Regardless of the outcomes in these other two rounds, it appears round one was the one of significance as it centred on Egypt’s largest city and has seemingly given the “Islamists” the victory they were so hopeful of. I use the quotation marks around the word “Islamists” because you will get a very different answer from people when you ask what that word means. In fact, I have yet to hear two people completely agree on the term. There are as many facets and interpretations of Islam as there are of Christianity.
In any event, it appears as though the Muslim Brotherhood have got their long sought after electoral victory. The name alone seems exclusionary to me – but then again our own national anthem only asks our “sons” to have true patriot love, which isn’t even the original wording of this wonderful song but when that was brought to light late in 2010 it caused an uproar not heard in Canada for some time. But whatever, totally different right? End of digression.
Back to the point. The Brotherhood has received their mandate from the people, with another large section of the population supporting the Salafists (the truly scary group that has bastardized the Koran to almost unrecognizable levels), and then the leftist, independents, and remnants of the Mubarak regime making up the rest. There is some legislation in there to ensure farmers and more of the poor are represented, so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the end.
As I mentioned, the politicians have received their mandate, but even in that there is debate. What is their role? Their powers? What about the military? Have they been voted in to draft a constitution (as the politicians will claim), and if so, what happens once it has been agreed upon? Or are they a representative body that is going get down to the work of actually running the country (as the military believes they should do). But how do you get to running the country without laws? It is a sticky and murky situation that has many scratching our heads. Three weeks ago, to a person in the streets, everyone would have felt that the role of the people they were voting in was to draft the constitution. But the recent results seem to have changed that tune a bit. Where before, the politicians seemed intent of working with the military, they now seem to be negotiating and posturing for a greater role, including the complete subjugation of the armed forces (who can argue with a military actually being accountable to the people they protect?). Meanwhile, on the streets people seem to be feeling that maybe having the military presence involved in much of the decisions is not too much of a bad thing – these are the guys apparently willing to live and die for the country regardless of who is in charge, regardless of your political stripe, and regardless of religion, or so they say.
And for many, who once scoffed at this notion, and still do, it should be remembered, the American Bill of Rights, often held up as the gold standard of people working for the people, were themselves un-elected, many with military ties. And our beloved Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? My gold standard by the way. It was hardly an election issue. Trudeau did promise some changes and worked tirelessly at it, speaking publically about for some two years, but ultimately it was a small group of intellectuals and advisers that gave us a document most see as fundamentally Canadian.
The point is, the system cannot dictate the constitution. The constitution, in whatever form, MUST dictate the system. People without political ties or motivations must be at the heart of this. If not, Egypt is in for a long and protracted debate about how to move forward, costing the people of this great country even more.
Whatever happens, it is hoped the horse eventually gets in front of that cart and takes Egypt into a bright future for all citizens.
Well, it could be worse!!And after few too many posts with a few too many words, it is hoped the next couple posts come chalk full of pictures of animals and anecdotes of us watching those animals as we head off on safari in Kenya and then an ocean paradise in Zanzibar!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!