Egypt:: something constructive, please

Recent social unrest in Egypt, resulting in some incidents of looting, have sparked a panic stricken reaction in Western media suggesting that a huge outbreak of looting is imminent.

In reality it appears that the Egyptian people actually have the situation well in hand. The appearance of legions of volunteers eager to defend their national heritage is encouraging.

There will no doubt, as in any widespread outbreak of civil disorder, be some instances of looting perpetrated by criminals. But there is no reason to think that this is what Egyptians want, or that such offences will be uncontrollable.

To this observer it seems that a really objective response to the events in Egypt must include hearty congratulations to the Egyptian people for their willingness to risk their lives to defend their national heritage.