Muslim Brotherhood.. not so bad after all?

Just writing the name of this afamed organization sends chills down many an American's spine.  A recent article in Christianity Today has some different insights to consider.  I happen to agree, from my own experience in other Muslim countries.  Radicalization happens under persecution and when free speech and participation is limited.  The Brotherhood in many countries has changed into a political organization, which has conservative views, but aren't all that bad, as they're often branded.

In the new Egypt, and now it seems many other countries in the Middle East, democracy and freedom of speech needs to be extended not just to Christian communities, long restricted and persecuted, but also evenly and fairly to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, even though we may not agree with them on every plank. What a statement it would be if Evangelicals publically affirmed this?

From CT: "As the next Egyptian regime takes hold, the Muslim Brotherhood should be held accountable to its promises to provide religious liberty to all Egyptian citizens. Yet it would also make quite an impact—and make a statement about true Christlikeness—if American Christians refrained from knee-jerk criticism of the party.(emphasis mine)"

"Tolerance, as many evangelical leaders now stress, does not mean endorsing the views of others, but rather protecting their free expression. A new regime without the Brotherhood would be incomplete, and potentially futile to attempt. The church has a golden opportunity—if it so chooses—to reach across the cultural and religious divide to show support for a party that has tried, admittedly imperfectly, to embrace democracy while maintaining their faith."