I appreciate your sense of optimism, really I do. But the people cheering in the streets on Cairo have no foundation for freedom. The leaders of the opposition in Egypt are not disciples of Locke or Hobbes or Madison. They are not Christians who are taught grace, peace and forgiveness. Egypt has grown more strongly Islamist in the last several decades. They are more adherent to a religion that teaches hate, violence and repression than ever before.
Look at Turkey. The Islamists disguised themselves as moderates until they won a majority. Now the women are covered and their friendship with Israel has turned to open hostility.
The men who created our Constitution were Christian, educated and self supporting. They were farmers, lawyers and merchants who understood economics.
Who are their equivalents in Egypt? Elbaradai is a career U.N. diplomat in the pay of Iran. The Muslim Brotherhood is led by men who if they are educated have degrees in Islam, not engineering.
I pray you are right, that the people of Egypt can seize democracy and rule wisely, but the weight of history stands against you.
I don’t believe the weight of history is against me...the middle east governments have been moderating over all. But, even if you do not think so...just think Iraq in terms of a Middle East country desiring freedom and succeeding at it.
One does not have to know Locke, Jefferson, or anyone to understand the benefits of liberty. God gave that to each and everyone of us. Each individual in this world has the right to be free...and those who believe that people do not want to be free are misguided I believe.