Arab dictators fear Obama's message of change

[alfredo]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daoudkuttab/message/428

Jordan's leading blogger Mohammad Omar (www.mohomar.com) says that the
victory of the son of a Kenyan immigrant gives minorities, immigrants
and unrepresented groups hope. Imagine a Palestinian who was born in
Jordan fifty or sixty years ago and has tried very hard to be part of
the political scene looking at the son of an immigrant in America
being elected to the top executive position. The winds of hope don't
stop at the American shores, Omar insists.

The victory of the change candidate was especially noticed by Arab
reformers who have been paying a price for daring to question the
political status quo. The case of one such political reformer, who is
unjustly imprisoned, is Ayman Nour, an Egyptian constitutional lawyer
and elected representative whose supporters insist has been suffering
in jail for his political ambitions which included his challenge to
the seemingly lifelong president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak. Nour, who is
serving a five-year prison term on what his defenders say are
trumped-up charges, namely, the forgery of signatures among the
thousands submitted when he ran for president. Ironically Egyptian law
only requires fifty signatures. Nour, a charismatic secular leader,
came in second to Mubarak and far ahead of many well-known opposition
figures.

[TheWraith]

1. As well they should.

They're now going to be facing off against someone who truly believes in democracy, and can prove that it works.

[alfredo]

2. Hope is stronger than bombs and bullets

[Greyhound]

3. Sure they are, they know that without our backing they won't survive one day.

Like all despots, they are hated by those they oppress.

[alfredo]

4. the peacemakers are revered, even worshipped, the generals, though

remembered, are not.

[TheWraith]

5. Kick for the afternoon crowd. nt

[alfredo]

6. Thank you. It would be wonderful if Arab nations can democratize their

systems, but it needs to be done by the people. They have to desire democracy.