

Dissent in Egypt

No joking matter

Governments in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world are loth to be mocked

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The US Constitution's Second Amendment -- the right to bear arms -- is aimed precisely at this problem of a government that has the bit in its mouth, and which has no compunctions about doing whatever it believes is useful to retain its control and impose its will upon its people.

The current kerfuffle over that most basic right reminds us of the folly of undermining the ability of a citizenry to overthrow an out-of-control regime... even one that came into power by election.

While the recent tragedy of Newtown, Connecticut resulted in the deaths of young, innocent children, we know that weapons only in a regime's hands can result in many more such physical deaths, as well as the death of liberty.

One Eyed Jacks

This guy makes Lenny Bruce look like a lightweight. All Lenny was did was fight for the right to tell dirty and insulting jokes. This guy Youssef is fighting for something far more legit.


For the benefit of those following the news in print only and unable to watch El-Bernameg due to the language barrier, here is a paraphrase of Bassem Youssef's echo of Martin Niemöller's sentiments: "Perhaps you will tire because they came for the activists, the nationalists, and the journalists. They are arrested and beaten every day. I am more lucky. The fame of the show meant that I received considerably more support. These distractions constitute a game called "Look at the bird" that this, just like the last, authority plays well. The distraction of the game helps pass a constitution, appointments, and laws. (After all, if the authority incessantly talks of conspiracies, why can we also not do so?) Yet surely you will tire eventually when they continue to hound a clownish broadcaster presenting a trivial TV show. During all this remember: One day they will come after you too."


I don't see this round of dictators having the longevity of the last. Not only have none of the core economic and social issues which caused the "Arab Spring" been addressed let alone resolved, but we now have a more confident and politically active people that have overthrown dictators before, so be prepared to see much more unrest in the near future.
By behaving like the old guard, Morsi and the other Islamist leaders are setting themselves up for a very dangerous time in office.


How come only a few saw this coming?
The Arab spring (Egypt in particular)is an apt example of how a popular revolution can go wrong. At this point there is no much difference between Mubarak's Egypt and Morsi's Egypt except for the place of the Muslim Brother.

Laslandes in reply to alegtony

I would reserve the judgement until the next election. It is natural for people to vote populist, especially if they do not have a record of democratic elections. Likewise, people who had no taste of power before blunder a lot. So wait for the next election and a new crop of politicians, rather than clamour new pro-Western tyrants to crush all that the West dislikes with support from Western democracies. If Morsi cancels or rigs the election, then you can compare him with Mubarak.
Speaking of satire, why does not this article contrast these Middle Eastern satirists with Western satirical TV shows ridiculing British or American leaders? Oh, wait, I can't think of any.

Laslandes in reply to Jurjen S.

And this is all you could come up with? Nine O' Clock News, Spitting Image - where are they now?
The Daily Show, the Colbert Report - interviewing celebrities, ridiculing O'Reilly, commenting on news reports. Somehow I think these shows in Egypt and Tunisia were more hard-hitting. Of course, this article could help by providing more background information about the shows.

Maryam A

What is a ruler without a joker? From days on every court had its jokers. Tricky business then and now. But a ruler who surrounds himself with those who agree to all looses cotact with reality. So brave mockers, jokers, satirists and comedians, pls go on.


"Governments in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world are loth to be mocked"

Well, governments in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world are either laughable, or ridiculous - with the odd exceptions to the rule here and there...


"Mr Morsi, hauled him in for questioning on charges of insulting the president, defaming Islam and “publishing false news”"
I say again, separate church from state.

Curate's Egg in reply to edwardong

I say again, no such concept exists in the Islamic world.

Separation of Church and State came about organically as a result of the Catholic Church's fierce struggle to be independent of, and equal to, secular power all throughout the Middle Ages. Only later did the Enlightenment thinkers find merit in this arrangement, and formalized what was already almost a done deal. Even then, most western governments did not shed their association with a dominant brand of Christianity in their countries for almost two centuries. Purely secular governments are post-WW2 products.

In the Islamic world, relationship between religion and the wider society is far more embedded and symbiotic. So good luck trying to wish for secular governments in that region anytime soon.

C.C.C. in reply to Curate&#039;s Egg

The catholic church was very much involved in Government, and they clashed with the official systems of the day. The separation of church and state arose when enlightenment thinkers realized how politics corrupts religion, as opposed to the reverse. The main cause of this was the divine right of kings, and how it was abused. Another was the english civil war and the forced conversions of the day.

The term separation of church and state originated in a letter to a baptist church in the US State of Connecticut from Thomas Jefferson:

A similar letter was written by George Washington:


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