Egyptian Democracy

Egyptian Democracy
Re “Street Rule” [July 22]: Karl Vick has nailed it rather succinctly, “For many Egyptians, protest equals democracy.” The final analysis is that non-Westerners do not interpret democracy the way Westerners understand it. To many of them, democratic election provides a new platform for power grabbing. Once propelled to the highest position, leaders would rule their nations the way they perceived correct. Then they would find every possible means to cling to power as long as possible.
Ibrahim Musa,
Kuala Lumpur

The article was disappointing and unfair to the Egyptian people. The story made it seem like they went out on the streets by the millions out of pure whim, ousting their democratically elected President because they had nothing better to do. Getting rid of a President who never felt responsible to the people who elected him, but to God alone, was the best thing Egyptians could have done, and they are to be praised for their courage.
Martina Häusler,
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany

What is happening in Egypt — as well as in the other Arab states — is a revolution. A revolution can take much time and pass through various periods before evolving into a democracy: almost 20 years for the French Revolution.
Jean Swings,
Brussels

After Morsi
Re “After the Coup” [July 22]: I believe no sane person should be in euphoric mood and celebrate a military coup against Egypt’s first freely elected President, no matter how incompetent he might have been. Getting rid of Morsi will not address the underlying failures that have plagued Egypt’s catastrophic transition after Hosni Mubarak’s downfall. Indeed, the Muslim Brotherhood’s performance was far below expectation. Nonetheless, the real problem lies in the inherent weakness and illegitimacy of political institutions in the nation.
Yuri Czekov,
Moscow

Immigrant Economy
Re “Open the Door and Let ‘Em In” [July 22]: Rana Foroohar envisions how new immigrants or their first-generation descendants might launch ventures for the benefit of all. She is partially right. However, reality teaches us that most immigrants — in spite of their tremendous suffering to get ahead — will join the ranks of the low-skilled, low-wage uprooted masses already living in the U.S. Shouldn’t a decent society first take care of its own poor, out-of-work and undereducated citizens instead of getting more of them in?
Renaat Horemans,
Mol, Belgium

Foroohar takes a very one-sided view of immigration. She is only concerned with the benefits of immigration. No doubt, migrants can make positive contributions to a society. But there are also substantial costs involved: social, financial and economic costs, and most of all environmental costs.
Margit Alm,
Eltham, Australia

Church Reformation
In Briefing, Pope Francis was reported to be cleaning house: he is going to establish an independent panel to scrutinize the Vatican bank [July 22]. That’s not the way to do it. If one suspects a crime has been committed, it should be reported to the appropriate civil authorities. Until the Pope tells those under him to call the cops if they suspect or are aware of a crime, I will not believe he is serious about cleaning house.
Milton David Fisher,
Cashmere, Australia

Pup and Circumstance
Re “The Softer Side of Pit Bulls” [July 22]: My family had a pit bull for almost 14 years. All parents with little children and a dog in one house know that this can be a challenge. A little child’s curiosity-driven behavior created many situations in which we had to save the dog from the kid. There was not one single situation the other way around. As mentioned in the article, dogs are individuals; we cannot reduce them to a breed. Having said that, I must say our dog Rain was the most wonderful family dog in the world.
Thomas Seeseke,
Sottrum, Germany