Democracy for All?
Here's a question to really think about: is democracy for everyone? I realize our president seems to think so, now that he's pulled our country into some glorious holy war to bring democracy and liberation to the people in Iraq and Afganistan. But even if it were true, is democracy the right mode of governement for these people?
Think about it. A free society only will thrive in a place where people are free to work how they want, worship how they want, and pursue the kind of life they want. It's crucial that all are equal. It's crucial that we don't have a government mandated religion. It's crucial to be able to vote unimpeded and have a voice in government. It's crucial we have laws based in absolutes, and that everyone is entitled to a fair and speedy trial if we break those laws. It's crucial we have freedom of ALL speech, no matter how unpleasant. It's crucial to question our government and each other. It's crucial we can access whatever artistic culture we want without censorship.
When a people are used to thugs and mystics running their countries, expecting a democracy to just spring up after their present mode of government is dismantled will lead (as it has) to chaos and death. It's not that some don't dream of democracy. But their values are fundamentally different. They are values that cannot foster any form of true democracy unless they decide to take on the values stated above. Tribal rule must die, and mystics need to step aside.
Fighting a real war against tyrants and despots may be noble, but in the end it is not in our best interest, unless they are threatening us imminently. Killing terrorists and bringing Bin Laden and his like to justice is one thing and we should do it, but forcing regime change on any country whose actual threat to us was dubious at best is a good way to waste our military's resources, create illwill with those who would otherwise be allies, and burden every American into an impossible debt for generations to come. And there's no end in site.
Freedom spread at the point of the gun is a lie. Freedom can't be forced. Only a people ready for freedom can claim it, like the first American settlers did. Bush was warned by those who understood this principle before he started his war in Iraq, but he chose to ignore it, and look at how it has cost us. With our attention preoccupied with Iraq, are we ready for Iran and North Korea, should their threats turn to violence against us?
Think about it. A free society only will thrive in a place where people are free to work how they want, worship how they want, and pursue the kind of life they want. It's crucial that all are equal. It's crucial that we don't have a government mandated religion. It's crucial to be able to vote unimpeded and have a voice in government. It's crucial we have laws based in absolutes, and that everyone is entitled to a fair and speedy trial if we break those laws. It's crucial we have freedom of ALL speech, no matter how unpleasant. It's crucial to question our government and each other. It's crucial we can access whatever artistic culture we want without censorship.
When a people are used to thugs and mystics running their countries, expecting a democracy to just spring up after their present mode of government is dismantled will lead (as it has) to chaos and death. It's not that some don't dream of democracy. But their values are fundamentally different. They are values that cannot foster any form of true democracy unless they decide to take on the values stated above. Tribal rule must die, and mystics need to step aside.
Fighting a real war against tyrants and despots may be noble, but in the end it is not in our best interest, unless they are threatening us imminently. Killing terrorists and bringing Bin Laden and his like to justice is one thing and we should do it, but forcing regime change on any country whose actual threat to us was dubious at best is a good way to waste our military's resources, create illwill with those who would otherwise be allies, and burden every American into an impossible debt for generations to come. And there's no end in site.
Freedom spread at the point of the gun is a lie. Freedom can't be forced. Only a people ready for freedom can claim it, like the first American settlers did. Bush was warned by those who understood this principle before he started his war in Iraq, but he chose to ignore it, and look at how it has cost us. With our attention preoccupied with Iraq, are we ready for Iran and North Korea, should their threats turn to violence against us?
posted by Bostonbootgirl at 7:14 AM
1 Comments:
The true sadness is your second paragraph. Beginning to sound just like home...
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