Sunday, February 13, 2011

Jefferson on Cairo

What Thomas Jefferson said about toppling the regime of a tyrant:

To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

 I'm glad the Egyptian revolution was so much less bloody than our own. It will be interesting to see who comes into power. The Egyptian people have shrugged off authoritarianism...will they establish a democracy in Cairo?
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Thanks, Chris. "Writers block" or not, I've enjoyed these latest posts.

    It will be interesting to see who comes to power, indeed. Especially considering our founders were Christian and these revolutionaries are Islamic, no? I certainly don't know enough, but will be learning and watching.

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