Tyranny of the Majority and the Middle East

Definition:  "Tyranny of the Majority" is a situation where - through a Democratic process, the majority create laws and/or a Constitution violating the rights of the minorities - often a disliked ethnic, religious, or racial group.   The laws/constitution are often so egregious that they are oppresive, and may even place the very lives of minorities in jeopardy.

The potential abuse by the majority against the rights of minorities, is why in the United States we have a constitution, a Bill of Rights, separation of powers (between the President, the House, the Senate, and the Judicial Branch) and the requirement for a supermajority (60 votes out of 100) in most Senate votes.

Middle East:  "Tyranny of the Majority" is a common occurence in the Middle East.  Muslim countries typically elect "democratic" non-secular Muslim leaders who then institute laws/a constitution favorable only to the majority (Muslims). Typically, the citizens get one democratic vote, and then there is a religious dictatorship thereafter.  The rights, and sometimes even the very lives, of minoritites become largely irrelevant.  The governments of Iran, and now Egypt, apply.

The non-secular governments are proponents of Sharia Law, turning women into second class (or worse) citizens, the destruction of Israel, and the spreading (and not necessarily peacefully) of Islam wordlwide.   NOTE:  A Middle East comprised of Muslim countries exercising a "tyranny of the majority" modus operandi, trampling over the rights, and sometimes the very lives, of minorities is a nightmare scenario of persecution and never-ending misery.

Relationship to the United States:  Arab spring?  It's more like an Arab winter.   Obama would like us to believe that the overthrow of dictators - such as Mubarek in Egypt, and then democratic elections, is one of the most positive things that could happen in the Muslim world. That these newly elected democratic governments will be sympatico with the United States. Actually, just the opposite is likely - the new governments are likely to end up as religious dictatorships - a non-secular Islamist government that is by it's very nature inimical to the United States (and to all non-Muslims).

Recommendation: 

1.  We need to be ever vigiliant to opportunities to work with truly democratic forces within Muslim countries in an attempt to guide and support these individuals so that a true democracy, rather than another form of dictatorship, results. Nonsecular governments are not only inimical/hostile to the United States, but through their intolerance, are typically pernicious to a significant portion of their own citizens. Backing the overthrow of friendly dictators (like Mubarek), without having democratic forces identified/supported by this country in place that have a real chance of success in forming a new democratic government, is a recipe for disaster.

2.  Push newly "democratic" Middle Eastern countries to create iron-clad Constitutions that protect the rights of minorities