Wednesday, July 10, 2013

No No No...That's Not What We Meant!!

Top of the evening all.

We have all been privileged to watch the so-called Arab Spring over the last couple of years.  The term is clearly inappropriate.  Spring carries with it hopes of new life and new beginnings.  It does not carry with it the death of over 100,000 people.  It does not carry with it virtually no change in the style of leadership that the masses so richly want and deserve.

We, the democracy-loving people of the western world, find ourselves in a bit of a quandary.  We watched as the leader of Egypt, formerly known as 'Pharaoh,' was deposed a couple of years ago.  We were thrilled, though wary, when the Egyptians put together a democratically-elected government.  It was a concern to us that this government was very Islamist in its outlook.  We tried to look the other way when that Islamist outlook began to take over every aspect of Egyptian society.  We were uncomfortable though.  When we hoped for Egyptian democracy, it never dawned on us that it would be so Islamist.

Now we find ourselves stuck.  The people of Egypt have spoken, loudly and unequivocally.  They do not like Morsi.  Ok...no problem thus far.  Then the army removed him from power.

What do we do?  Do we cheer what is in effect a coup d'etat, in the hopes that a right and proper (secular) government takes over?  Or do we wag a finger and say that the army is not supposed to interfere so clearly in the civilian leadership?

I find myself cheering for the army here.  I hope that the Egyptians are thinking that they will find the right way, but that was not it.

Perhaps we should call it the 'Arab Convulsion.'  It is not yet spring until something good happens somewhere.

Good night.

R/SCG

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