Quote from pspr:
Here are some interesting results from Pew and Zogby polls done in Egypt in 2010 showing what Egyptians think on several issues.
*Is it good that Islam plays a large role in politics?
95 percent said "yes"
*Is Islam's influence in politics positive or negative?
85 percent said "positive"
*How much of a role does Islam play in Egyptian politics now?
Only 48 percent said "large"
*Are suicide bombings justified?
Only 46 percent said "never"
*What do you think of Hamas?
49 percent were favorable.
*What do you think of al Qaeda?
20 percent were favorable
*Should men and women be segregated in the workplace?
54 percent said "yes"
*Should adulterers be stoned?
82 percent said "yes"
*Should apostates from Islam face the death penalty?
84 percent said "yes"
*Should thieves be flogged or have their hands cut off?
77 percent said "yes"
*Is democracy preferable to any other kind of government?
Only 59 percent said "yes"
*On the U.S.:
85% had an unfavorable attitude toward the U.S.
*On Barack Obama:
54% had a negative view of him
*On Israel:
90% named Israel as one of two nations that are the greatest threat to them
*On the role of clergy in government:
65% agreed with a statement that "clergy must play a greater role in our political system"
*On Iran:
79% say it would be positive if Iran acquired nuclear arms
*On Iraq:
75% said the Iraqi people were worse off due to the war
I think what we will see in Egypt will be far from what we (Americans) think democracy represents and may no longer be conducive to peace in the region.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-zogby/polls-egypt-obama_b_818192.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-egypt-islam-poll-idUSTRE7116ND20110202
Hi pspr,
Your argument was very valid and no one could argue against Pew and Zogby poll. I myself was bewildered by it to tell you the truth. I mean, we are not talking about a half assed website with a zionist agenda of hate promotion behind it, we are talking about a reputable entity behind that poll. I kept on asking my Egyptian friends about the result of such poll (Muslims and Christians), and the overwhelming response was no way on hell! They also wondered about the type of Egyptian governmental assistance behind it. One of them, who happened to be Christian, told me "how can that be when 15% of the population is made of Christians?"
As for the United States, Israel, Iraq, and Iran, you do not have to refer to Pew, it is correct, IF NOT HIGHER!
Anyway, below is an interview Bill Maher did with Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian activist and columnist who explains in lament terms why the high percentage.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mJYBryXeGek" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>