Egyptian-Canadian Protesters

Egyptian-Canadians, in solidarity with their brethren in Egypt have been demonstrating in their adopted homelands. Over 150 gathered in Ottawa, in front of the Embassy of Egypt, in a showing of support for anti-government protesters in Egypt. The homeland they left is likely just as it was when they left it, for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which might have been lack of opportunities to achieve financial success.

Living in a democratic country which emphases freedoms and equality and opportunities without doubt magnifies those lacks in Egypt.

The sympathetic demonstrators want to make it quite clear to the Egyptian diplomats stationed in Canada what their take is on the revolution that appears to be taking place. And they are emphatically for a change of government. Clamouring vociferously for the ouster, immediately, of President Hosni Mubarak.

But transition from one system of governance to another cannot be achieved instanter. It must be a methodical, careful process to transition intelligently and creatively, embracing the new, eschewing the old. Opportunity adores a vacuum. Were the National Democratic Party, its chief executives and President Mubarak to step down as demanded, what happens to logical transition?

A period of chaotic anarchy would ensue, and that would fairly quickly result in the most opportunistic, established parties in the country to take what they will assume to be their rightful place in the governing hierarchy. The outstanding example of this kind of 'transition' was Iran. Do those demonstrating in Ottawa visualize an Islamic Republic of Egypt as their ideal?

Needless to say the Muslim Brotherhood does.

And it would be interesting to know, just out of curiosity, how many of those demonstrating belong to the Muslim Brotherhood, or have been exploited psychologically by their ideology, believing them to be the saving moderates they claim to be, just as the returning Ayatollah Khomeini was lauded as an elder statesman who would return Iran to the people.

"He is not respecting us, he is not actually hearing us, we've said clearly that we want him to leave the country", ranted one demonstrator. The voice of the people, vox populi, has never been paramount in decision-making at the highest administrative level anywhere in the Middle East.

Arab and Muslim countries have traditionally been ruled with a firm, autocratic hand, as a people given to great excitability branching into hysterical violent action, when not firmly directed. Both the administration of the country and the expectations of its people may change, given the reasonable length of time it will take to undergo reasonable change.

The arrogance of a mob mentality will not affect that change. Once that change becomes a rational reality there will be ample time for the population to exercise their right to cast a ballot through an enactment of true democracy.