The Confusion of the American Faith in the Salvific Power of Democratic Revolution

is seen in this note from a reader:

What a pickle the US finds itself on this.

We support the uprising against a dictator in Tunisia, which is supposedly fueled by democratic voices, but when that movement prompts this uprising against a dictator we have to hedge since this is lead by the Muslim Brotherhood. Could be interesting.

BTW, please pray for my brother who lives in Cairo. He told me last weekend that this was coming and he’d gone out and bought supplies.

As children of a Revolution against a tyrant (sort of: Fat George wasn’t really much a tyrant) Americans have always felt a sympathy for those who want to toss off their own tyrannical shackles. We have this Romantic faith that Revolution must sure be born of a yearning for Freedom.

Problem is, history since our own Revolution has abundantly demonstrated that lots of Revolutions are simply popular movements that get hijacked by somebody who wants to be the New Tyrant. From France to Russia to the New Order in 1933 Germany to lot of little hell holes in post-colonial Africa, the mere fact that somebody is throwing off chains does not guarantee Liberty and Justice for all. As Iran demonstrated, some popular movements of revolt are undertaken because people seek the freedom to be harsher with themselves and others than Western Culture allows. A despot like the Shah is booted and a despot like the Ayatollah takes his place–and everybody in the new regime remembers that the Shah was a puppet of the US.

If the glorious triumph of Democracy carries the day in Egypt and the Egyptians vote themselves into the adamantine chains of yet another radical Islamic despotism, I hope Americans will at least learn the valuable lesson that political freedom with no consideration of the soil in which it is planted is often just prelude to a more efficient and inescapable prison.

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. (Luke 11:23-26)

That’s a warning not only to pre-revolutionary Egypt, but to post-Christian America.

Father, hear our prayer for our reader’s brother, that you will shelter him and his family (and the Church in Egypt) in the hollow of your hand and protect them and all innocent people from the evil the devil wishes to do in this upheaval. Grant that, at long last, the Muslim world would begin to turn away from despotism and violence and seek to break the endless cycle through the power of the Holy Spirit who enlightens all people of good will. Our Lady of Zeitoun, pray for the people of Egypt and through the Islamosphere. We ask this through Christ our Lord.