“I am addressing all of you from the heart, a speech from the father to his sons and daughters.” —Hosni Mubarak, Feb. 10
I don’t want to say that the concept of a father speaking to his children should be banned from all political speech. In India, they refer to Mahatma Gandhi as Bapu, or father. And perhaps you’ve known some kind and caring fathers–maybe you are one yourself–who would make a fine political leader.
HOWEVER, the suited slug shown here is far more reminiscent of another leader who had the worst kind of paternalistic instincts for his country. Like Mubarak, Nicolae Ceausescu gave an eleventh hour crazy-speech that only infuriated his countrymen more and set the stage for the next step.
In case you’ve forgotten what happened in Romania, this rather brutal LiveLeak video sums it up. The title: “Nicolae Ceausescu Execution.” Choice quote: Elena Ceausescu (the dictator’s wife) “why are you doing this?” Soldier: “No one can help you now.” Then, a short while later: “Everyone stop firing.”
It’s unclear what help or hope there is for Mubarak once his “children” take stock. There’s a lot of joy in Cairo now, but there’s bound to be plenty of other emotions. I hope it doesn’t come to executions–Romania didn’t seem to be helped all that much by all the vengeance-taking. But as it’s said in the Gospel of Matthew, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
Or, to extend Mubarak’s fatherhood metaphor with a quote from that modern apostle, Stephen Tyler:
Janie’s got a gun
Her whole world’s come undone
From looking straight at the sun
What did her daddy do?
What did he put you through?
Mabrouk, sons and daughters of Egypt. Be careful.
I don’t have much to add, but it’s striking how ingrained the twisted “parental” attitude of the Ceausescu’s is displayed “I’ve raised you like a mother…” etc. As for Egypt, I have nothing to say, but stand amazed at a country’s courage and hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.
The only thing us parents can take away is realizing that our authority as parents is absolute at times (I remember the panic in my son as he realized that indeed he was going to get a shot that day), we must be prepared for an emotional separation. I sometimes wish to rush that process along when I can’t be left alone on a would-be lazy Sunday, but I know they’ll come a day when I’ll long for them to spend some time with me.
Ha. I like that way of looking at it. Hosni simply wasn’t ready for an “emotional separation” from his children. Thankfully, there’s no army waiting to forcefully emotionally separate you if need be. –Nathan