to a new government, the United States does not want to push the Egyptian government “too far, too fast.” Both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton support the transition led by Suleiman.
In BBC News, the writer focuses more on the protestors and their demands but does mention Biden’s call to Suleiman. The protestors led by Wael Ghonim, a Google executive who was detained for more than a week, want the “departure of the regime” and nothing less than that. Committees are being formed in response to these protestors. One committee proposes changes, and another is created to carry out these changes.
The major difference between the two articles is the topic focus. The article from the United States focuses mainly on the U.S. government’s response to the political unrest in Egypt. The writer mentions Biden and his talk with Suleiman. There were even references to President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s stance on the issue. However, the article from BBC News focuses more on the protestors themselves and the demands they made. The writer also mentions the death toll and the chaos resulting from the protests. BBC News paid more attention to the people in the middle of all the protests rather than the reaction of the U.S. government.
Citations
Lee, Matthew. “Biden asks Egyptian counterpart for fast progress.” SF Gate. Associated Press, 8 February 2011. Web. 9 February 2011. .
"Egypt protest: US call to Hosni Mubarak's government." BBC News Middle East. BBC News, 9 February 2011. Web. 9 February 2011. .
Sandahl von Sydow
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February, 2011
Tunisia rocked the world when the people successfully overthrew their President. The successful coup in Tunisia has inspired uprisings in several Middle Eastern countries. However, at the moment, all eyes are on Egypt. For sixteen days, the people have protested, rioted, declared strikes. All in an effort to remove President Hosni Mubarak from office. Today I studied articles on the current events in Egypt. One article from Aljazeera, one of Egypts main news sources. The other from SFGate.com, a Northern California publication.
Today, Aljazeera reported that many workers, 20,000 by their count, had gone on strike. Though some protested for political reasons, many did not. Aljazeera reported that some of the workers wanted better wages, an end to the pay discrepancy, and the fifteen percent increase the government promised state workers.
Aljazeer also noted that hostility rose today when Arabian pop star, Tamer Hosni, attempted to talk the protesters down from their demonstration at Tahrir Square. Bitterness for Mubarak runs deep, so Hosni's attempt to quell the protests did not go over well. Aljazeer reported that the military had to intervene so that Hosni would not be harmed by the protesters.
It was also noted that Egyptians from abroad are returning in order to join the protests. Vice President Suleiman is heard giving mixed messages. On one hand he says the government can't take much more of the protests, but on the other he tells the media that the regime will not end. “At one point in the roundtable meeting, he warned that the alternative to dialogue "is that a coup happens, which would mean uncalculated[sic] and hasty steps, including lots of irrationalities".”
SFGate.com focused mainly on the protests fears of retribution. The protesters seem to have an all or none mentality in regards to their position and the regime. “But even amid the reinforcements, protesters said they must do more or risk their political and physical survival. They said that if the crowds disperse but Mubarak remains in power, they might be attacked, jailed or even killed.”
SFGate.com also highlight's VP Suleiman stance on the protests, as well as his mixed message. This article frames his stance as a threat viewed by the protesters. VP Suleiman refers to President Mubarak as a person of reason, which the people do not believe.
Both articles detail some small concessions made by the regime. Aljazeera talks about thirty four prisoners released from custody. SFGate.com mentions that one of the thirty four is Google Executive Wael Ghonim who, according to the SFGate.com, “has become something of a folk hero.”
SFGate.com notes two responses from the U.S., which Aljazeera does not. Vice President Joe Biden and White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs both rebuked VP Suleiman's stance that “Egypt is not ready for a democracy.” "I don't think that it in any way squares with what those seeking greater opportunity and freedom think is a timetable for progress," - White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs.
It is unclear what the future will hold for Egypt. However, it is clear that though both of these articles focused on different aspects of the Crisis, both agree on some of the more major aspects of the protests. The people are energized, and they will do all they can to seek justice for themselves against a regime that has largely ignored them.
Bibliography
"Workers Boost Egypt Protests - Middle East - Al Jazeera English." AJE - Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera and Agencies, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. .
Fadel, Leila. "Anti-Mubarak Protesters Are Back in Force in Cairo." San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate. Washington Post, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. .
Frena Zamudio
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
09 February 2011
Political Unrest in Egypt:
The unrest in Egypt is sadly getting worse and worse each and every single day and because of their greedy dictator, people are starting to cause riots and strikes with their wanting to be treated fairly. The protestors mainly want a change in their government, specifically the resignation of their President, Hosni Mubarak. This topic have been one of the main focuses of the media all over the world lately. A lot of news resources with different focuses, stories, explanations toward the Political Unrest in Egypt.
After reading two articles, “Egypt’s Tumult Day by Day” and “Timeline: Egypt Unrest”, I seen both differences and similarities between two interesting articles. Both articles were written in a timeline manner also both mentioned about the similar story of the chaos in Egypt, the violent situations that even innocent people have experienced. According in the article, Three people are announced dead, forty-nine are wounded. The police had to use water cannons in order to tear gas against all the protestors. The government stepped in, cut off all internet and text messaging services all over the country at the same time arrested Mubarak. On the other hand, in the article “Timeline: Egypt Unrest”, the events are written according to their dates, from January 25th up to February 9th . The information were pretty precise and accurate, a lot of details on each and every single day were given to the readers. I think this article is more up to date (Feb 9th unlike the 1st one, Feb 8th), it even says a lot of details how our President, Barrack Obama had tried to step in and give Egyptian Leader some advice also to calm the angry protestors there as well as stop the riots which can cause so much harm not just to the people but to its country itself.
Both articles were good and very detailed, but one is more up to date than the other, both focused on the day to day events in Egypt, which was good and informative.
Bibliography:
CNN Wire Staff. "Egypt's Tumult, Day-by-day - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 08 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. .
"Timeline: Egypt Unrest - Middle East - Al Jazeera English." AJE - Al Jazeera English. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. .
Christian Del Rosario
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 Feburary 2011
Controversy in Egypt
The past few weeks there has been controversy about Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak. The people of Egypt want their president's resignation due to corruption, unfairness, poverty and more. This news has been all over the world and reported by many new sources. Depending on the reporter; each reporter focuses on different view of the matter.
In both articles I researched, I read that both articles discuss that Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Vice President Omar Suleiman. Also, both articles mention that Biden tells Soliman that there should be a transition in government.
According to SF gate, President Barack Obama called for the transition to begin now. Biden also mentioned to Suleiman the steps the government has taken and urged "immediate action to follow through." The future of Egypt depends on the Egyptian people.
In CNN, Michele Dunne, middle east expert says President Obama wants the transition to begin now. The US and Egypt are not on the same page with the transition. Obama’s administration are saying that this had to be a negotiated transition.
The difference is that both articles want the transitions. Although, CNN talks about the US and Egypt are not on the same page, but SF gate says Biden is telling the steps for the transition and then going into further detail and that the people of Egyptian people will determine the outcome of Egypt.
"CNN Student News Transcript: February 10, 2011 - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
Lee, Matthew. "Biden Asks Egyptian Counterpart for Fast Progress." San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate. 08 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
Quan Lin
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2011
Unrest in Egypt
Due to the political struggles in Egypt, the people are revolting the now current president of Egypt. However with regards to the United States, the Egyptian people does not want the interference of the states, as they believe that they have “done all they can” and should step away and let the civil unrest solve its own problems.
Depending on what article and what type of ideals that certain media has, point of views will be different. There is no such thing as a non-bias article. Each and every article that’s written is a form of opinion, with by extension means that the author would need to input some sort of biasness into it. If the article was from the states, it would most likely be describing the “chaos” and “violent protest” that is going on. The conservative media that is Fox or CNN would attempt to make this as negative as it possibly can. However in Egypt and the Middle Eastern countries sees it more as a reform rather than a civil upbringing.
Citations
"Protesters Keep up Momentum as Mubarak Refuses to Quit - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .
"Hypocrisy Is Exposed by the Wind of Change - Robert Fisk, Commentators - The Independent." The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .
Hang Lu
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
10 February, 2011
Now the action in the Egypt is not just an action of political or nongovernmental, it becomes the military action. Thirty years, the control power in the Egypt continues that long time, maybe will keep going again. Arbitrary dictation is the big reason of the action. People they don’t care who the leader is, but they do care who will give them the good lives. Hungry, unemployment, corrupt and incompetent of the government are the blasting fuse of this action. The populace solicited the government, but nothing happened. The bunch of citizens went down on their knees in front of the government buildings to try to get the reform of the state’s management system, but nothing happened either. Military, will be the last chance. “Many of the Egyptian protesters are now talking about, if (Mr.) Mubarak doesn’t go, or if there is no solution, the military (action) solution would be the last option, or the last solution,” said Mostafa.( Clottey Peter) But until now, the government of the US didn’t take a clear-cut stand in this action. Of cause, the misgiving is many-sided. Even thong the President Obama said try to do not use violence to overcome the action, everyone still wait for the manner of the America.
Clottey Peter “Analyst: Military Action against Egypt’s President 'Last Option'” voanews.com .February 09, 2011
Jonathan S. Landay “Egypt's vice president resists calls for immediate reforms”. McClatchy Newspapers .Posted on Wed, Feb. 09, 2011
Ocean Beverly
ReplyDeleteEnglish 5
10, Feb 2011
The first article that I read on Democracynow.org was no so much bias as other articles relating to Egypt. It was telling about the struggles that journalist and writers are having while trying to report the happening from over see, to the rest of the world, and they are being physically or mentally tortured. While Egyptian people are suffering and begging for assistance to retain the state the government is closing the only outlet that they have the main steam media. The next article was an excerpt from Fox News. This article focused more on the power that the Egyptian President processes and the lack of power that the people have. It also touches on the young activist that have been active in the protest and bring a lot of attention and awareness to other young people around the world.
"Media Blackout in Egypt." A Daily TV/radio News Program, Hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, Airing on over 900 Stations, Pioneering the Largest Community Media Collaboration in the United States. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/10/developing-egyptian-president-mubarak-respond-protester-demands/
Ricarda Sawatzki
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2011
Newspapers around the globe have been reporting about the latest developments in Egypt for the last couple of weeks. Egypt is finding itself on the 16th day of demonstrations. Pro-democratic protesters are demanding the resignation of their current President Hosni Mubarak, who is in office since 1981. The main demonstrations have been held at the Tahrir Square in Cairo; and until this point the end does not seem near. The information about the crisis in Egypt has been reported by unless counting news sources but comparing a news report about Egypt can show differences of the focus by the author. Similarities and differences are recognizable by looking at a source from the US compared to a source from Egypt. I base my paper on two different articles, one of Aljazeera, Egypt’s biggest news source and the other one of the local Internet source Sfgate.com.
According to the Aljazeera report not all of the protesters were following a strong “political demand.” About 20.000 factory workers did not go to work on Wednesday, instead they supported the demonstrations. The workers were asking for a better salary, a 15 percent increase in pay, in addition to the end of pay disparities. Even though the protesters might not have been demonstrating for the same reason as the pro-democrats, in the end both groups seek for Mubarak’s resignation. On the same day the San Francisco internet source reports about the “largest turnout” in Egypt on Wednesday. Demonstrators are now saying how they are afraid of the consequences of the protests, such as jail time or death penalties, if Mubarak comes back into power. Therefore they have to fight till Mubarak will resign. In comparison, the San Francisco article does not show the variety of intentions demonstrators have nor does the article give the reader a specific number about the protesters. By calling the protest on Wednesday the “largest turnout” the author makes the situation sound very dramatic and unique. Also the mentioning of fear about the consequences that the people share if Mubarak does steps back, creates a feeling for the reader that there is no point of return for the demonstrators. This article gets in touch with the audience’s emotions by describing the situation in Egypt as a one-way street.
Another difference between the two articles appears while reading further along. The Aljazeera article describes how the protesters got angry at the Arabian pop star Tamer Hosni for his public question to the people to leave Tahir Square. Hosni justifies his comment with understanding for Mubarak since Mubarak offered “concession” for the people. Yet the statement from the Arabian pop star did not got accepted at all by the Egyptian population. Aljazeera’s news reporter Stefanie Dekker reports, “people feel very strongly here.” New supporters for the demonstrations are also returning to Egypt from abroad. On the other hand the San Francisco based article writes about Wael Ghonim, who is celebrated in Cairo as a hero. Ghonim was one of the first activists against the Mubarak regime who organized one of the starting protests in Cairo. The Egyptian government detained the 30-year-old Google executive for 12 days. After his release he gave a speech that inspired the people that are still trying to fight for the governmental change. Even though, both article discuss that the people still believe in the change and will not give up till Mubarak resigns, the reason why protesters are keep trying is presented with a different point of origin for the reader. According to Aljazeera the protesters are frustrated with a local celebrity, whose statements revolved into refusal and then into a stronger bond between the protesters. The difference to the San Francisco gate article is that this author did not describe the Egyptian ongoing protests based on anger towards a local celebrity. Moreover the author connects the Egyptian’s inspiration from Ghonim with their eager to success. In this case the reader gets the impression that protesters base their bond on an inspiration with a local man rather than on a frustration with a local man.
ReplyDeleteBoth articles cover the statements from the Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman who failed to calm the protesters down but warned the people at the same time that the government “can’t put up with it” those prolonged protests much longer. And furthermore stated in an interview with the Associated Press that there will be “no ending to the regime.”
In conclusion, both articles give the reader a good coverage on the happenings in Cairo. However, the author of the Aljazeera article focused more on a local coverage by mentioning the different interest groups between the protesters and their intentions for Mubarak’s resignation. And also talks about the effect the statements from a national pop star had. The author of the San Francisco Gate article did not seem to communicate the complexity of demonstrators to the reader. This coverage just contained the description of the protesters goal that is the Mubarak’s resignation. The article also mentioned Ghonim as an inspiration and a hero to the Egyptian population. To pick Ghonim who works for an US based company called Google, might make the article more interesting to readers of a US based news report.
ReplyDeleteWith these growing demonstrations and the miscommunication between the Egyptian government and the population it still remains unclear what will happen to this country. Until then the world will be watching the happenings going on in a country that tries to free itself into democracy.
Citations:
"Anti-Mubarak Protesters Are Back in Force in Cairo." San Francisco Bay Area —
News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate. 09 Feb. 2011. Web.
10 Feb. 2011. .
"Workers Boost Egypt Protests - Middle East - Al Jazeera English." AJE - Al Jazeera
English. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
.
Wayne Chen
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
9 February 2011
Egypt Political Unrest:
Reading about the current labor protests in Egypt, I discovered that reading from a source in Egypt and one from the Carnegie Endowment made a significant difference in opinion. The Egyptian newspaper, the Aljazeera article seemed fairly hopeful and determined with their efforts on trying to push over the dictatorship currently residing there. The article shows the strong unity of the community involved who are protesting outside of the parliament there. The other article from the Carnegie Endowment talks about how the Egyptian labor protests are reaching greater heights and focus on more promise for the Egyptian population. The article uses different wording to create a lighter note on what is going on in Egypt, and has a more moderate approach than that of the former, which has a kind of national patriotism in its verbiage.
Citations:
"Labour unions boost Egypt protests - Middle East - Al Jazeera - English". AJE- Al Jazeera
English, 9 Feb 2011. Web. 10 Feb 2011.
"Labor Protest Politics and Worker Rights in Egypt - Carnegie Endowment." Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Carnegie Endowment.
English, 17 Feb 2010. Web. 10 Feb 2011.
Henry Wu
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
12 February 2011
Political Unrest in Egypt
The first article is a news article from Yahoo news. This article talks about how Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak refused to resign after attempting to quell protests against his rule. The first part of the article lists overviews of the major events that happened recently. It says that Mubarak decided to come out and speak on the state television and showed his willingness to have dialogue with the protestors. He also decided to dismiss his government. However, he also made it clear he will not resign over the protests. The second half of the article links the incidents of Egypt to the incidents that occured in Tunisia. The article's biases are clear in the end. It says that at least five protests had been killed and 1,030 wounded and lists methods the Egyptian police used to disperse crowds. 13 were killed in Suez and 6 in Alexandria. This is an appeal to emotion because it wants the U.S. audience to feel sympathy for the protesters that gave their lives to this uprising. It also intentionally avoids listing the number of police that were injured or killed in doing their jobs. Further unconcealed bias is found in "Many protestors are young men and women. Two thirds of Egypt's 80 million people are below 30 and many have no jobs. About 40 percent of Egyptians live on less than $2 a day." This sentence is another appeal to emotion because it wants readers to feel anger about the fact that the ones who are dead are the young people who have a future in front of them. It also decided to include a rushed sentence about how Egyptians are very poor, even though that statement is relevant in an article that deals with the Egyptian economy. It is clear this article is written with an American bias. Clearly the author despises the authoritarian rule Egypt is under and uses a number of biases to try to sway his audience into thinking the current government is corrupt and evil and support the protestors.
The second article is from the BBC and it talks about how Hosni Mubarak's reign came to an end. From the first sentence, it is clear it is another Western biased article written by a Western journalist. It starts off with "For 18 days the stubbornness of one elderly man has been pitted against the will of millions here." Instead of using positive adjectives, he instead humiliates the Egyptian leader by saying he's old and stubborn. His appeal to democratic values is also clear when he uses diction like pitting one against the "will of millions." Western bias is also evident in this phrase, What has happened today is that the old Nasserite system, a vaguely socialist, military dictatorship, heavily dependent on an unpleasant secret police, has collapsed. His categorization of Mubarak's rule is typical for a Western journalist. After all, Western values are all about democracy and any other form of government other than their own is frowned upon. Overall this article did little to address the real issue of how his government's collapse came to be and the ramifications of that result.
Sources: Egypt unrest: How Hosni Mubarak's end came http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12436336
Egypt's Mubarak sends in army, resists demands to quit
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110128/wl_nm/us_egypt_protest
Javier Chavez
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
2-14-2011
My first article that I read was from Associated Press and is about several government workers from Egypt started protesting demanding better pay. The people grew tired of the old corrupt government so they started protesting, the ban from all outsourced media was the spark that set this in motion. Now it has been a few weeks, the former president resigned and slowly things are being settled through the protesters. As Associated Press pointed out earlier today, “The coalition of young activists who organized the unprecedented protest movement pressured the military for new steps to ensure the autocratic system that has pervaded Egypt for the past 30 years is dismantled.” So it seems like it’s the people versus the military.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110214/ap_on_bi_ge/ml_egypt
The second article I read was also on the same topic but from bbc. Much like the previous article, this one discusses the “fresh” new protester demanding better pay for their people. Stating that the protesters still have much distrust towards the old government, and wanting a more democratic one. As the people go on strike, the military encourages people to go back to work, saying that the easiest and safest way to end the strike is if the people go back to work.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12448413