Surviving Capitalism (Not) : Islamists v. Liberals & the Discourses That Are Tearing Egypt Apart

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Friday, December 14, 2012

Islamists v. Liberals & the Discourses That Are Tearing Egypt Apart

Click here to access article by Sara M. Salem from Muftah.

The is the most well balanced, clear description and interpretation of recent events within Egypt that I have seen.

The reality is that politics is not as simple as being either secular or Islamist—many Egyptians do not identify as either, and have very different ideas about what they want Egypt to become. By fixating on labels and the problematic rhetoric they inspire, we continue to deepen class and ideological divisions at a time in Egyptian history when people should be united.

However, she ignores outside forces, specifically the US, that may be influencing events in Egypt. To fill in this omission, I suggest you watch this 4:25m interview with F. William Engdahl from RT.