Have you watched much international news lately? I have been interested in the goings on in the Middle East more than normal, first in Tunisia and now in Egypt. As you may know, protests began in Egypt two weeks ago and they began with a few thousand people. It was relatively quiet. Only one week later, literally hundreds of thousands of people assembled in Cairo to demand the removal of long time President, Hosni Mubarak. These ensuing protests have not been quiet at all.
Mubarak began ruling thirty years ago when then President Anwar al-Sadat was assassinated. Mubarak was wounded by the gunman in the attack but survived and began his presidency declaring a ‘state of emergency’ that was imposed then and has not been lifted. This ‘state of emergency’ has severely limited the freedom of some 80 million Egyptians. (Currently newspapers and websites have been shut down and some estimate that up to 15,000 Egyptians are political prisoners.)
It is interesting that many of the protesters are young and many have spent significant amounts of time in the United States and Europe. In other words, they have seen democracy and now wonder, If much of the world can have freedom, why can’t we? This is a good question.
Why the riots? Well, with the current government and the institutions that have been developed the people have not been heard. They feel they have no voice. (Much of the info I have seen concerning this crisis is found at the Economist and the Washington Post websites.)
Several years ago I attended an inauguration here in the US. My cousin, who’d worked for the then Senate Majority Leader said, I don’t care if you voted for him or not. I don’t care if it is your party that has won or not – you just have to attend an inauguration.
Sure enough, my cousin was right. I witnessed a peaceful transfer of power. The people had been heard; the majority ruled; and the minority ultimately respected this. It is amazing that this happens so often in our nation. What a blessing!
Join me in praying for the Middle East and for Egypt in particular. We in the West have an opportunity to help with new directions for democracy. Increased freedom in this corner of the world will be good for all of us. Let’s pray for our Egyptian neighbors today. For God so loved the world…
Blessings,
Ande
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