The Arab Spring Continues in Tunisia and Egypt

The Arab Spring continues to struggle as marchers refuse to give up in their attempts to wrest power from various political coalitions that have risen to control governments. (1). In Tunisia, an iconic opposition leader was killed in the street. His followers said he was assassinated by the governing islamist coalition because he refused to be quiet. Marchers took to the streets of Tunis and are still there in protest. Today, Tunisians who support the islamists organized their own march in support of the government, telling reporters that the government is competent and should be permitted to continue its work. The islamist prime minister has dismissed his government and is trying to form a new, more acceptable one. He says if he cannot form a new government in one week, he will resign. Tunisia, where the Arab Spring started, is still trying to get it right. (2). Egyptians continue to protest against President Morsi and almost everything he does or says. The beleaguered president says he wants a dialogue. Egyptians say they want a new president and a new "real" constitution, not the islamist-rigged one produced by Morsi and his Moslem Brotherhood cronies. The editor of the independent Daily News Egypt was interviewed on CNN and said that Morsi is incapable of governing Egypt and should do as the Tunisian prime minister - form a more acceptable government and write an acceptable constitution with input from all factions. She also said that Egyptians will not leave the streets until they succeed, adding that the world should understand that they are marching every day and all weekend not because they enjoy it, and the danger of death it presents, but because it is their duty to create a new Egypt where everyone is safe and welcome. ~~~~~ We tend to forget, dear readers, that those of us who live in democratic countries where the political system actually works for the benefit of all enjoy a luxury. We often decry street protests and ask why they don't resolve issues by democratic means. The simple answer is that they are using the only "democratic means" available to them - the streets. Egyptians and Tunisians and Libyans and Syrians will one day have "real" constitutions and presidents and legislatures and courts. They will have democracies because they have tasted freedom and are determined to hold on to it. But, for now, as the plaques we often buy for children say, "Be patient. God isn't through with me yet."