While keeping an eye on the events in Egypt, and trying to ensure that the information received is not strictly from one source, namely the corporate media shills I saw someone tweet something that motivated me to write this morning. It was a well known African American blogger, who took the time out to tweet  ” Am I the only one that is tired of hearing about Egypt?”  Apparently some folks co-signed this statement.

My initial reaction was to respond – but I did not see how I could effectively do that in a 140 character limit.  It is so ironic that people of color many of whom (based on conversations with locals) don’t even KNOW whats going on with Egypt and could care less. These are the same folks that want to claim Egyptian heritage and talk to you about how “we”  were the original scientists etc….and lay claim to ancient Egyptian heritage. Now as the country is poised on the edge of radical change from 30 years of dictatorship, it is no longer “convenient” to talk about Egypt or what is going on.  It is somehow an imposition that the news talks about what is going on over there?

Granted there are enough things going on here to fill several news cycles. The disenfranchisement of the middle class and poor continues apace. However they could learn from the Egyptian people.  Their protests have been non-violent, and they have come out in the streets en masse.  They grew tired of a governement that was not responding to their concerns and needs and that apparently like many other world leaders – was  hemmed up with the wealthy and influential and currying their favor more than implementing  policies that would enhance the quality of life for the average Egyptian.

I watch the news clips and say to myself I have seen this before. The determination to see change, not to accept less and not to be treated unfairly anymore. To protest injustice in a peaceful manner. Yes I have seen this, in pictures and news clips of Selma, and the march on Washington, D.C. The determination to go out and make it known to the powers that be that unfairness and lack  equal opportunity . Marchers who risked their lives, who were so motivated that if they did worry about their jobs and how they were going to make it, they didnt let that STOP them from going out and making their voices heard, and allowing their presence to be seen in great numbers.

We seem to have lost that here. Now everyone is at cross purposes with no real cohesive agenda. Aside from getting dressed up in outrageously overpriced clothing to go to yet another pointless award ceremony to give out awards that are not based on any merit that is tangible. More that are given out to friends of friends and collegues with a wink wink on the end. We have lost that fire and that strength to say no this is wrong and i will not stand for it anymore – if i have to march to the ends of the earth, if i have to walk amongst those who would harm me I will do what I have to and ensure that freedom for all is established and maintained.  Yes indeed we have definitely lost that.  We would not have a dropout rate of 50%. Our schools would actually teach our children effectively. We would not allow the misogynistic images created by those who only seek to profit – to be shoved down our throats or put out into the atmosphere as representative of who we are as a people. We would not stand for the current unemployment rate which is at best double the national average.

We would in fact, be marching right now ourselves demanding our government respond  – but you know the grammys are coming up and folks need to get a new outfit and their hair did. Then too theres a laker’s game on and you know we can’t miss that.  Gotta watch for Kanye on TV cause  you know he’s always saying something crazy. Need to go scan the news to see what Halle Berry and her baby daddy are fighting about now….

Yes we have lost our way – just as the israelites in the desert waiting for moses to come down from the mountain began to worship idols and do all manner of inquity. They never got to see the promised land. We are so lost that we have forgotten about the promise in the first place.