Watching events unfold in Cairo and throughout Egypt, it's easy to endorse a massively popular non-violent movement pushing for progressive change in the largest Arab country. Enthusiasm for this sentiment is justified. However one of the most important attributes in a democracy (system of laws) is that the ends don't justify any means.
How did Egypt's experiment with democracy get off track, and how can it get back on track? The biggest wrong turn was when President Morsi seized unconstitutional powers back in November 2012. What has happened since, and particularly the Tamrod movement that has mobilized millions and culminated in this week's massive demonstrations calling for his removal, was entirely predictable.
Having said that, let's not forget that Morsi was democratically elected. A tweet from @evanchill cuts to the chase: "What's the word you'd use to describe an army deployment to the streets,
a missing president, and three unelected guys offering a roadmap?"
Do the people have the right to protest against him and call for him to resign? Absolutely. If he declines to resign, and if there is no court order to compel it, then do the demonstrators have the right to threaten violence, and does the army have the right to depose him? Absolutely not.
The worst possible message that observers/friends like the United States could send is that election results in Arab/Muslim countries can be neutralized for the sake of expediency.
In justifying his removal, Morsi opponents have thrown in every complaint except the kitchen sink: high unemployment, power blackouts, insufficient benefits etc.
Guess what guys: grappling with those problems within the law is democracy. Treating the elected leader like a punching bag for all the nation's flaws is democracy. Mobilizing to oust him in the next election is democracy. Welcome, at long last, to the party!
Now there is a limit to the preaching I can conduct from my secure location at Taco Cabana. With millions of protestors marauding at all hours, some armed (and apparently not a few rapists among them), the security forces certainly have a duty to ensure public safety, physical ability for government work to function, and protection of property. So this deployment was probably necessary in any case.
Our messaging, however, is important. The ends don't justify the means.
Tomorrow, Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate our successful drive for independence, freedom and equality under the law. We've been working at this for 237 years, and still a work in progress. It can't be fast tracked.
Fed up with your elected leaders and not gonna take it anymore? Great, get in line.
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