A dilemma

Submitted by Rebecca Moulds (United States), Nov 8, 2011 at 15:11

What Dr. Pipes wrote is to be commended, but it is the last paragraph that made me really think about what's important to the people in the Middle East and how far they will go to secure democracy.

In Egypt, where I lived for ten years, many of my Coptic and moderate Muslim friends have left or are soon leaving, knowing what was and is brewing--- emigrating to Europe, Canada and the USA. These are the lucky ones---the ones who have the money and desire to change their lives for the better. They are tired, fed up, they are giving up the fight, having fought the Mubarak regime for too long, and witnessed the February riots with fear, disdain and broken hearts. If so many of these (often but not all) Western educated and wealthy individuals have left Egypt (a classic example of brain-drain) then who is left to promote and enforce the changes necessary for a better life for the Egyptian citizens?

It seems that either one loves one's country enough to stick it out to the end, hoping for change, or to leave when the chance is available to make a better life elsewhere. The latter option is the more desirable, the former one the braver and more uncertain, but it is also the one that may bring about the necessary changes, and those who stayed may reap the long-awaited benefits. It won't happen, however, unless the Egyptian people become one in their cause, and recognize that Islamists are not their friends.

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