We call our political system a democracy then subvert our citizens with fear just like every other authoritarian regime ever to hold power throughout the history of this ancient globe. Democracy is a state of mind, and a state of mind is a personal matter, not a political system.
Consider Orhan Pamuk of Turkey. Pamuk lives in what America considers a repressive political system. He will soon be tried for “belittling Turkish identity” while Germany has just awarded him its highest literary honor. Which is it? Is he guilty of slander or a world-class writer? As usual, it depends upon your point of view. Yes, he admits to telling a Swiss newspaper “one million Armenians and Turks were killed in these lands and nobody but me dares talk about it.” Yes, he has written a political novel (note fiction, novel), his seventh, about the conflict Muslims experience regarding group and individual identity, something I imagine Germans relate to on many levels.
Or consider German, Albert Uderzo, who’s satirical science fiction comics of Bush have won him world wide fame, except maybe in Germany where reception is mediocre. What is that Isaiah said, one who is despised shall rule? Does he refer to the little man triumphing over power mongers or the fact that frustrated children (e.g. Hitler and GW Bush) can actually win enough power to control others? In context, Isaiah refers to the previous; in practice, it seems the later often becomes the case.
Today, Saddam Hussein is on trial for the 1982 (yes, over twenty years ago) massacre of Shiite nationals. American reporters have already condemned him simply by labeling it “The 1982 Massacre”, yet they wonder whether he can get a “fair” trial from the now predominantly Kurd-Shiite ruling class in Iraq. Wasn’t the point of this entire Iraq invasion to bring Hussein down? This is American retribution; fairness was never a considered factor.
Conscientious Nigerians, like Diran Odeyemi, must leave their country in order to free their minds for democratic thought, though this does not free them from the embarrassment Nigerian leaders continue to attribute. Like the proverbial Jewish and Catholic mother, Diran’s democratic mind seems to absorb the guilt of his community.
But it isn’t enough to care about democracy or even to understand it when others do not, we must find a way to influence the mind-set of authoritarian, power mongering, genocidal, usurpers. Writing about democracy spreads the knowledge to those willing to learn; it does not touch those who’s minds are already turned aside. Blogging is only affective when a receptive individual reads the message. Newspapers are only affective when receptive communities read the message. Action is the key to change. We need dedicated democratic politicians, willing to fight in slimy, undemocratic conditions because of their principles. Where are you?
We call our political system a democracy then subvert our citizens with fear just like every other authoritarian regime ever to hold power throughout the history of this ancient globe. Democracy is a state of mind, and a state of mind is a personal matter, not a political system.
Consider Orhan Pamuk of Turkey. Pamuk lives in what America considers a repressive political system. He will soon be tried for “belittling Turkish identity” while Germany has just awarded him its highest literary honor. Which is it? Is he guilty of slander or a world-class writer? As usual, it depends upon your point of view. Yes, he admits to telling a Swiss newspaper “one million Armenians and Turks were killed in these lands and nobody but me dares talk about it.” Yes, he has written a political novel (note fiction, novel), his seventh, about the conflict Muslims experience regarding group and individual identity, something I imagine Germans relate to on many levels.
Or consider German, Albert Uderzo, who’s satirical science fiction comics of Bush have won him world wide fame, except maybe in Germany where reception is mediocre. What is that Isaiah said, one who is despised shall rule? Does he refer to the little man triumphing over power mongers or the fact that frustrated children (e.g. Hitler and GW Bush) can actually win enough power to control others? In context, Isaiah refers to the previous; in practice, it seems the later often becomes the case.
Today, Saddam Hussein is on trial for the 1982 (yes, over twenty years ago) massacre of Shiite nationals. American reporters have already condemned him simply by labeling it “The 1982 Massacre”, yet they wonder whether he can get a “fair” trial from the now predominantly Kurd-Shiite ruling class in Iraq. Wasn’t the point of this entire Iraq invasion to bring Hussein down? This is American retribution; fairness was never a considered factor.
Conscientious Nigerians, like Diran Odeyemi, must leave their country in order to free their minds for democratic thought, though this does not free them from the embarrassment Nigerian leaders continue to attribute. Like the proverbial Jewish and Catholic mother, Diran’s democratic mind seems to absorb the guilt of his community.
But it isn’t enough to care about democracy or even to understand it when others do not, we must find a way to influence the mind-set of authoritarian, power mongering, genocidal, usurpers. Writing about democracy spreads the knowledge to those willing to learn; it does not touch those who’s minds are already turned aside. Blogging is only affective when a receptive individual reads the message. Newspapers are only affective when receptive communities read the message. Action is the key to change. We need dedicated democratic politicians, willing to fight in slimy, undemocratic conditions because of their principles. Where are you?