"either we live together, or we die together"

[garland]

<p>This happened a couple days ago, but I just heard about it today. It’s pretty terrific.</p>

<p>

“I know it might not be safe, yet it’s either we live together, or we die together, we are all Egyptians.”
Such are the words one expects of great leaders on the battlefield, of politicians preparing a nation for war, of civic leaders rallying people for an inspiring cause.</p>

<p>But these are the words of Cherine Mohamed, a 50-year-old Egyptian housewife.</p>

<p>These words became a slogan of sorts for many brave Egyptian Muslims who chose yesterday to risk their lives in the wake of the New Year’s violence and attend Christmas Masses with their Coptic Christian brethren, serving as human shields against further potential acts of extremist violence on the Christian holy day.
A movement led by Muslim leaders and journalists, the civilian response has the heartening undertones of a civil rights struggle that transcends religious differences. It is furthermore a demonstration that because government officials in Egypt and other Muslim-majority countries have often failed to defend religious freedom, the people are taking matters into their own hands.

</p>

<p>[Guest</a> Voices: Egyptian Muslims act as “human shields” for Coptic Christmas mass - On Faith at washingtonpost.com](<a href=“http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2011/01/egyptian_muslims_act_as_human_shields_for_coptic_christmas_mass.html]Guest”>http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2011/01/egyptian_muslims_act_as_human_shields_for_coptic_christmas_mass.html)</p>

<p>I actually teared up reading this. After the awfulness of yesterday, it’s good to be reminded how wonderful human beings can be to each other.</p>

[poetgrl]

<p>Thanks for posting that.</p>

<p>I wish this was the headline today, or at least right below the fold, in every paper this morning.</p>

[toblin]

<p>All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.</p>

<ul>
<li>Edmund Burke</li>
</ul>