From these pyramids, forty centuries of tyranny look down upon us- NO MORE! (1 Viewer)

[Napoleon1er]

"A la volonté du peuple
Et à la santé du progrès,
Remplis ton cœur d'un vin rebelle
Et à demain, ami fidèle.
Nous voulons faire la lumière
Malgré le masque de la nuit
Pour illuminer notre terre
Et changer la vie."

This is in the history section because history is being made. This is a place to talk about the history behind this "revolution" in Egypt and other such events, and the **ture history of these events. I get the sense that we are revisiting a period of revolution in the name of progress, kind of like the AWI and FRW. So here we go....

 

[Njja]

Ho Hum.

 

[trooper]

Can't see it myself, just looks like the usual "Rentacrowd" annual works outing to me. Trooper

 

[Grognard]

After Tunisia there is definitively something big happening in Egypt that hopefully will have a positive outcome for this country and its people.

My best attempt to translate into English Nap1er's French poem below:

"To the people's will and to progress,
Fill your heart with rebel wine
See you tomorrow, my dear friend.
We want to shed light
Despite the shadow of the night
To enlighten our land
And transform our lives."

 

[Martin Tabony]

Let's hope it's not a revolution in the French style. Next thing you know they'll be making a gunner into an Emperor and invading any country that looks at them the wrong way. Oh and then making the gunner's brothers into Kings.

Martin

 

[Peter Reuss]

The histories of Egypt and the Sudan are definitely tied together. I heard the other day that there were some small demonstrations against the Sudanese national government in Khartum...likely a spill-over from the north.

 

[nmrocks]

I hope for the best in Egypt but a theocracy such as Iran would most likely end badly. One thing is for sure American middle east foreign policy is in collapse.

 

[Grognard]

Looks like Jordan is getting hot too...The king just sacked his government...Preemptive move likely.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Going to create a lot of instability in the region.

 

[VIRIATO]

Let's hope no Islamic **ndamentalists or other populists seize power and turn these countries into fallen dominoes falling on us Westerners...

Paulo

 

[Napoleon1er]

After Tunisia there is definitively something big happening in Egypt that hopefully will have a positive outcome for this country and its people.

My best attempt to translate into English Nap1er's French poem below:

"To the people's will and to progress,
Fill your heart with rebel wine
See you tomorrow, my dear friend.
We want to shed light
Despite the shadow of the night
To enlighten our land
And transform our lives."

This is actually by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, and is part of Les Misérables. But yes, thats the gist of it It was played during the broadcast of Tienanmen Square in some parts of France.

 

[PolarBear]

Here is a timetable posted on Twitter of uprisings that have occurred and others scheduled in the next few weeks. There are also events scheduled for Morocco (March 13th) and Pakistan (March 23rd) Jordan may be soon

 

[theBaron]

This is in the history section because history is being made. This is a place to talk about the history behind this "revolution" in Egypt and other such events, and the **ture history of these events. I get the sense that we are revisiting a period of revolution in the name of progress, kind of like the AWI and FRW. So here we go....

It is indeed a significant event, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to compare the events to our Revolution, which was the **llest manifestation of the English Enlightenment. It may be closer to the French Revolution, especially in blood spilled, when all is said and done.

I don't think we can compare Egypt, which in its 6000-plus year history, has no experience with democratic institutions to the American colonies or to the French kingdom. From Pharaohs to the successors to Alexander's generals, to the Romans, to the Muslim rulers, through Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak, there's no experience for them to draw on. These riots started as bread riots, basically. I don't discount that there are segments of the Egyptian population who are familiar with the Western concept of representative democracy, and would like to implement something akin to it, but odds are very long. The cultural underpinnings are foreign, to their culture. We can hope, and pray, of course. But I think a more apt revolution to compare it to is the Russian revolution, or the Iranian revolution.

As a **rther point, I don't think it's apt to put the American Revolution and French Revolution into the same category, either. Again, the intellectual roots of each are different. The emphasis in our revolution was on liberty, while in the French, the emphasis was on equality, and those are two very different emphases.

As Linda Richman used to say, "Tawk among ya'selves, discuss!"

Prost!
Brad

 

[Gideon]

this whole thing has me very nervous.

we have been saying for decades that its the governments who are oppressing people and, when terrorists strike at us, we say they should attack their own governments. well, now these aren't terrorists but young disenfranchised and educated people. people who see that our government has backed the people they are revolting against.

to make matters worse, it seems our country wants to vocally back the protesters and the world wants our president to side with them. but we can't because mubarak was helpful for us and israel. and other leaders around the world who face similar circumstances are looking to washington to see if it will back its friends.

i know this is delving into politics but it is very pertinent to the conversation. what do we do?????

 

[Wendy]

Let's hope no Islamic **ndamentalists or other populists seize power and turn these countries into fallen dominoes falling on us Westerners...

Paulo

This is the sticky point. Looking at other democratic elections in the region, Islamic **ndamentalists are favored by the people. Democracy is a double edged sword. Do people still support the idea of democracy in another country when the people they do not want to be in power are elected?

There is no perfect political system because there are no perfect people.

 

[Napoleon1er]

This is the sticky point. Looking at other democratic elections in the region, Islamic **ndamentalists are favored by the people. Democracy is a double edged sword. Do people still support the idea of democracy in another country when the people they do not want to be in power are elected?

There is no perfect political system because there are no perfect people.

Congrats on one of the most pointed and well said comments on this topic I have heard anyone say. With you on that completely.

 

[nmrocks]

But don't you realize when the people use Democracy to elect Islamic **ndimentalists the country ceases to be a Democracy, civil rights and liberties are crushed and freedoms allowed under true Democracies are changed to crimes. The tennants of Islam are a wonderful lifestyle, unfortunately when interpreted by men in power they are most often twisted into the cruelest of oppressions.

This is the sticky point. Looking at other democratic elections in the region, Islamic **ndamentalists are favored by the people. Democracy is a double edged sword. Do people still support the idea of democracy in another country when the people they do not want to be in power are elected?

There is no perfect political system because there are no perfect people.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I have locked this thread as it is becoming political which is not allowed under forum rules.