Morsi’s concessions fail to blunt civil strife

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi on Saturday rescinded the decree granting himself powers beyond those held by deposed President Hosni Mubarak. Morsi's decree, announced Nov. 22, sparked widespread protests, which his retraction this weekend has not stemmed. Now civil strife in Egypt is centered on the Islamist-leaning draft constitution and Morsi's determination to hold a referendum on the document on Dec. 15.

Egypt's opposition coalition have called for more protests, following tense altercations last week when Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed violently with opposition protesters at the heavily guarded gates of presidential palace in Cairo. In a move disturbingly reminiscent of Mubarak's authoritarian leadership, the government Sunday granted the army the right to arrest citizens to safeguard the disputed referendum.

Some ambiguity remains over whether opposition groups will rally behind a boycott of the referendum or a push for "no" votes. Scholars and commentators point out too that it may not be the draft constitution itself at the heart of Egypt's current crisis, but rather the process through which the referendum has been foisted on the people.

Quote of the day: Sotomayor explains the stakes

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 22:40:00 +0000

The United States Supreme Court heard arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas today, the court's first major affirmative action case about admission to public universities since 2003. The case was brought on by Abigail Fisher, a woman who was denied admission to The University of Texas at Austin in 2008, claiming that she was discriminated against on the basis of race.

Fisher's case will force the Supreme Court to re-examine policies set forth in 2003--which allow for race to play a limited role in admission at public universities. If overturned, the case could end affirmative action admission policies at public universities.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor summed up the issue at the heart of the case: “At what point — when — do we stop deferring to the university’s judgment that race is still necessary?” she asked. “That’s the bottom line of this case.”

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Morsi’s concessions fail to blunt civil strife

Quote of the day: Sotomayor explains the stakes