There goes the neighborhood - Tunisia Edition

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

The difference in France, UK, and here is that people that perpetrate violence against others in the name of religion are treated as they should be....as criminals.

In many Muslim countries violence against those of other religions is sometimes either sanctioned by the gov't or purposely not investigated/prosecuted.

Agree, very true and very unfortunate.

I agree with the part about problems with government collusion.

Ex-regimes in both Egypt and Tunisia had reps for repressing Islam. Once the regimes fell, a great deal of pro-Islamic emotion was released. Some of this emotion is wholesome but some is dysfunctional.

For example, the feeling among some Muslims in Egypt was that Mubarak went easy on Copts and several Copts had seats in Mubarak's government. So to hate Mubarak, to some people, is to hate Copts. To erase Mubarak's legacy is to erase Copts. The same reality exists for Egypt's Jews.

However, in both Egypt and Tunisia there are sizeable numbers of folks who prefer secular democracy to either an Iranian Islamic model or, in the cases we are discussing, mob rule by Islam. The Arab Spring revolts were driven more by a striving for democracy than they were driven by calls for Islamic government. As emotions settle, the questions will be less "How to we erase traces of Mubarak or Ben Ali?" and more "How do we create a beneficial new society?" There is every reason to believe that moderates and toleration will then gain more voice and more power and the current ugliness will subside.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Lotus

There is every reason to believe that moderates and toleration will then gain more voice and more power and the current ugliness will subside.

I pray you are correct in your optimism.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Lotus

However, in both Egypt and Tunisia there are sizeable numbers of folks who prefer secular democracy to either an Iranian Islamic model or, in the cases we are discussing, mob rule by Islam. The Arab Spring revolts were driven more by a striving for democracy than they were driven by calls for Islamic government. As emotions settle, the questions will be less "How to we erase traces of Mubarak or Ben Ali?" and more "How do we create a beneficial new society?" There is every reason to believe that moderates and toleration will then gain more voice and more power and the current ugliness will subside.

Hindsight is always 20/20 and I understand being hopeful for peace, however the widespread violence we are seeing brings us back to the reality I feared with the "Arab Spring" that violent Islamic, anti-American, factions would take over these countries and make the ME a much more dangerous place....particularly for non-Muslims and moderate Muslims