—
The Western world claimed a victory of sorts for democracy when President Mohammed Morsi won the Egyptian election.
Now that same democratically elected leader has unilaterally imposed a decree giving himself new and sweeping powers in that country.
We always thought that democratically elected leaders were supposed to rule, well, democratically.
In a democracy, the minority side still is expected to have considerable power as long as its ideas make sense for the country as a whole. So why should Egypt have a president who now decides that the judiciary, for example, should not have judicial powers to ensure that the country is ruled by law, not just decrees?
We now see the liberal and secular segment of the Egyptian population back in the streets attempting to restrain the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government.
The question for American policy in Egypt is whether President Morsi’s attempt to gain essentially dictatorial power is so he can govern an unruly country effectively or so he can impose Muslim Brotherhood values using strong-arm tactics.
Is Morsi trying to become like his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, the only difference being Morsi would impose strong religious or Islamic values instead of secular values upon all Egyptians? In either case, whatever the values might be, imposing them without democratic participation by all Egyptians peacefully seems ... “un-American.”
Whether it becomes “un-Egyptian” will be decided in the streets at this point. We would much prefer such decisions to be made in legislatures or parliaments instead.
Opinion
Related Photos
Discussion
Our View: Egypt’s democracy in danger
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. There were pictures on the walls and memories in every room.
-
Our View: Absent from House
We can’t figure out why two Missouri legislators think they should be elected to the U.S. House when it appears they can’t seem to show up to take care of business in the Missouri House.
-
Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
In the May 13 issue of The Joplin Globe there was an Associated Press article concerning the New Orleans shooting.
-
Your View: Should we be outraged?
Were there effusive apologies following the lockdown of Boston as most of the continent indulged vicariously in the ongoing manhunt?
-
Your View: Terrible injustice
I see this Jasper County nuisance law as a terrible injustice on the rights of the residents of Jasper County.
-
Other Views: Conflicts in SEC
Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want.
-
Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
-
Our View: Fixing failure
Some 1,200 injured workers will finally get the payments they are owed. In its final week in session, Missouri’s General Assembly, through bipartisan efforts, passed a solution to address the insolvency of the state’s Second Injury Fund.
-
Herb B. Kuhn, guest columnist: Delaying Medicaid reform could hurt rural Missouri
The Missouri Legislature missed a rare opportunity in the just-ended session to transform Medicaid and make a real difference in the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. Rural Missouri has the most to lose from the legislature’s failure to act.
-
Kevin Wilson, guest columnist: When fear wins out, so do the terrorists
I’m going to make a bold statement that’s sure to draw a lot of comments, but hear me out before reaching for the keyboard to type a rebuttal.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
