Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forum
Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Trump Got Me Released From Prison. But I Support Bernie.
Aya Hijazi, center, a dual U.S.-Egyptian citizen, is acquitted by an Egyptian court on April 16, 2017, after nearly three years of detention over accusations related to running a foundation dedicated to helping street children, in Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Mohamed el Raai/AP
IF IT WAS about me, I would have thrown myself into President Donald Trumps embrace when I walked into his office, as he stood to greet me. I could use being in the grace and warmth of the president of the United States, after having rotted in an Egyptian prison for three years, enduring a savage defamation campaign, and facing multiple life sentences. Dina Powell, who facilitated my release in 2017, actively encouraged the hug, twice. He likes you, Aya. He thinks youre an angel. Hug him.
But it was never about me. I was not in prison for a nefarious act that I committed. I was in prison because as an American who is inspired by the story of our nation, I felt that I could make my native homeland more like us, a democracy that respects the individual, human rights, and the rule of law. But the Egyptian dictatorship would not have it. It arrested me and accused me of being a spy, among other salacious and farcical charges, and persecuted me as it continued to arrest and torture thousands of activists like me.
But Trump did not get it. He thought that I could forget what I was about and asked me to thank President Sisi. I felt slighted. Clearly, the president viewed both my suffering, and freedom, as a deal. A deal that freed me physically but killed my fight for justice.
(snip)
Sanderss pause is reviving the Constitution from becoming we the few, the billionaire and corporations to we the people. All the people. Everywhere. This is progress for America. It is an awakening that cannot go back. And the America I know does not go back; it is like the arrow, always forward, never stalling. What makes America America is not vicious capitalism, not technology. What defines America is progress. And a Sanders administration is progress.
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/14/aya-hijazi-trump-sanders/
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 881 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (6)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Got Me Released From Prison. But I Support Bernie. (Original Post)
Uncle Joe
Mar 2020
OP
ismnotwasm
(42,430 posts)1. Good for him Her
Last edited Sat Mar 14, 2020, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(60,013 posts)2. The author is a woman,
I added a pic to the OP.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Turin_C3PO
(15,505 posts)3. Good story.
Even though I dont agree with her primary choice, Im glad she didnt let Trump use her for a photo op.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden