not trolling?

Huh? That's up to the forum to decide, as for my intentions, they were to spark discussion on what I think is an important topic.

Every free election in the Muslim world is a positive development, regardless of who wins.

I don't entirely agree Zmaj, the risk of democratic elections in any country (and this is not a reason not to have them, but it is to have certain rules to accompany them) is that a majority starts oppressing a minority. Anyways, I'm not saying that that's what Morsi is going to do, but I'm very pessimistic. I mean, the Iranians voted to have an Islamic republic, look how well that turned out...

You're very pessimistic? How did you feel while Mubarak was in power? Optimistic?

I didn't feel all that much about it. A friend of mine who's from Tunisia is getting worried about his country though. He says whenever he's calling his family there the situation is getting a little worse, with violence against women who are now considered "scarcely dressed" slowly on the rise (to name a development that I personally find telling).
Ben Ali was a secular dictator, a bad guy, but at least not one who imposed an overarching belief system on his people (given that he didn't have any). I fear that for these kind of countries, with secular minorities oppressing religious majorities, it will now be religious majorities oppressing the secular minorities. If I'd have to pick my flavor I would pick the former, but then again, I'd rather live here in Europe in a mature democracy.

In other words, you'll condone a dictatorship as long as it keeps a people quiet. Way to go, redhouse. As far as I'm concerned, this discussion is over.

Okay, bye.

This is bad news, but not surprising. The west helps blast Mubarak out of power and a guy who is equally bad, if not worse, comes into power. Thanks a lot Egypt.

A democracy that oppresses minorities is as tyrannical as a dictatorship, Zmaj - tyranny of the majority vs tyranny of the minority is a side issue, because the key that outweighs whatever difference exists between the two is that both are tyrannical.

I'm back! Not to discuss, merely to call President Eden a maggot. President Eden, you're a maggot, get used to it!

I love how the words "this discussion is over." always seem to mean "I'll stop listening to you but won't stop talking myself." It's just that "This discussion is HALF over" never makes much of an impression.

what do we call a Deomcracy that a Minority rules the majority?

>typo
>unnecessary capitalization of Important Words
>no capitalization of first word
>vaguely posed question
>what do you want? ;-)

The thing that strikes me most about recent elections, in both Greece and Egypt, as that a difference of just a couple of percent has had a huge impact on the direction the country has moved in. For a Brit, who is used to political parties fighting for the middle ground so hard they end up with near identical policies, this is all quite unnerving.

Whether this is a sign of democracy on the verge of disaster or merely a different form of democracy I have no idea, but I fear the former.

Bunch of wussies. Can't deal with other people's freedom.

Yeah. The same can be said for a lot of your islamist friends Zmaj. We don't live in a black and white world, sorry man. Bye now.

Hahaha first he shows he's chicken, then he compares himself to islamists. What a loser.

Hahaha first he tells me how the discussion's over, then he starts calling names. What a troll.

Who do you mean, redhouse?

One's "freedom" ends when they try to use that "freedom" to remove the legitimate freedom of others. Your trolling sucks, please leave the site.

Going for empty phrases, maggot?

Terrible development. The whole of the 'Arab Spring' has turned into a pro-Iranian bonanza. Tunisia wants close relations with Iran. Libya wants close relations with Iran. *Sigh*

"The west helps blast Mubarak out of power and a guy who is equally bad, if not worse, comes into power. Thanks a lot Egypt."

Kind of reminds one of putting pressure on the Shah only to find Khomeini in charge.

"Every free election in the Muslim world is a positive development, regardless of who wins."

Positive development for whom? Not gays, women, religious & racial minorities.

Why is a bunch of corrupt parties competing for votes the be all end all of good government?

Why haven't you muted me, Stalinist? You said you would! I feel dirty when you quote me.

Oh dear...

I agree with Putin! :O

But yeah, that's just...just wonderful...great...closer ties to Iran...oh boy...

This next decade's a-gonna be another messy one in the Middle East...

Obi, when you agree with Putin, it's time to ask yourself whether you know what you're talking about.

I recently unmuted you, as I said it would be temporary. I see you've gotten worse.