Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Etc...

To lay people like myself, the situation in the middle east and particularly Egypt is a little hard to grasp. I came across one op-ed that suggested part of the problem America is having with taking a consistent position on the matter is that neither Dems or the GOP have accepted that a surge of support for democracy and freedom is even possible in Egypt. The thinking is that the Muslim brotherhood, while a minority, is too well organized for this to shape up to anything other than a power grab.

Maybe this is correct. We enjoy so many personal and entrepreneurial freedoms in America, we almost take them for granted, but I also think there's a certain tolerance for pluralism and secularism in government which is built into the minds of successful Americans that I don't see as much of in the leadership in the middle east. Perhaps I just read too much CNN.

But I asked a Muslim today what they thought of the situation, and after reluctance to answer, she said it was a scary situation, indicated that she didn't trust the idea of democracy (don't know if she meant there or in general) and that she thought powerful people/governments were playing with the lives of everyday people.

These are all very pat observations, but what struck me was when she said that she believed, as the Koran states, that one day all Muslims would be united as one and the would eventually rise up and (though war or some miracle--she didn't say) establish Islam and the one and only religion. If this is straight out of the Koran I can't say--I only studied the book for two weeks in college so I'm hardly an expert, but it's my guess that this is one of many interpretations just as there are as many ways to interpret the bible as there are interpreters.

Still... I was a little dumbfounded when she said of Christianity and Islam... "One is God... you have to believe that." Perhaps it was a language barrier and she meant "God is one." or "There is only one God". I don't know, but based on the rest of the conversation, I was left thinking here is a person with a deeply ingrained us/them mentality--something I fervently believe is the opposite of everything a country ought to be if it wants to prosper. At this same time, we're talking about a very sweet, caring and wonderful person. Person in the singular so don't think for a minute I think she is representative of all Muslims or even all Muslims from her country.

Just the same... she must have got her religious ethnocentrism from somewhere. Perhaps the Koran, but a lot of intolerance for other religions is encouraged by the bible too... it just comes down to how the thing is taught and interpreted. Are its readers coming at the text from a position of love or fear?

Hell yes... I'd like to see a democratic and free people in Egypt. Most Americans would... not because it somehow strengthens our position in the world, but because for all its flaws, we believe in our democracy and hope other countries can see its advantages too. We have to know it's not a zero sum game. The world can prosper together.