Protests Continue

Protests Continue: Protests are continuing into the night for the third straight day. Yet, except for the area around the American Embassy, Cairenes are going about their lives as usual. Life is quiet at nearby hotels; and pleasure boats are cruising the Nile not that far away. President Morsi has called for calm but has also strongly condemned the controversial anti-Muslim film, which was published online in the U.S. Egyptians, having lived so long under authoritarianism, can't understand why a country as powerful as the United States can't prevent such undertakings from happening.

Democratic Values Aren't Understood: Demonstrators now are not just conservative religious elements, but youth who helped overthrow the old regime and others(the Zamalek Ultras [soccer fans], for instance), who have issues with the police and what's happening in Egypt today. Under the Mubarak dictatorship (and long before) men, women, Muslims, Christians, the poor, labour activists - pretty much everyone was treated without respect for their basic human, political, civil and other basic rights. New Arab governments have to take responsibility for containing the violence and teach their citizens to abide by democratic values. The Brotherhood may have learned the democratic game; but it's a narrow interpretation of democracy that has traditionally shown little tolerance for diverse views and life choices that might challenge prevailing interpretations.

The Brotherhood has called a massive march for tomorrow. Usually, the Brotherhood's marches are disciplined and controlled, so hope they avoid the area of the embassy. Personal Note: Went out to local shop to buy some milk. Asked shopkeeper if he was OK (Inta Masboot?); and he said no. I thought he meant that he hadn't sold much that day; but he seemed to be referring to the turmoil in the country and world at large. He seemed to understand that the American government and the general American population had nothing to do with the posting or making of the film trailer. Nonetheless, all of this friction between the U.S. and countries in the Middle East has erupted and postponed a return of stability to the area. It has led Obama to say that Egypt is not an enemy but not an ally. Ranya Rasheed, Manager of U.S. Programs for Fulbright, called today to see how I was, since I live in the neighborhood of the embassy. I was fine. At 8:57 PM this evening, I am hearing noises like shots that may be police firing tear gas and sirens. Don't know if it's connected to embassy protests. The ultra-conservative Noor Party and a Salafi coalition, the groups which started the protests, have pulled out of tomorrow's demonstrations in order to avoid violence. Morsi has put no pressure on his own party.