Freedom and Democracy in Egypt – Was It Just A Dream?

   Egypt’s temporary government announced its intention to designate the Muslim Brotherhood movement due to last riots, as well as their “risky” opinions of the State of Egypt. Have this government and the army learned nothing from past experience? Do they want to move forward and bring Egypt into a better era or to go back to the dark days of President Mubarak?

   Let us first be clear about the will of the young revolutionaries that took down former President Mubarak: they wanted freedom – not necessarily democracy. The reality has been a mixture of their idealism with rule of the majority resulting from democracy.

   The Egyptians have always lived under a dictatorship of some kind – a King, a President that was appointed after a military coup, or a President that was repeatedly re-elected in non-democratic elections for many years. They have not lived under a system chosen by the free will of the people, until recently, when they had their first chance to choose between two mediocre presidential candidates.

   Egyptian people, one should remember, wanted freedom from dictatorship and were given democracy. They did not know what to do with this new system and they are like a baby who is taking his first steps. As we know, the army recently wrested control, took President Morsi (now former President) into custody, and appointed a temporary government to try and put things into order. These are steps in the right direction for the country and the people. Designating and hunting of the Muslim Brothers are steps in the wrong direction. The ruling side must learn how to live with the opposition and talk to them. Nevertheless, besides this ‘mild’ point, it seems that the army is making massive efforts to keep the situation under control and not to let it escalate further.   

   We, Westerners, have inherited democracy in our home countries, and should watch and learn how this form of government is being built in a country that has no history of civil freedoms for its citizens. This is a process of learning by blood, sweat and tears and the Egyptians have to go through it by themselves. We can only hope for them that the process will end with the fewest casualties as possible.