Christians, Muslims, the Middle East

Like you, I have been watching the unfolding situations in Egypt and Syria with heartbreak. I have several friends who live in the region and keep me informed, confidentially, from their on-the-ground vantage point.
In Egypt, many in the Christian community were disturbed that the Morsi administration was drifting to the right in its first year in power, putting Muslim Brotherhood partners in positions of power because of their religious affiliation, not because of their competence in actual governance. As a result, many Christians sided with the demonstrators and were happy to see Morsi ousted, although they had no idea that the protests would result in a military coup with a return to Mubarak-era repression.
The fact that many Christians had protested Morsi, of course, made them targets of revenge by the Muslim Brotherhood, not to mention more extreme groups to their right. Now, like many Egyptians, many Christians feel their democratic hopes have been dashed, or at least betrayed, by both Islamists and militarists. The following articles try to convey the complex realities for Christians and Muslims living side by side in these conflicted times …
This, on the situation for Christians in the Middle East, where persecution of Christians is on the rise:
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/25/215494243/for-arab-worlds-christians-an-uncertain-fate
This, on Egypt:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/08/201382512315443971.html
This also on Egypt:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/08/in-egypt-echoes-of-latin-america.html
And in the midst of the chaos and violence, this note of hope:
http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2013/08/19/wonderful-examples-of-inter-faith-solidarity/