Lost in Translation

Egypt has had a revolution. The king is dead, long live the king. The once-elected, now autocratic, leader has been deposed as a result of a popular uprising. It is a classic example of John Locke's axiom that the power to govern comes from the consent of the people and when all other means have been exhausted for corrections to the system, that consent can be withdrawn.

But, has anyone explained to you what is really going on? Do you have any feeling for what the future holds in Egypt and in the region?

How do these modern revolutions play out? We saw the Soviet Union topple as the total failure of Communism as an economic system was recognized. The result was transition to a democracy of sorts and greatly reduced tensions between east and west. The Cold War was over. Is the result perfect? Of course not. Is it an improvement? Arguably yes.

The various governments of Eastern Europe had their revolutions. The Czechs, Hungarians, Poles, East Germans, the Baltic States and more removed their dictators, embraced free markets and redrew the map of Europe. Better? I think so.

But, Iran had a revolution. A Shah sympathetic to the modern world was ousted and a theocracy established which is inimical to our interests and to the fundamental right to existence of the State of Israel. Not a better outcome at all.

The demonstrators in Egypt have been portrayed as populist forces seeking freedom and democracy. Certainly those are fine objectives, but do I believe them? Do people in a nation which has marginal literacy rates, rampant unemployment, incredible poverty and only a basic technology foundation really throw a government out for such intangibles as "freedom" and "democracy"? Oh boy, I'm starving and unemployed and dirty, but I can vote for somebody in a thousand dollar suit.

The military has taken over the role of transitional government. That singular adjective, transitional, can be jerked out of the sentence in a second. Will the military guide and then relinquish power as secular political parties are established? Is there such patriotism in Egypt?

The Muslim world has been incredibly active in establishing theocratic Islamic states. That might be fine for expansion of the faith, but doesn't bode well for progress, stability or a global peace. Will the real motivation of the revolution be disclosed as a Muslim take-over?

Or, do we have the default ideology at work here? Is this about masses seeking increased government handouts? Is this a demand for bread and circuses where government fills the role of Santa Claus, doling out food, housing, medical care, employment, retirement, education and indoctrination? Is this a socialist revolution?

None of this has been addressed to my satisfaction in the mass media. Is it about democracy and freedom? I sincerely doubt it.