From Tuesday's LA Times:
"CAIRO -- Amid heavy security, Egyptians went to the polls Tuesday to vote on a new constitution — the first major step in what the military-led government calls a path to democracy.
In some locales, long lines of voters had already formed when polling stations opened at 9 a.m., watched over by police and soldiers.
An explosion went off at a courthouse in a northwestern district of Cairo before the voting started, but caused no deaths or injuries, state media reported. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.
Egyptian leaders had repeatedly called on people to turn out in large numbers for the two-day referendum, which will continue on Wednesday. The rewritten national charter was drafted by a government-appointed panel.
The interim government, which took power six months ago after a popularly supported coup, hopes that a big turnout and a decisive margin of approval for the new constitution will bolster its own legitimacy. It has promised to hold presidential and parliamentary elections later this year.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the movement of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, called for a boycott of the vote. The Brotherhood, which the government has designated a terrorist organization, insists that Morsi is still the rightful president.
The group’s leadership and thousands of its rank-and-file members have been imprisoned. Authorities have also arrested secular activists, accusing many of violating a tough new anti-protest law. In recent days, still others were detained after putting up posters urging a no vote on the referendum."
The Egyptian people were given a mulligan, a do-over, to make their government work for them, not the other way around. The demonstrations last summer, which brought down the government of Mohammed Morsi, were so powerful that the interim government, which is propped up by the military, decided that it was in the country's best interests to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood and deem it a terrorist organization.
Sadly, while we see the crumbling of the nascent democracy in Iraq, with all the violence, all the bloodshed of an all-out civil war, it is heartening to see that there are people in the Muslim world who actually understand that democracy, not "Islamic Republicanism", is the means by which freedom and liberty can be achieved by all.
In January, 2005, under the watchful eye of the US military and a UN task force, Iraqis stood in lines for hours to do what the Egyptians are doing today. The difference, though, is that today's exercise is more vastly understood by the participants, than the process was by the Iraqis.
In addition, while the Egyptian military and police are enforcing crowd control, safe conditions, etc, it is controlled solely by Egyptians, without outside interference. That, by itself, makes it a more democratic process for the people.
While Morsi may have been elected President under the constitution which succeeded the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, the people recognized immediately that it was flawed, once Morsi took power and effectively violated it at every turn. Most assuredly, the people and the military will not let this happen again.
As an aside, Israel, I am sure, is watching the proceedings in Egypt with great interest. To have an Egypt still willing to abide by the 36 year old Camp David accords, allows Israelis live with a sense of relief, knowing that, at least from the south and west, there will be no fear of attack by at least one Muslim country.
Perhaps, the second chance that Egyptians gave themselves will reveal a more tolerant, peaceful and forgiving people, who truly understand the precepts of Islam. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam is a religion of peace and love toward one's fellow man, not the hateful and vengeful practice by those who use it as a threat to dominate others in fear of death and destruction.
What blooms in Cairo, Alexandria and all over Egypt after this vote, can actually give heart to the rest of us who wish for peace in the Middle East. Let's start today to pray for the successful outcome of this vote.
It will be in all of our best interests.
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