How have the Copts in Egypt continued to thrive?

Question

Not a stab at the Muslim community. Just curious how the Coptic Orthodox community has continued to thrive and remain recognized, etc. despite:
being limited to the private realm (not really involved in political life, etc.),
a decreasing population which was small to begin with,
violence and tensions from muslim extremists,
low resources (in the way that Christians tend to be running out of resources on a world-wide level and Muslim tend to have a greater control over those resources)??

Is it because they are more well-off financially? I don't see any other countries coming to their aid to any great extent...

Also, is it wrong to define them as part of a millet system? i.e. Legally protected minority rights?

What's the impact of their native-"ness"... the idea that they were there before the "arab" movement came from Saudi?

Any takers?

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What are the origins of these Egyptian tensions?
Ethnic identity, religious identity, historical identity? Socio-economics?

Answer 1

Try this place...

http://foru.ms/f449-the-voice-in-the-desert-oriental-orthodox.html

Answer 2

God had commanded Prophet Mohammad to liberate the people under tyrant kings and give the message of Islam to masses. Muslims are prohibited to force any one to convert as Muslims. Christian church leaders in Egypt and Palestine and Syria, and all other Christians communities had the prophesies of Jesus Christ for the arrival of Mohammad and later Muslims after 500 years and they were to accept their rule with out fighting to Muslims. When Muslims went to Egypt the Patriarch send several gifts to Prophet Mohammad and a woman named Maria for the service of Prophet. The Patriarch of both Egypt and Palestine did not fight and handed over the governments to Muslims to rule and preach Islam. The Islamic Judicial decided their matters based on the Laws of God in Torah. Muslim established their rule and dealt all Christians with Justice. Preaching of Islam and good treatment of minority Christians made a good impression on Christians and great number of them converted as Muslims voluntarily in Egypt and Palestine and Syria. Christians were not required to join with Muslims and fight wars aginst Pagan Romans, Byzantinians and Iranian empires. They had to pay a tax for their protection under Islamic Law. They were not required to pay Zakat (poor tax) to Islamic Government. They were allowed to handle their own charity which ever they chose to distribute amongs poor Christians.
Christians and Jews thrived both in Egypt and Jerusalem and Syria without any intervention of Muslims in their religous and business activities. Islamic laws protected minorities and give them full protection from invasions of foreign powers. They never had any problems from Muslims. If any Christian today says that he is persecuted in any Muslim country he is lying to get the immigration visa of USA where they will be better off economically.