How's That Arab Spring Going?

One of the things you have to hand liberals is their capacity to believe things based upon what are essentially pop culture myths long after the facts have disproved them.   The average American liberal still believes, for instance, that their were no actual communist spies during the McCarthy Era; that Che Guevera was a romantic revolutionary and not a murderous thug; and that global warming is going to kill us all.  

Another myth that has taken hold is the myth of the "Arab Spring," which occurred only a few months ago, and yet which had already become hardened into a story of idealistic youths throwing off the shackles of repression to stride into the light of freedom.   It was never so -- the eruptions of popular opposition to repressive regimes in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere were largely led by radical Islamist elements such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who don't want freedom, but instead want to impose sharia and anti-Western/anti-Americanism.   But the Left still believes it.

So when you hear someone say that the "Occupy Wall Street" idiots are an American version of the "Arab Spring," you might show them this story about how things are trending in Egypt:

The clashes Sunday night raged over a large section of downtown Cairo and drew in Christians, Muslims and security forces. They began when about 1,000 Christian protesters tried to stage a sit-in outside the state television building along the Nile in downtown Cairo. The protesters said they were attacked by "thugs" with sticks and the violence then spiraled out of control after a speeding military vehicle jumped up onto a sidewalk and rammed into some of the Christians.

Most of the 24 people killed were Coptic Christians, though officials said at least three soldiers were among the dead. Nearly 300 people were injured. Egypt's official news agency said dozens have been arrested.

The latest clashes Monday broke out outside the Coptic hospital where many of the Christian victims were taken the night before. The screams of grieving women rang out from inside the hospital and some of the hundreds of men gathered outside held wooden crosses. Empty coffins were lined up outside the hospital.

There were no word on casualties from Monday's clashes.

Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 85 million people, blame the ruling military council for being too lenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks since Mubarak's ouster. The chaotic power transition has left a security vacuum, and the Coptic Christian minority is particularly worried about a show of force by ultraconservative Islamists, known as Salafis.

But, then again, given the rhetoric in this country about "radical" evangelical Christians -- frankly, I've never met one -- maybe it's not surprising that the Left in America wants to side with the people who murder Coptic Christians in Egypt.