Not What They Wanted to Hear

The Friday response (at the Presidential Palace) to President Morsi's Thursday night speech
-- this picture (seen on Al Jazeera, Reuters, and others)
was taken early, long before the rest showed up!
Large gatherings also took place in Tahrir, and in cities throughout Egypt.

Thursday evening's national address by President Morsi was not what the opposition wanted to hear.

In fact, it may have been just the opposite.

Here's a CNN arabic-politics "expert" talking about what he calls the "schizophrenic" speech:



In the analysis above, the commentator points out that the President went from weak possible concessions, and into sharp confrontation (there is interesting discussion of the Sharia-issues in the Constitution draft as well).

But back to the speech--some note that there were more similarities to dictator-like Mubarak that were even more disconcerting.  Arab-American journalist Sarah Wali points out visual and verbal similarities between Mubarak and Morsi that would subconsciously set off alarm bells in the minds of the Egyptian people -- she says, "Images stick with people.  While they may not know how or why something looks familiar, their subconscious will trigger a very negative feeling.  By only changing the backdrop from blue (tranquility and peace) to red (anger and authority), President Morsi seems to be showing more force than his predecessor."

(Though our translation was choppy as we listened through a CNN live-stream, we thought it was just a poor translator--Sarah Wali also points out that Morsi just seemed to be making up language as he went through his speech that left her and several other Egyptian-Arabic speakers scratching their heads.)

Beyond the visuals, the tone of voice, the licking his fingers, and the strange words, the content of Morsi's speech was not well-received.  He used language about "protecting legitimacy" and "holding the violent protestors" accountable, calling such people "terrorists" while promising to find the financiers of such activity--yet he framed all of these statements against the opposition and did not mention his own supporters as having any responsibility in the days of violent clashes.

He said he was willing to talk--but announced the date of such talks as today, the afternoon of the day of international voting on the Constitution referendum (implying that even any legitimate argument would not receive consideration before the voting would begin)--this international voting was delayed until December 12 as hundreds of Egyptian diplomats refused to oversee the voting.  Morsi said he was willing to concede part of his Constitutional declaration that gave him sweeping powers and ignited outrage throughout the country, but he would not talk about the real issues of power that he still defends.

As this Al Jazeera clip reports, most opposition leaders have formally rejected the calls to dialogue:



Why have the opposition declined on the Presidency's willingness to "dialogue"?  First, several of Morsi's own advisors resigned, stating that they were not consulted on his Constitutional declaration, the quick draft of the proposed Constitution or its content, or in the response to protestors -- if Morsi is not willing to talk among his own staff, how can the opposition feel like they'll be taken seriously?  Further, opposition leaders Sabahi, El-Baradei, and Mousa and others are being investigated by Morsi's new Prosecutor General on grounds of espionage and the intent of overthrowing the government--the government may think you are criminals but they're inviting you to come in talk?

Now What?
Demonstrations continue.  Last night, outside the Presidential Palace and in Tahrir Square, thousands continued to gather or joined in the existing gatherings.  Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups continue to gather as well.  There are moments of tension between the two groups, and it was tense last night as the military allowed the Palace area protestors move inside the barricades and around the Palace--but not to enter.  Tweets from demonstrators at the Palace were sure MB would mobilize and attempt to beat them away again.  Fortunately the military is becoming vocal in the conflict between the two groups and seeking to prevent any further violence.

There is a glimmer of a possibility of delaying the referendum on the proposed Constitution; however, how will President Morsi feel about this possibility if his call for dialogue is universally snubbed, as it appears it will be?

As much as the opposition would like to see a delay in the referendum, I think we're just slowly going to wade through the next tense week until the 15th, the appointed date of the public referendum on the proposed Constitution.  As we have previously stated, the referendum is becoming vote not on the document, but about the leadership of Morsi--which is basically a vote on the direction of this country.  If the opposition intends to defeat the referendum and have a chance to call for a different direction, they will need to mobilize the masses to vote in one week's time because the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups will be very organized and intent of keeping their previously, and narrowly, won majority.

Demonstrations are taking place today; Twitter is much quieter in the past 12 hours than it had been in the previous 36.  We will continue to forward interesting pictures and Tweets that we follow from young Egyptians throughout the country.

And, we will continue to watch and pray that the Lord's peace overshadow and yet reveal Truth in the midst of great difficulty.