None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Freedom's just another word for Nothing Left to Lose...
--Janice Joplin
There's really no excuse for it. It's well into the start of the 21st century and nothing but nothing has been done yet. Alot has happened but, as Hem once said "Never mistake motion for action". And motion is all that went on today at Egypts Shura Council vote to reform the Egyptian election process. This is a big step for a country that, just ten years ago, was still, effectively, a military regime, albeit, one friendly to the United States.
"Elsewhere, tho, members of Egypts outlaw party, The Muslim Brotherhood,
demonstrated.:"Where is freedom? Security stands in the way," the protesters
chanted. "The Muslim Brothers are imprisoned because of religion," others
claimed"
*snip*(Full Article at http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-egypt-presidential-elections,0,553550.story?page=2&coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines)
Mubarak is old and he knows it. There's a joke they tell in Egypt. It goes, "When Naguib chose a vice president he looked for someone dumber than he and found Nasser. When it came time for Nasser to choose a vice president he looked for someone dumber than he and he chose Sadat. Sadat, following the same tradition, looked for someone dumber than he and, for his vice president, he chose Mubarek. Mubarake has been president for24 years and has not yet chosen a vice president. He is still looking. "
Since Sadat got himself offed in '81 at that parade out in Masr Gedida, Hosni hasn't faced serious opposition in these referendum elections. Back in the 1993 election there was already so much tension going on over there on the streets tht most people felt the whole process was a joke. If one cannot change it, said one guy, might as well laugh at it.
That's the Egyptian attitude about such things. Ma'lesh, they say. Never mind, it doesn't matter. These things build up after some time. Who was it that said that reform is nothing but pressure and time? Da Hoz's critics want to paint him as some kind of Stalinist despot but don't be fooled. He's a private man but not by any means a tyrant.
The opposition points to his harsh treatment during security round ups of suspected terrorists and their families but these tactics have kept Egypt a reletively safe place for tourists. Hosni has to do that. He must, above all, protect the tourist industry in Egypt.
No comments:
Post a Comment