So yeah, Egypt....

One can't miss the news stories... Egypt is in revolt.

It seems to me that the commonality that the protesters have is a desire for freedom. There are concerns that the religious zealots will use this opportunity to seize power. Concerns are understandable and natural. However, is it not possible that if the US is seen as being too concerned with Muslim leadership that this may be interpreted by the Egyptian people as infringement of what they are demanding, i.e. reform that gives actual freedom. Almost all religions I can think of off of the top of my head have extremists that I wouldn't want running any country (heck, I would not want a religious extremist running anything that affected my life in any way). While I respect those with a deep abiding belief in their religion, when any aspect of that religion is forced upon me, my freedom has been abridged. This doesn't really happen in the United States, luckily enough. For example, although Catholics cannot use birth control nor can they get abortions (according to Church doctrine), both are legal in the US. Regardless of my opinion on the subject, the Catholics do not get to choose what is legal in this country.

I've seen some articles warning about the US not doing enough to ensure that the Muslim Brotherhood does not obtain power during this crisis with comparisons to the Iraq revolution in '79. While there are some surface similarities, there are striking differences. While both movements were started by the youth of the country, the US was actively backing the Shah leading to anti-US sentiment backlash which evidenced itself during the hostage taking. The hostages held in Iraq lead me to the second difference; peaceful demonstrations (for the most part) and naturally, no hostages from any country are being held (except for the native Egyptians and apparently now journalists). The obvious difference in who is being "detained" tells a great deal about the sentiment to the United States. Journalists from the US are being released and telling their stories.

I honestly don't know where this is heading, but I do believe that the pundits and talking heads really are just as clueless. This is not Tienanmen Square (thank goodness) and it is not the Islamic Revolution. This is Egypt, trying to have the same freedoms we have here in the US. How it all turns out, in part, depends on how the United States is perceived. Are we for the Egyptian people, trusting them in their desire for freedom? Or are we so short-sighted in trying to preserve our own interests that we meddle and create just the opening the extremists are looking for? Who knows.

As always, these are just the ramblings of one really Bad Kitty. Time for sun and sleep... the cat's life is the best!