We believe that human beings aspire to freedom by their very nature, and that no single culture has a monopoly on democratic values. The tradition of democracy has been enriched by contributions from many cultures, and the development of democracy is open to people everywhere. World Movement for Democracy
I strongly believe in the universal value of democracy and the enormous benefits it can offer to all people all over the world. Democracy is the best form of government for all nations. Democracy, freedom and rights are not something typical of the West, something which should be reserved to the West. It’s wrong to say that other cultures are unfit for freedom, don’t want it, or don’t have a culture that is compatible with it. Although democracy undoubtedly requires certain conditions, these are often exaggerated by those in whose interest it is that democracy doesn’t flourish. And these conditions are often promoted by freedom and rights themselves (a modicum of freedom creates more freedom; some rights promote other rights). It is often even racist to claim that freedom and rights should not be promoted elsewhere in the world.
However, I am sensitive to culture and I don’t believe that democracy should take the same form everywhere. Democracy is often viewed as an export-product which some countries feel they have to impose on others. Other countries naturally see this as a return to the bad old days of colonialism. All nations have the desire for freedom and have to arrive at self-government principally through their own efforts and decisions. Ultimately, they will arrive at their own chosen form of democracy adapted to their specific circumstances. We can and should assist them, but democracy has to grow from within. It requires political participation from the majority of the citizens, and hence the citizens must feel connected to the idea of democracy and to the institutions necessary for realizing this idea.
Nevertheless, we often see that the phrase “own form of democracy” is often a euphemism for dictatorship, used by oppressive governments that feel the need to use the language of democracy but do not care for the substance. In some way, this is proof of the success of the idea of democracy, but too often this success is limited to words and ideas. In many cases, this “own form of democracy” also reduces democracy to something very shallow; sometimes elections are all that is left. I strongly believe in a heavy democracy rather than a “lite” one: democracy is much more than elections and majority rule.
We also believe that democracy is not easy to implement or to keep alive. Many countries lack some of the prerequisites for effective democratic government and have to be assisted in building these prerequisites. Hasty impositions of democracy or elections without the concomitant institutions and mentalities, can do more harm than good. Democracy is extremely important, and just “dropping it from a plane” in hostile circumstances can only discredit democracy in the eyes of the people.
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this means some much to me GO FREEDOM!!!!
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“I strongly believe in the universal value of democracy and the enormous benefits it can offer to all people all over the world.”
Do tell me, which benefits does democracy bring? You will be unable to tell me any. I can refute each and every point you make.
“Democracy is the best form of government for all nations”
Prove it. Can you? You cannot. It is not. Why, in my system of monarchy, do we have no crime? Why do we have no corruption? Your statement is simple bias, and nothing more. A blanket statement with no evidence.
“Democracy, freedom, and rights are not something typical of the West”
Again, prove it. Stop making blanket statements without evidence. I can prove, without any doubt, that democracy is not typical of the West. This is because each culture has their own values of things that are typical to them. Democracy, for example, is opposed and hated by my people.
“It’s wrong to say that other cultures are unfit for freedom, don’t want it, or don’t have a culture that is compatible with it.”
Come now! This is a fallacy. You said democracy before, not freedom. The two are not the same. A benevolent monarch can grant more freedoms than an ignorant majority in a democracy. And besides, you have yet to define freedom. Where do you draw the line? Killing is a freedom, but I doubt you support that. The fact is that there is NO definition of freedom that is universal. Each culture draws the line differently. To say that your version of freedom is superior to others is just jingoism.
And in regards to your last point. We don’t have a culture that is compatible with it. Why do you think we would? Our culture is strictly based in traditional monarchy. So, again, you’re wrong.
“Although democracy undoubtedly requires certain conditions, these are often exaggerated by those in whose interest it is that democracy doesn’t flourish.”
Weasel words. Exaggerated by who exactly?
“And these conditions are often promoted by freedom and rights themselves”
Um. How so? What freedoms? What rights? What ARE freedoms and rights? How do you define them?
“It is often even racist to claim that freedom and rights should not be promoted elsewhere in the world.”
Really? You’re using the race card? I’m a Native American and none of my people think your “freedoms” or “rights” are moral. In fact, we find them quite abhorrent. You’re no different than the religious people who try to force their beliefs onto us. We think the concept of an underworld (a ‘hell’) is just as evil as democracy. And both you and they think your values are universal. They are not.
“However, I am sensitive to culture and I don’t believe that democracy should take the same form everywhere.”
That’s not sensitive. Sensitive is when you admit that your values are not for everyone. Saying “I want everyone to be part of democracy, but it’s okay, not just MY version of democracy, you can have any version you like!” is offensive. How would you feel if I turned to you and said “I want everyone to be part of monarchy. But it’s okay, not just MY version of monarchy, you can have any version you like!”?
“All nations have the desire for freedom and have to arrive at self-government principally through their own efforts and decisions.”
Um. Do all nations have the desire for freedom? Prove it. And then define freedom. Because some of the things we view as freedoms are not viewed as freedoms by others. What about the freedom to own firearms? To smoke marijuana? To smoke tobacco? To drink liquor? Some cultures restrict all or some of these and still call themselves free. The USA thinks banning marijuana but legalizing firearms and tobacco is freedom. My culture legalizes firearms and marijuana, but restricts tobacco. Are we more or less free? Which one of these freedoms is more valuable? Freedom is not a catch all term.
“Ultimately, they will arrive at their own chosen form of democracy adapted to their specific circumstances.”
Um. No. Over 5,000 years and we still have not accepted your democracy. In fact, we still reject it. And that, I can safely say, is never going to change.
“[…] In some way, this is proof of the success of the idea of democracy”
Sure. In the same way that countries which force you to vote (Australia) or say that if you use your democratic rights to oppose democracy you lose them (Germany) is proof that dictatorship works. Right?
“We also believe that democracy is not easy to implement or to keep alive.”
Strange. My system is very easy to keep alive, because our people love it. I’d say this is an argument against democracy, not for it. If it’s hard to keep alive it must be doing something wrong.
“Democracy is extremely important”
-Sigh- Prove it. Otherwise, this is all complete and utter bias.