Posted on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 10:15 a.m.
AnnArbor.com contributor Mona Shand offers personal view on Egyptian unrest
By Pam Stout
Shand was featured this morning on Public Radio International's "The Takeaway" to share her impressions of the dramatic events in Cairo, a city she knows well.
Shand said: "I talk to my cousins and I think, how can I not admire this call for freedom? I mean, they are crying out what I have been lucky enough to experience my whole life, only because of one decision my parents made."
Listen to the segment here: "Reflecting on the March of Millions" at The Takeaway.
Comments
demistify
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
A "call for freedom" is indeed intoxicating, but beware the hangover. Egypt could benefit from better government, but it has had worse and could again. There may have been some spontaneity and idealism about the original demonstrators, but there is increasing evidence of the Muslim Brotherhood muscling into control of them. An old man who recently returned from many years working abroad for international agencies has been thrust forward as spokesman (including by the Brotherhood) but he has no political base and is not in charge. A Brotherhood victory would bring bring theocratic medieval tyranny. The Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood, Hamas, has illustrated what that means in neighboring Gaza. A wing of the Brotherhood, led by Zawahri, murdered Sadat and later merged with al Qaeda. Mona Shand's Christian relatives are in double jeopardy.
bedrog
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
@ roadman...I am "speechless" at yours ( literally! not to be confused with the frequent poster of that screenname, who i am not). Why? because many of your past posts have involved cheerleading for the local extremists who themselves cheerlead for the very Islamic extremists you now claim to view with dread. an attack of sanity? If so ,may i wish you a continued recovery. really. Where can i send the chicken soup??
Roadman
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 10:41 p.m.
I cannot tell you how much the Egypt situation reminds me of Teheran, Iran in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini took over. As in Iran, Egyptian demonstrators are in revolt over legitimate iissues such as police torture and repression of religious freedoms. The Ayatollah eventually assumed power and now we have the Muslim Brotherhood as a possible power broker in a power vacuum if Mubarak leaves office. It is scary to think how this could affect the balance of power in the region if an Islamic fundamentalist-controlled government takes over and becomes an ally of Hamas or Al-Qaeda.
bedrog
Fri, Feb 4, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
hey roadman.re your .cute response to mine on the riney thread....its clear you just live to provoke, since what you say here is at total variance, re the "admired" ms smith, who cheerleads the very folks you here claim to worry about.. Actually standing for something , and being sort of logically consistant, is a better way.
snapshot
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Good to read a comment from someone who is knowledgeable. Israel is watching closely. Jordan is feeling the pressure also. This could be a game changer in dashing all hopes of peace in the middle east.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
Just goes to show Freedom of Speech and Assembly will ever and always be more dangerous than any weapons. That's why all governments have always repressed that first when there is unrest.