Saturday, February 12, 2011

How Do You Feel About Mubarak's Resignation?

Today's poll question; how do you feel about Hosni Mubarak's resignation in Egypt? Overjoyed, content, indifferent, nervous, or frightened? Some Canadian pundits seem to think that our Prime Minister should be out in the streets singing and celebrating with dissidents. I hope that this works out for the best, but I am concerned about who might win an election and what policies they might enact if they win power. We should be cautiously optimistic.

Also when the Prime Minister made his toothpaste back in the tube comment, Mubarak and not yet announced his resignation (he quit about 3 hours later, thank you Gabby in QC). It was the morning after the Egyptian President said he was staying in power until the election, and the context was that Mubarak could not return to the status quo. Then the usual suspects on the Canadian political news shows discuss the Prime Minister's comments in the context of the dissidents celebrating the resignation.

When Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 they proceeded to engage their main opposition party in open warfare, seizing all institutions on the Gaza strip from Fatah. Now here we are in 2011, and Hamas is trying to prevent new elections (why risk losing power when you can just cancel elections). Depending on who wins, Egypt's next election could be its last for a long time.

Furthermore, when was the last time you saw the Canadian media this excited about a military taking control of a foreign government? Don't they call that a junta? Those don't always work out for the best you know. The Generals might find they enjoy the perks of power and ignore the election results like what happened in Burma...I'm sorry...Myanmar...

6 comments:

  1. How does one get excited when lives were lost, treasures vandalized, artifacts stolen? For me, that is just obscene. To react with any form of jubilation show absolutely no maturity or respect.

    The Prime Minister of Canada has been one of the few class acts during this crisis. The several idiots from the Canadian media, nothing but drama chasing groupies. I'm disgusted!

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  2. Well, I used to think Hazel McCallion stayed too long (she's turning 90 on Monday), but we are so blessed that we live in a free democratic society and that in Mississauga I'm a free person under democratic principles.

    Mubarak last's few hours in power were sad. He of all people should know the military is the only thing that kept him in power.

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  3. It will be interesting how this will unfold over the next few weeks and months.

    If Democracy can be subverted like Iran and Gaza what make us think it won't happen again?

    It reminds of those who dumped Dion for Ignatieff in hopes to lift their party.

    I suspect Dion will be vindicated in the next election and Ignatieff will be the next John Turner.

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  4. There are some places in the world where democracy is just not meant to be. Egypt is one of them. I would rather these countries be ruled by secular, benevolent dictators than Islamic clerics elected by the people.

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  5. Yes it was rather ironic to listen to Terry Milewski and Liza Frulla go on about PMSH making a statement in support of "Canadian values" and democracy. It was left to Tom Flanagan to point out Mubarak and the Egyptian leaders were not necessarily waiting with baited breath for Canada's responce to the crisis. World leaders fail to share their narcissistic view of Canadian opinion.

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  6. We will see if Egypt can transition itself to a democratic state.They have 6 months to do it.If it slips into an Islamic theocracy ,there will be a war.
    But hope remains as long as those who respect others and treaties, remain as the driving force in Egypt.The Muslim world is being tested to see if they can be democratic and secular.

    Joshua

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