The Islamist Springboard

Egyptians are definitely not complacent.  For a very brief period many of them were ecstatic at the celebrated success of their defiance of the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak.  Many of those who were so jubilant back then, when he was deposed and they visualized a new era for Egypt, feel otherwise now.  Even those who were not Islamist but wanted desperately to see change take place that might resemble a freer society to advance toward democracy, voted for the incumbent.



Little did they realize, back then, that they would live to rue the day.  Some of them have expressed such exasperated dismay at the turn of events that make President Mohammed Morsi appear a more fearsome tyrant, placing himself completely above the law, that they yearn for the return of military rule.  And is it even remotely possible that foreseeing this potential was what led the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to back down when their new president downgraded their position, making them subordinate to his rule?

The young men who wanted more, much more for Egypt than to be forever in thrall to a military rule and the ascendancy of an inherited dynastic ambition protested day after day in Tahrir Square until they inspired others to come out and then a swell of public support against the regime of the military and Hosni Mubarak spelled a surprisingly swift end to those ambitions, ushering in the hope of democracy.

Democracy, a fully legal vote, brought Islamism to Egypt.  The Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists who jointly captured a majority of the country's vote now represent the new power in Egypt.  There has been a societal breakdown of norms in the country, resulting from this transformation.  Half of the police force has not returned to duty.  And although they were feared and despised they kept public order.  Now that public order has dissolved into a reign of rampant crime.

In the initial days of Egypt's 'Arab Spring' people were protesting the rising price of basic food, cooking oil, energy, and lack of employment opportunities.  Egypt is heavily dependent on tourism.  Its non-stop demonstrations bringing out hundreds of thousands of people, representing on one hand the secular liberals and less religious Muslims and Coptic Christians, and on the other the supporters of the Muslimn Brotherhood, has created chaos.  Tourists evade chaos and danger.

Employment has slumped even further.  Foreign investment is wary of this new Egypt, unpredictable and volatile. The Egyptian economy teeters in ruin. The world waits as much as Egyptians do, in a state of suspended animation and suspense, wondering what is next on the agenda.  The daily upheavals, the bitter demonstrations, the accusations and counter-accusations, the unwillingness to surrender the country to theocratic rule and Sharia law has created an atmosphere of viral anger.

Not only are tourists staying away from some of the world's most famous heirloom sites, and foreign investors are staying away - Egypt's women are fearful of going out on the street.  Savage molestation of women is at an all-time high.  Danger lurks everywhere.  This fear and loathing has affected domestic business, and small shops reliant on neighbourhood custom have begun to close as people go out of business.  Hotels are empty of their guests.

Garbage that has collected around Tahrir Square has created congestion on the roadways radiating out of that central square.  The new constitution hurriedly put together by the committee tasked with producing that document - minus the secularists and the Christians who walked out in disgust as the uneven process, will be put to a vote by Egypt's suddenly-transformed 21st Century Pharaoh and his political party - on December 15.

Egypt is in the grip of a deep, dark gloom.  The future has the appearance of a deep, dark tunnel and it is difficult to determine whether there really is a light at the end.