Egypt Enters the Balut Phase of Democracy

We are often quick to push for democracy no matter. A person walks into our mental store, and we say, "Sit down, and try this shoe on." The person says, "Do you have it in jasmine?" and we say, "No but we have it in democracy." "How about in size seven?" they say, eyebrow raised. "No, but we have this one in democracy," and on it goes. Each new and different person who arrives on the scene gets democracy,with the premise that the same shoe fits every man, woman and child on earth.

Would that new born democracy was so easy as slipping on the right slipper and dancing off into a better future. Often it never arrives, and gets torn asunder and eaten alive by displaced, misplaced hungers and appetites.

Getting rid of the strong leader often leads to unexpected reactions, and violence. When people are free, they are inclined to be free to be incredibly cruel. They can bicker, fight, and pull out the old grievances because the adult is not in the room. You can demand democracy, but it's a process--even a physical one-- and often our intellectual hopes outstrip the reality on the ground.

From the Independent (U.K.):

The euphoria that swept Egypt after the fall of Hosni Mubarak was souring yesterday after sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians left 13 people dead and armed men attacked demonstrators demanding reform in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

In a show of force against the demonstrators, a squadron of about 40 soldiers followed by chanting civilian supporters swept through the square last night and ripped down the tent village which has developed since Mubarak was toppled almost a month ago.

This is sad. That real people won't be here anymore, dying unexpectedly for a dream. It must be a strange sort of fog that allows a person to devour another life, then head home to a nice dish of balut.