Mean Streets

When the so-called "Arab Spring" had its first "success" in Egypt, I urged caution, fearing that the mob-rule mentality would bring further trouble. Once again, Egyptians have taken to the streets, frustrated with the people who just a few months ago were hailed as patriots and saviors from the Mubarak regime. Now, the U.S., which, as usual, dictated that Mubarak had to go, is, to say the least, embarrassed at the turn of the events that it helped in no small part to bring about. Obama, with enough troubles of his own at home, is pleading with Egypt's protesters and the government that he helped set up to behave sensibly, but to no avail. As time goes by, Mubarak doesn't seem so bad, after all. At least he kept religious extremism in check.

Meanwhile, Obama has turned a blind eye to his protesters at home, who grow by the minute and refuse to go away. Ironically, everyone seems to agree that the protests in the U.S. have been inspired by the ones in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world. Although, there hasn't been that kind of violence in the U.S., it's only a matter of time for something really bad to happen.

But, of course, that's the beauty of democracy, isn't it?

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