All political systems are transitional. Politics always devolves down to the lowest common denominator. Tyranny is the historical norm.
Freedom and liberty takes work, effort, is a constant battle against the power hunger that uses deceit and empty promises to condition the populace to become paupers for the good of the State.
In an oligarchy, dissent is discouraged.
A republic, based on a mixed constitution that divides power and puts into place checks and balances, is the best defense against the tyranny of the norm. . . but as we have seen here in the United States, if not properly maintained, and defended, even a solid republic can fall victim to the collective lusts of the powerful elite.
The Arab Spring was packaged as a drive for freedom, where "democracy" would free the Muslim people being shackled by secular dictators. Islam, however, has proven to be more fierce than any of those tyrants, and now the people are paying for it.
In Egypt, upon the ouster of Mubarak, dissent became fashionable. Dissent became the tool of revolution, and the dictator was eliminated as designed. But if a proper republic does not follow the unseating of a tyrant, tyranny follows to fill the void.
During this time of dissent, as Islamists positioned to strangle the nation yearning for freedom, an Egyptian satirist emerged with a television show patterned after Jon Stewart's The Daily Show. The wildly popular show took dissent in Egypt to whole new heights, slamming the political regimes trying to grab hold, and questioning the leadership of anyone and everyone in power, including the religious leaders. The host says he is shutting down the program because of the political climate and worries over the safety of his family.
The host, Bassem Youssef, began the show as a series of amateur YouTube clips. Before he was thrust into stardom, Youssef was a heart surgeon. Now, with the channel that carried the program pressured to drop it, the run of the program may have reached its end.
The host has not revealed where the pressure to shut down the program has been coming from, but as the tyrannical nature of the government increases with the replacement of each leader, it is curious that his decision to flee from television follows the election of field marshal Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as president, replacing the president he had ousted, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi.
The decision to close out the show comes after two popular seasons with millions of viewers, and the government required hiatus of the third season during presidential elections to prevent the show from influencing the vote.
"The present climate in Egypt is not suitable for a political satire program," said Youssef. "I'm tired of struggling and worrying about my safety and that of my family. Stopping the program sends a much stronger message than if it continued."
Jon Stewart, Youssef's American inspiration, who has appeared on Youssef's Al Bernameg (The Program), praised the Egyptian host on a recent episode of The Daily Show.
"Bassem Youssef and his team did a tremendous show under harrowing conditions, and while they're not on the air for now, their work will continue to inspire us all here at this show. Congratulations to them on a job very well done," Stewart said.
Under Morsi, Youssef also found trouble with the government, charged with insulting Islam in a case that was later thrown out of court.
The show, which drew 8 million viewers Friday nights in Egypt and millions more over the Internet, was also stopped once before last year when a previous channel refused to carry it following the military takeover.
"You can always implement some sort of a mood, without actually giving direct orders," Youssef told a British newspaper about that cancellation. "It is about creating a certain atmosphere that would make this acceptable or doable, and I think it reflects badly on everybody. Even if the people in authority do not do it, it reflects badly on the freedom of speech in Egypt."
In February, prosecutors filed new complaints, accusing Youssef of insulting the armed forces, the will of the Egyptian people and the "symbols" of Egypt.
Tyranny is consistent. Tyrants always do what they can to silence dissent, be it shutting down Youssef's television program, King George's use of troops to silence dissent in the English Colonies, Hitler's threats and murders that led to children turning in their parents for daring to speak out against The Reich and the killing of millions, Stalin's paranoid slaughter of his own people, or the liberal left in the United States using the IRS and NSA (as well as a paranoid and oversensitive culture) to target those that dare oppose Obama.
Sadly, most Muslims support suppressing freedom of speech and of the press, and throughout the world there are movements to criminalize criticism of the false prophet Muhammad, and any criticism of Islam. That is how tyrannies rule. . . by forcing any opposition into silence.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Sixty Percent of US Muslims Reject Freedom of Expression - American Thinker
Americans United To Defend Free Speech - Freedom of Speech Day
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