A disquieting photograph taken by Yannis Behrakis Jan. 28, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt illuminates the dichotomy of the U.S. as a banner of democracy and as a diplomatic state. The image depicts one of the thousands of pro-democracy protesters in the embattled nation showing only his eyes through a makeshift gasmask, holding a used canister of tear gas, which was fired by the government-controlled military. He thrusts the canister towards the camera in stony defiance as if to validate the dedication he holds to his cause, which bears striking similarity to the cause of the first American patriots rebelling against British rule. But the canister is marked by a haunting insignia: Made in U.S.A.

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, Egypt receives close to $2 billion in aid from the U.S. every year. Of that, $1.3 billion goes towards military assistance. Egypt is second only to Israel as the recipient of the most U.S. monetary aid. The huge amount of aid sent to Egypt stems from the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty of 1979, in which the U.S. promised to aid Egypt as long as it upheld its end of the treaty, which demanded that Egypt not attack Israel. As a result, American aid to the Egyptian military has overwhelmingly funded domestic operations such as the suppression of internal uprisings and other popular movements.

The suppression of last week’s democratic uprising in Egypt, which results from the 30-year militaristic, dictatorial rule of President Hosni Mubarak, directly conflicts with the purported international role of the U.S. as a triumphant banner of democratic ideals.

Admittedly, the U.S., unlike the Egyptian military, has not fired any live weapons into crowds of demonstrators, but it must be said that this nation has not actively pursued democracy in all contexts, either. And why should America pursue democracy? Mubarak’s regime is one of the few remaining Middle Eastern governments allied with the U.S. But he also runs a government that in action directly contradicts everything that American democracy stands for-with everything from faked elections to military rule.

Is America a beacon of democracy? Is America really interested in installing democracy in any country that wants it? Is the Iraq War representative of the supposed general policy of America to implant democracy anywhere faced with anything resembling fascist rule? It would seem not, because not only does the U.S. send aid to a government that translates it directly into weaponry used to suppress protesters, it approaches diplomatic policy on democratic demonstrations with hollow ambiguity and inconsistent support for an abstract set of universal human rights.

The U.S. response to the mass protests in Egypt has been vague and noncommittal as to where American loyalties reside. President Obama reportedly convinced Mubarak to reshuffle his cabinet to appease protesters. Unfortunately, Mubarak has done this several times before, and firing his cabinet this time has been perceived by protesters as an act of passive-aggressive defiance. The U.S. administration has urged Mubarak’s military, as well as demonstrators, to be nonviolent, to no avail. At least 62 protesters have been killed since the beginning of the unrest last week.

It seems the least America could do is verbally support, with a discernable measure of sincerity, the cause of pro-democracy activists who share with Americans the same desire for liberty that fueled our rebellion against British oppression.

Brought about by this disheartening crisis of ideals are questions of American identity. Is American support for democracy universal and invariable? Does it rise above simple self-interests? The best America has given to pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt are vague and fruitless urgings for peace, belying the $1.3 billion per year in military aid given to the all-too-obviously anti-democracy Mubarak.

Running from advancing Egyptian tanks last week, one demonstrator, ablaze with impassioned vigor, cried to an American news crew, “I take freedom today!” Will America support his cause, or will we continue to supply guns and tear gas-the machineries of oppression-to Egypt’s tyrannical government?