Since the army + “the people” coup ouster of Morsi last week, I didn’t feel how to question the unfolding of recent egypt based events. Today, with the blatant shootings of people – “Muslim brothers” rather than “the people” this time – by the same army, perhaps an old question of principles kicks into my mind?
When are the times – if there any – to support certain basic principles?
Throughout the last year, when the muslim brotherhood was in full power over the egyptian state – or seemed so – shooting/killing the occasional anti-government demonstrator deemed fine in their religious minds.
Throughout the past 12 months, when Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood overlords wanted to, they arrested political rivals, shut and censored media outlets and intimidated political opponents as well as people of other faiths..
During the past 12 months, the Muslim Brothers ruling egypt have forced through a constitution that instead of being for the whole, was intended – perhaps – for the majority if not the few. (hence the need to force the constitution..)
Throughout its career as a political party/entity, the muslim brotherhood – as well as other political religious organisations – show disregard or misunderstanding as to the plural and evolving nature of democracy. They seem to think democratic processes are there to support islam/any-other-faith in political power, once it has been voted in. (This is precisely how #capitalists view #democracy in the “west”, hence justifing the economic discrimination and socio-cultural segregation of dissidents. However here am trying to focus on non-numerical-exchange-based faiths. Yup, I think money requires faith as well, but its not a godly one, its much more immaterial imho.. Perhaps needs more elaboration one day..)
However, coming back to muslim brothers etc, despite – or in spite – of their failings, I think that people who do consider democracy to be for all people, and its secular way – free thinking and freedom evolving – to continuously learn how to question and evolve emancipation and equality for all, is this not the time to call for the Help of our political opponents?
If an overtly uber authoritarian party members were in a similar situation – say the nazies – would I have asked the same question? Should they not be stopped from attempting to abuse democratic processes? Use these processes when they like, dump and kill them when they don’t like?
Perhaps this proposes an even more radical and interesting question.. Maybe we, free thinking secular etc people are in a comma with the way we imagine democracy? Perhaps the democratic processes should be imagined and thought of better so that we’d feel able to extend Help and assistance to anyone who is being killed/murdered without having to feel anxious re them later on being able to hack democracy for authoritarian aims?
2 replies on “egypt, democracy, priciples, religions, rule and commas”
An interesting link:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/20137872812532255.html
Hard to tell whether the muslim brotherhood is calling for uprising or a non violent civil disobedience campaign..
Their past activities – or lack of – does not help. However, they might have changed a bit.. Religious people and religions do, despite some own protestations, evolve..
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/7/8/1373309329809/Cairo-protesters-010.jpg – are these egypt’s army new terrorists?
Note
The egyptian army is akin to a corporation that produces soldiers as well as pasta and many items in between..