Egyptian Jesuit Father Samir Khalil Samir is a Professor
at Rome's Pontifical Oriental Institute and scholar on Islam spoke to Emer
McCarthy, an interviewer at Vatican Radio who asked by if a Western concept of political
democracy is adequate to Egypt and other Arab nations. Father Samir saidit is
"applicable but not yet practicable."
He further said, "What we need first of
all is justice, equality, social reform because the gap between rich and poor
is far too wide and this is the real cause of the Islamic fundamentalist
movement. We need change, the Arab world must change. We need alternate parties
but in our countries there is nothing".
Plus, it was advanced that "If you have
authoritarian regimes they systematically destroy all the leaderships so only
people who are in agreement with the current system are in power". In the case
of Egypt "Mubarack nominated his second in command, Omar Suleiman who is a good
diplomat a military officer. But the question is this good for the country?".
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I just love the way he describes dialogue. For too many engaging in dialogue these days its more just "I'm okay, you're okay, we're all okay." And when you pursue differences, then you're being contrary or 'smug'...Great article!