Heh, Zahi Hawass is a one-man offensive stereotype, all on his own. 
Anyway, I think Egypt would be better off with pharohs as tyrants. Think of the tourism possibilities.
I never said Jordan was a democracy.
I said he wasn’t a dictator.
Dictators can’t be overruled by their countries parliaments. King Abdullah can and has.
For example a few years ago he tried to modify the laws which made it difficult to punish “honor killings” and the Parliament overruled him.
I’ll simply say that just because people fought against Apartheid does not mean they are qualified to comment on the freedom levels of other countries.
Numerous ANC officials and anti-Apartheid activists argued that Libya under Qaddafi and Cuba under Castro were free societies. Others, most notably Chris Hani enthusiastically supported the crushing of the Solidarity movement in Poland and some even wired congratulations to the hard-line communists who instituted a coup against Gorbachev.
So. Elections in September. That’s seven months.
*If *Mubarak makes sure that neither his son nor any of his inner circle runs, *if *he guarantees freedom of the press and freedom of assembly, *if *he allows free, internationally-observed elections… it could work. Seven months may be enough time the foundations of democracy to set, for political parties to organize, hold primaries, organize platforms.
It’s better than holding elections tomorrow, and it’ll avoid the period of chaos that could result from his immediate resignation - if, in fact, he actually allows these elections to work.
My guess? He just appoints someone else to his position.
Come to think of it: Is there such thing as Egyptian neopaganism? You’ll find a neopaganism today for practically every pre-Christian religion of Europe . . . but in an Islamic country, where apostasy can mean death, I have to wonder if it could happen.
Egypt is now Mexico.
In the “bizarre shit I couldn’t make up but makes sense now that I read it” corner:
Makes sense because, hey, other than the mosques, what other area of society allows people to gather in large number, form connections, and generally develop an organization?
Just saw Mubarak on TV – he doesn’t look 82! Does he bathe in the blood of virgins or what?!
He wanted his son to suceed him.
There are people in Egypt with neopagan ideas derived from ancient Egyptian religion, but they’re basically all Western tourists/backpacker-types.
In the (old) mummy movies there’s always some fez-wearer who still worships the ancient gods. It would be interesting if that were true. I doubt it, the Muslims always tolerated Christians and Jews in their midst but pagans had to convert or.
This is simply not true. Muslims and pagans live together relatively peacefully in many parts of the world.
My Cameroonian village was 40% Christian, 40% Muslim and 20% pagan. People went back and forth between the religions pretty often as suited their social circumstances, and it wasn’t a bit deal at all- the general attitude was that it was the same god, and how you chose to worship god was mostly a matter of family tradition. In any case, Islam can be pretty syncretic in practice, and in much of the world Islam is mixed with older local beliefs. I know my local mosque did a brisk business in love potions and amulets, and my Muslim friends rarely had a problem with participating in local pagan-originated rituals. I’d venture that in much of Africa, Islam and paganism are not entirely at odds, and certainly not usually violently in conflict.
For another huge example, look at India. While it’s hardly a poster-boy for sectarian harmony, the religious conflicts there are very political and not really about “We gotta kill all the pagans.”
Mate. Read a little bloody Egyptian history. The Egyptian Christians violently suppressed paganism in Egypt before Islam ever popped up, that dated back to the Roman empire. Jaysus, a bit of history eh?
There’s also plenty of Coptic Egyptians who could, if they were complete retards, become neo Pagans, although why they would slavishly copy the idiots who go rambling about Stonehenge escapes me.
I once heard in London a Copt scoffing at the silly wankers in UK who are neo pagans putting on something, saying something like “the English weren’t every really Christian, we Egyptians have been Christian for much longer.” Or something like that.
None of this is interesting, what’s more interesting is the fact that the leadership seems to have bused in thousands of pro NDP supporters who have now started to throw rocks at the peaceful protestors. How stupid can Mubarak get.
You’re right mate, you’re right. Watching BBC right now, and they said (BBC) that they saw pro Mubarek people with knives, polearms, bars, etc. And horses?? Jaysus.
This looks to me like a big fuck you by the Mubarek regime.
How can they expect a guy who does this to honour the pledge to remove the apparatus of his regime in September. Aint gonna happen. He seems the type of he’s gonna drag everyone down with him.
Let’s not forget women and children were at the demonstration.
He must be counting on the army standing aside. If there is rioting in the streets, it is an invitation for the army to take over and restore order.
There appears to be a LOT of roughing up of foreign reporters and news crews, as well. Someone tweeted that Anderson Cooper was assaulted, also an Al Arabiyya newsteam.