RE:Koran and Democracy

Submitted by WeAreAllDanes! (United States), Mar 4, 2006 at 17:53

"One of the Muslims in this forum, in referring to the recent Hamas election, said democracy means free elections in which "the minority of the citizens ...have to live by laws of the majority". What a blind spot, so typical...!"

Actually, that poster was right, in a way. An actual "democracy" is the blunt will of the majority over the minority and changes at the whim of that majority. The Founding Fathers of the United States were well aware of this - which is why we were intended to be a Constitutional Republic - that just so happens to use democratic forms in its operation. A pure democracy is untenable and ends in a dictator - just as in Athens.
The "One Man, One Vote, more Democracy" movement in the United States is misguided, at best.

"Democracy" in the ME just gets you Hamas and the like in power and minority voices strangled. It does have the benefit of making it clear just what the "majority" in these countries actually wants.... Republican government (not the party, the form) is what is required for the "freedom and peace in the ME" thing - unfortunately, not only is Islam incompatible with that, but the people have to want, understand, and tolerate the result of it - and tolerate the minority.

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