I appreciate your attempts to challenge the assumption that Islamic rule is a dangerous threat. Moreover, you do draw attention to the colonial paternalism that still plagues the relationship between the so-called West and the “rest.”

However, I believe that your allusion to the fact that “the Muslim Brotherhood represents only a segment of Egyptian society” plays right into the argument that you are writing against. Simply by making this claim and pointing to testimonies of it, you are suggesting that Islamic fanaticism would be a “threat” if more Egyptians were part of the Brotherhood.

In addition, I always find it very problematic to refer to the “Arab street,” and, in your case, the “Arab streets.” This characterization generalizes and homogenizes the diversity and complexities of Arabs and Muslims across the globe. Moreover, it ignores those who identify themselves as Kurds, Berber, Druze, Persian-speaking, etc. How often have you heard “the American street” or the “French street”?

Most significantly, in my opinion, your article (as well as the “Arab street”) ignores the Shi’a minorities and majorities in the Arab world, including Egypt. The coverage of Egypt has focused mainly on sectarian relations between Sunni Muslims and Copts; however, this, once again, ignores the minority Shi’a population that has been systematically oppressed. Most do not know that Shi’a are often NOT allowed to build mosques.

Whereas Mubarak has been removed, I think that the Shi’a will face greater opposition, less international recognition and support, and will be treated with complete indifference. The case of Bahrain presents a strong support to my argument. Any discussion of Bahrain brings in the threat it poses to American interests, esp. military, and the fear that Bahrain will become an Iranian ally. A Shi’a success in Bahrain also presents a dilemma to other tyrants in the Persian Gulf–give the Shi’a more rights, stop the systematic discrimination of them, or else…

I will also note that the recent massacre carried out by the Bahraini regime will only continue to fuel the resistance. Any further atrocities will likewise only strengthen the movement. After all, Shi’ism is a religion that recognizes, commemorates, and unites around its martyrs.

Lastly, I think that you should recognize that anti-Semitism DOES EXIST–even in the Arab world. Just as you claim there exists a repulsive and dangerous Islamophobia, anti-Semitism is equally as repulsive and dangerous. Though there are different formulations and manifestations of each, there are also many similarities. Like those who claim that anti-Semitism has been eradicated in the United States, you are also neglecting the obvious appearances of such religiously and ethnically inscribed forms of discrimination and hatred.