Farther Along

Sitting up tonight, thanks to Predizone, reflecting on a tumultuous events abroad in recent times, it occurs to me that the Middle East, and with it, the world is going to Hell in a hand basket.  No one knows what the outcomes will be concerning the chaos in the Middle East.  One thing is for sure - it will not be pretty.  What's more, it will likely produce even more instability than ever before now.  We made a bargain with the devil and the despots have kept their end of the bargain - they have mostly checked Islamic extremists in their own countries.  In doing so, they oppressed their own people to the extent that average citizens have started this movement.  The gap between rich and poor is wider than in any region.  But be sure that Radical Islam will have its day.  If average citizens make sure that these new democracies are modern and secular, the George W. Bush's vision of a democratic Islamic world will have come true, sending him surging in presidential rankings.  If the extremists in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and even Iraq follow the surge of their fellow crazies in Lebanon and Gaza, then we will surely have a bigger mess than before.  Already, gas and oil prices have shot up, and they will skyrocket if this unrest continues.

While Western Democracies struggle to catch up with the curve,  more and more it looks like we won't, we will not influence the results of these people's uprisings.  Be sure that, once ignited, the desire for freedom is ultimately unstoppable, though it might be quelled in the long run.  We are for freedom and democracy, but recently, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other radical terrorist organizations have done well and/or won elections in Lebanon and Gaza.  In the meantime we look like we support the despots at the risk of alienating even the ordinary citizens of that region, yearning to be free of oppression and to have free and fair elections for a change.

Iran is a special problem for the West.  First, they are led by a madman, and governed by a council of religious fanatics.  Second, while violently putting down his own protesters, he criticizes Libya for doing the same.  Third, he is reckless, predicting the end of times by 2012, provoking Israel, and tweaking the collective nose of the western powers.  In other words, Iran is intent on capitalizing on these events to meet their vision for Islamic Republics all across the region, influenced of course, by Iran.  They seem intent on provoking a confrontation with the West.  If that happens, it will be Katy Bar the Door. 

My Bible tells me that these things will happen.  Despite all the doom and gloom, I still believe that things will work as they are supposed to to accomplish God's own purposes in his own time.  That said, I pray for wisdom and vision for world leaders, including our own.  None of this excuses any of us from doing all we can to make the world a place of peace and justice for all people.  I believe that the outcome is already decided, and that our understanding of it all will at another time.  In the words of an old and wonderful hymn, "Farther along, we'll know all about.  Farther along we'll understand why.  Cheer up, my brother, and live in the sunshine.  We'll understand it all bye and bye."

What is Happening in Egypt?

What is really happening in Egypt?  A flat out revolution.that's what.  For now, it doesn't appear to be Islamic in nature and origin, but that bears watching as events progress.  It does appear to be a popular uprising for freedom and democracy at this moment, but that could clearly change.  Mubarak has been in power for 30 years, thanks to hazy elections and fuzzy math in vote counting.  He normally wins with 90% of the vote, so I have to believe that those elections have been a sham.  Before him were the great Anwar Sadat and Gamel Nasser.  Egypt, under their leadership has been a force for peace and stability in the region for several years, but repressive and unaccountable to its own people.  Those chickens have come home to roost and Egypt stands at the abyss of chaos. 
There is no turning back.  Democracy and freedom will prevail.  The only question is how bad will it get before the changes needed are made.  Will the military side with Mubarak and prop up the status quo, or will it allow citizens to protest and stay on the sidelines?  Will it oppose or support the police in the crackdown that has begun, but will almost surely escalate?  Will the movement morph into an Islamic Revolution, or make Egypt as a secular democracy? 
No one can know for sure, but it seems clear to me that democracy may yield a government in Egypt far less interested in peace and stability in the region.  We can, and should, support the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people, but we may not like what comes out of that.  Look no further than the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, or Iraq and Afghanistan for that matter, to see some of what the results of our support for democratic reforms in the region might bring about.  Until then, I plan to pray for peace and justice, in Egypt and the rest of the world.