Weekly Question: Do you think democracy can take root in Egypt after Mubarak’s ouster?
Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think.
February 14, 2011
View in: Mobile
View in: Mobile
Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think.
Do you think social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter played a key role in the Egyptian protests?
Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think. ...
Judith
9:16 am
Feb 16, 2011
I do not believe that democracy will be the result of the Egyptian revolt. The masses are not organized and will be unable to take charge. In the final analysis the Islamic forces, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, a very well organized and funded organization, will be the winners, and the ‘public’ who fought so hard for ‘freedom’ will find themselves living in an state similar to Iran.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
18 
0
Ronnie
12:41 pm
Feb 16, 2011
There is no way democracy can take root in Egypt. There is no leadership for a democratic Egypt. The only leadership is the Muslim Brotherhood. They have been around doing their dastardly terrorism and serial murder since 1928. They have a lot of practice in engineering the most heinous of acts. No one in Egypt has the power to stop them.
After the French Revolution, there was the Reign of Terror
After the Russian Revolution, there was the Reign of Terror
After the Iranian Revolution, there was the Reign of Terror
After the Egyptian Revolution, there will be the Reign of Terror.
A Khoumeni/Taliban/fascist/Hitlerian/radical Islam/Jew-hating/America hating/Iranian-backed leadership will clean house. The common people will wish Mubarak were back. Obama will do nothing. Israel will gear up for another war on 3 fronts. Jordan will choose sides or the King will be deposed. Saudi Arabia will choose sides. They will be the last hold-out. The world will watch and do nothing as Iran becomes the next Nazi Germany.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
17 
3
Randi Oze
1:28 pm
Feb 16, 2011
One need only look at the most recent Pew poll results for Egypt, released in December 2010, to see that Egyptians are not all westernized liberals yearning for an american style democracy.
In Egypt, 82% want stoning for those who commit adultery; 77% would like to see whippings and hands cut off for robbery; 84% favor the death penalty for a Muslim who changes his religion.
Egyptians overwhelmingly welcomed Islamic influence over their country’s politics, with 85% of Egyptian Muslims considering Islamic influence over political life to be a good thing, and only 2% to be a bad thing.
Asked if they supported “modernizers” or “Islamists,” only 27% said modernizers, while 59% said Islamists.
These results indicate that Egyptians are indeed ripe for Islamic takeover.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
14 
1
Verna Gabel
1:41 pm
Feb 16, 2011
NO, Egypt will never become a democracy….it will take years…
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
11 
1
Singer
3:04 pm
Feb 16, 2011
I just think that we must always look for what tomorrow brings. A peoples’ revolution? I think not. We have to see the dog who is wagging the tail. The military? At the moment it seems so. Mubarak was old so he could be sacrificed. The elite and miliutary elite remain. Democracy? What on earth does that mean? America has all the trappings, but how are the leaders chosen? And how many people really choose them? Democracy has little to do with elections, but rather with the freedom it brings in its wake. Freedom of speech and action. In South Africa people are violently showing their feelings. But we have elections coming up. They can vote their way out. But they won’t. We have democracy but the vast majority do not know how to use it. Egypt has a long way to go. Democracy has so many meanings, can be used by rulers as a panacea to cool the flames of people who have ample reason to complain.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
7 
0
dr.steve pastner
3:24 pm
Feb 16, 2011
A followup to my earlier, with which many seem to agree: While i’m skeptical about the outcome in Egypt,it could possibly be a “1776/1789″ moment…both revolutions that , on the whole, left the world better than they found it , although not without some post revolutionary chaos.
It could also be an ‘Iran 1979″ moment, which is a terrible prospect. There, however, the voice of the ayatollah Khomeini was the loudest in the anti-shah opposition ( via tape cassettes) , whereas in the Egyptian cast the Muslim Brotherhood seems to be one the most muted in the “facebook” technology that’s played such a big role.
In any case , I for one am pleased with the way both the U.s and israel seem to be handling all this: i.e. not publically trying to over-intrude on what is and should be an internal matter for Egyptians, but behind the scenes ( per various media reports) stressing the importance of maintaining external treaties. without which there will be consequences.
Agree or Disagree:
3 
1
overthill
7:33 pm
Feb 16, 2011
I agree with randi oze and ronnie. The muslim religion is not fertile ground for democracy to take root in. Egypt is muslim through and through. The people showed in the polls when questioned that they believe that sharia law/muslim law is the way they want to be ruled. If elections were held tomorrow the people would vote in a government that is muslim. Not everyones idea of freedom is like America’s. How many revolutions ended in freedom as we in America know it? Very, very few. Egypt will indeed become a radical muslim country ruled by the likes of or the Muslim Brotherhood.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
7 
1
Frank Adam
12:04 am
Feb 17, 2011
It is just possible tha the Arabs might go at least as democratic as 19th century Europe and America.
What is most important is not to suck up to fear of the Moslem Bros but to take the offensive and remind all and sundry whenever possible:
1) Egypt got sweet nothings out of its 30 year misinvolvement in “Palestine;” is well out of it and can not afford to re-enter any war.
2) Half of Egypt’s staple food grain comes from the World market ie North America and prices doubled last year so as Egypt has no oil fortune like Iran it has to keep in with the USA.
Agree or Disagree:
2 
0
Joseph
3:17 am
Feb 17, 2011
There maybe a chance for a temporary quasi democracy, but the forces against it are not only internal, but global in scope. This is the chance radical Islam has been waiting for to begin its treasured World Caliphate. Do not underestimate the enemies of our way of life, the way it has been done by most people in the west up to now.
Agree or Disagree:
2 
0
al kernan
1:41 am
Feb 18, 2011
Being a non-Jew and never having walked in American Jewish or certainly Israeli Jewish shoes, maybe I’m not qualified to say this, but it seems that such a predominance of gloom and doom in these comments about Egypt’s chances is itself worth questionning. It seems like the feelings are too strong amongst you that Muslims in general and especially Arab and Iranian Muslims are simply not up to democracy so to speak. I wonder did you all feel that way when Bush was declaring Iraqis deserved democracy as a basis for invading Iraq? In other words I think you are perhaps too biased about the topic, hence the inconsistency. Based on history, you can say who can blame you, and I’d agree. But still the issue remains, what is the truth about the chances of Egyptians in 2011 to claim their nation and for law and order and some form of reasonably modern society to spring from the peaceful rebellion we just witnessed. i will cast my vote with the hopeful comments that are in the minority in these comments. We all want the same thing, including (hopefully) a majority of Egyptian people who will get to see their best desires and goals achieved, without any chaos, and soon. Can they?Tho is may not be ‘likely’ based on history, still … yes they can! We need to be watchful, patient, helpful as possible, and prayerful wouldn’t hurt too!
Agree or Disagree:
1 
2
George Adamowicz
8:31 am
Feb 18, 2011
Al
Neither I nor anyone else can speak for what “all” jews felt about Iraq. Many believed what every intelligence service in the world reported – that Saddam was hiding, and continuing to develop WMD. I believed that, but I never accepted that putting America’s weight and prestige behind a goal of democratisation was a worthwhile goal.
Some societies just aren’t ready for democratization – Russia, China and most of the third world (including Egypt) are places where it just can’t take root right now. As Nelson da Silva says above, democracy won’t just happen and it can’t be imposed; it is a process requiring social institutions to be in place well before any elections take place.
But the question is wrong. Democracy can’t take root in Egypt now – it hasn’t even been planted yet. The army controls the country and I doubt whether they will allow more than a token attempt to have more or less fair elections.
Agree or Disagree:
2 
0
J.M.Jordan
11:32 am
Feb 19, 2011
Like you I always find it impossible when people only think negative. Of course there are no democratic institutions in place yet, nobody has taught them about this kind of thing. And indeed the Arab education and media system hitherto, very sadly, has failed to give more realistic narratives and to teach objectivity, fairness, Man’s possibility to with His grace get to be better persons (including oneself and one’s family/friends), and the absolute necessity of tolerance and good neighbourhood – and Love not Hate -. But all this DOESN’T mean that after this brave beatiful revolution in togetherness Egyptians cannot reach a not religiously governed and not religiously juridically bent thing ensuring ALL people can make the ends meet, reach non-eternal might with no more corruption, and their I believe very good military in the back as last resort but only in the back in the end. And PEACE with all! Praying for it! May He The Only One bless you all and give you all the strength you need by His grace!!!!!
Agree or Disagree:
1 
2
orbitar
3:58 am
Feb 21, 2011
Reminder: Expression “DEMOCRACY” came drom a system f voting on important military issues as experienced by leaders of scattered Greek islands some 2500 years ago. They have created an alliance for mutual protection from potential &. real invaders from the sea.
Both political and economic system on all the islands was SLAVE SOCIETY. The 1 or 2% of the free people = the leaders – made a molitary pact and had equal voting rights in decision making. 98% of the enslaved population had nothing to do with the ” democracy” except when they became soldiers in the army fighting the intruders.
Reminder 2: Original USA democracy also had a SLAVE SOCIETY during almost the first century of the DEMOCRATIC Republic. Voting right for women started only in 1920. Swiss democracy did not give 1/2 of it’s population (woman) any right to vote in election during most of the time of it’s existence.
DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT is not too much different from the above examples. Except that Judauism and following Christianity still resonates the crowd surrounding Moses singing LET MY PEOPLE GO. There is no such tradition or support from Quran or any either leaders or masses in Arab countries Including Egypt.
Agree or Disagree:
1 
0
tina lagrotteria
6:28 am
Feb 25, 2011
I don’t think anyone knows what will take place next; will the right President be elected.
There are radicals, coalition groups to take into consideration. Mubarak spoke
about democracy, and human rights, social rights, educational rights, job rights,
and so on. He mentioned it was not a perfect government.
Finally, the majority wanted him out, they got what they wanted, but they might
be in for a surprise like unexpected changes not to their liking. Good Luck!
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Abu Nudnik
9:35 pm
Sep 05, 2011
You must be joking.
It’s funny how those who trumpet diversity will reject any suggestion that people in different cultures think differently. What then could diversity mean?
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
roy tolchinsky
10:45 pm
Sep 05, 2011
egypt must have a strong leader,he must bring egypt to economic strength and slowly bring the
country to democracy.it’s going to take a long time and cost a lot of blood.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0