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Incoming BYTES
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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Egypt: Shaking up the Middle East and Suppressing Freedom of Speech



     There is little  doubt at Incoming BYTES  that the last 12 days of revolution offer serious implications reaching far beyond Egypt's dusty borders.   With President Hosni Mubarak defiantly clings to power, warning of "chaos" if he steps down.  Perhaps Hosni not been paying attention,  or is he  suffering from  shock or delusion?  Most citizens in real life  have experienced,  felt the pain, and observed the chaos he has already created and  sanctioned in the last two weeks. 
Mubarak  still stubbornly resisting removal in spite of massive protests by anti-government demonstrators, and  deaths, mayhem, whipping  and destruction  by pro-Mubarak forces,  Mubarak has  yet to  step  down,  has no intention to do so,  and there is no clear transfer of power to any transitional opposition  occurring as recommended by foreign governments world-wide.  



     Repercussions of the revolution continue as saboteurs blew up a gas line to Israel,  France has suspended all sales of arms to Egypt, and the whole world is unsettled as it anticipates a "new regime" yet to be decided,  if it is formed at all. 
Will the Muslim Brotherhood,  learned clerics,  or even religious fanatic factions  influence, participate in, or even form the next Egyptian government? Will the next government of Egypt fashion itself in the image of Iran?  Should the free world sanction a "new Egyptian government" that could,  in the extreme of fanaticism,  be "sworn to destroy Israel"?   I think not.  All human beings have a right to exist in peace.
      How is the world to know what is happening as journalists are attacked, beaten, detained, and harassed as their equipment is smashed?  One Egyptian journalist, Ahmed Mohammed Mahmud,  shot by a sniper  during the melee between opposing forces  has  already died.   Many foreign journalists have been  beaten badly,  arrested, interrogated, and ordered detained in their hotels  as Mr. Mubarak's government  "protects" them.   Do tell. 
Therein lies the root of skepticism as a  lack of credibility is clearly demonstrated. 


      How should the world  react if  freedom of speech is not clearly restored ?  Is the true intent of Mubarak's regime  to remain hidden or disguised? In spite of the blood shed in this revolution, is there any genuine intent by the Egyptian government  to initiate a peaceful transition other than superficial changes made in the thin veneer of deceit ?
There are many questions that must be answered.
 

2 comments:

  1. what can be concluded from the escalation of violence in one arab country is that the polarization of pro-modern education is still diametrically opposed to the devolution of traditional religious sects.
    the economic differences underlie the social structures in this beautiful country...the richer-more educated are pitted against the poor and ill informed.
    this visible dichotomy is evident in much of the developed world already, but muffled by the comforts of the middle class.
    where does it end? nowhere soon. the tectonic plates are bound to stir more quakes before men settle their obvious differences.

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  2. Nadine, sadly, you are right, there is no end in sight and shall not be until there is a quantum shift in rudimentary thinking. As is usual with revolutionary developments, "diametrically opposed" is the key phrase; sadly more extreme polarization is usually the result, because violence and revenge are the chosen methods; logic and civility is tossed in the trash by the wayside as are the poor, uneducated, and powerless. I wonder if religion is used more as a tool for control freaks and power-mongers rather than as a solution for humanity writhing in it's death throes.

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