Can the Iraqis understand what democracy is ?

Isn't it amazing how a thread about democracy finishes up a slogging match about religion ?

Isn't it also amazing how the two most talked about subjects on the internet are Religion and Racism ?

Anyway.....

Back to the subject....

OK... I will admit that if a country has been ruled by a religious group for hundreds of years, ( a theocracy ), it will be very difficult to try to get that religion...especially Islam...to step aside in favour of Democracy. The other two I mentioned "a Kingdom or a Dictatorship" are such that the one person that has the ultimate power would not like to give up that power in favour of Democracy.

In all three of these cases it is not "the people" that are refusing to accept or understand democracy it is the power-base at the time that will not allow it in.

I think that all people can be educated to understand what democracy is if given the chance !

NOW....That point about the Western world not REALLY having democracy....

I think that we take for granted the democracy that we do have as we are too lazy to apply it as it is meant to be applied.

If you just stop for a minute and look at the mile-long queues that some African peoples - in fledgling democracies - make in the torturing heat for maybe two days and nights just so that they can lay their little crosses...then you may not take the easy democracy that we have in our countries for granted ever again.

Originally posted by Papaumau
Isn't it amazing how a thread about democracy finishes up a slogging match about religion ?

Give it a few more pages and this topic will transform into another Bush is an idiot thread. 😉

have to agree with those two above ^^

Originally posted by WindDancer
Give it a few more pages and this topic will transform into another Bush is an idiot thread. 😉

Not going to argue with THAT idea I must admit ! 😆

and then it becomes a thread involving an overtly amount of flirting

Originally posted by yerssot
and then it becomes a thread involving an overtly amount of flirting

What's wrong with a bit of flirting eh ?

Only yerssot is allowed to flirt around here....watch out! Don't step in his territory. 😉 😛

I think the basic principle in the arab nations refusal(as mentioned before) is that it DOES go against their religion. The basics of the Muslim religion is that they are not allowed to live in certain ways. Women aren't ALLOWED to be equal. It's wrong to abuse a woman, but maybe not wrong to beat her for a perceived injustice or wrong doing. It isn't that they don't want to be free, they just want to be religious. And as the Muslim religion doesn't really allow for that, they never really will be. But, like most ideals, there are two points of view. And two sides to the argument.

Conversely, it is wrong for us (as Americans) to believe that there is room(resources) for too many democracies on this planet. Democracies are a drain on the natural resources of this planet. When freedom is allowed to translate in to glut, then you become a top heavy society that sucks up more than it's fair share. But, that's when the "our way or no way" mentality becomes a factor. Australia is a democracy, but they aren't viewed as gluttonous pigs that suck up everything they *want*. America has gotten to the point of supreme arrogance in the world. If we *want* something, we will get it. And, if the rest of the world has a problem with that...then we'll blow them up. Look at Hiroshima. It was wrong to use such a weapon...but it was also the only way. I think that one instance was when we realized that we could have what we wanted without worrying about the consequences...and in the process, we've pissed a lot of countries off.

When you get right down to it, democracy isn't really a proven form of government in the modern world. Sure it works for right now...but too many opinions usually result in a quagmire of stale ideas. We've only been here for a couple of hundred years. A drop in the bucket when it comes to history. (I understand that America didn't "invent" democracy) I also understand that for any civilization to work, there needs to be an absolute ruler that is answerable to the people. The president in this democracy(in reference to the office, not an individual) is neutered by a congress that is answerable to the people. This allows for things like lobbyists and special interest groups BUYING laws. There is no interest in the common good. Only in the dollar.

And the whole two party system only serves to divide a country and add to the stagnate nature of the modern political system in this country today. Like Hitler said, "The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it"

So,do away with the politicians and evolve with society in mind, rather than who has the biggest bank account.

Originally posted by Papaumau
What's wrong with a bit of flirting eh ?

Originally posted by JRatT12
I agree with you people it would be way better if we all lived under a dictator where only one religion is allow and if you dont "fit that build" you get kill.. or better yet a communist country Yahhhh yes Communism a classless society what a great Paradise that would be Living on a collective farm wondering if your going to be the next to die from some third world disease...oww and the secret police now theres something to wish for...
but back to the topic i dont think its so much the Democratic government system they will have a hard time excepting its religion and womens rights they will have a hard time with...Like most of the hate filled people of that world (and way to much of the rest) i cant see them ever excepting Jews

Bravo exactly what i was going to say 😕 thats scary 😄