In the shadow of Egypt’s great pyramids, where pharaohs once ruled ancient civilizations with iron fists, the nearly three-decade rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is being challenged by mobs in violent protests.
To the west of Egypt, Tunisians recently ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has fled to exile in Saudi Arabia.
And southeast of Egypt, across the Red Sea, vast numbers of Yemenis inspired by the Tunisian revolution are demanding the ouster of Yemen’s U.S.-friendly President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled more than 30 years.
How fortunate we are in our United States that, while we have many differences among us, we usually express those differences through peaceful debate and democratic processes instead of disorder and disruption.