Those were some good images! I’ll add one to the post now. This is actually when I really start to hold my breath, that this great outpouring of democracy isn’t co-opted in the same old s**t of a new religious or secular autocracy.

I should have quoted how the critical role of rowdy soccer fans in the protest front lines. I was reminded of the theory behind the Second Amendment’s protection of gun ownership–the power to overthrow the government as a protector of liberties. Perhaps Egypt’s soccer hooligans and bloggers can keep strong and serve as a kind of insurance against the reinstallation of oppression.

The US commentariat’s reaction to Egypt has been generally underwhelming, to say the least. Democracy in the Middle East is the goal of US policy — Bush Doctrine, etc. — until democracy actually has the temerity to break out in a favored client state. Feh.

Fortunately, there were other sources, thanks to the ‘net. It was stunning to see the pictures of the Coptic Christians linking arms protectively around the Muslims at prayer on the streets in the face of the security forces. Now, that’s a brother- and sisterhood worth nonviolently fighting for!