The Rise of Democracy

Tunisia, Egypt and even Yemen have seen an amazing moment in the rise of Democracy. The people have taken to the streets and the government has shuttered, as they do when they send out the troops. Violence is the sign of any government's weakness. (consider Grover Cleavland's calling the fed troops amidst the pullman strikes against Eugene Debs and his men)

Yes, these governments have shown weakness, at least Egypt, anyway. But what's this tell us about Democracy? A democracy is just that demos (people) and kratos (rule). The rule and power must come from the people and no one revolution can never be sparked by any other catalyst but the people. Yes, it must come from within. Don't believe me? Consider Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Why do Mullah Omar and his fundamentalists still run southern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan? Simple, the people make him a legitimate ruler, a charismatic and traditional legitimacy. Consider the Karzai administration in Kabul, here his government is legitimate because of legal legitimacy, one that follows the rules and regulations of paper. This is the theory behind American democracy.

See, and that's the reason why the Karzai administration might be so short-lived. In order to be fully legitimate, a government must have some sort of support, some sort of legitimacy, if you will, from the civil body, everything and anything outside the body that is government. Consider the United States, it votes for its officials and thus it supports them. Some people rally for them and against them. Moreover, many of the citizens are not against the government's basic institutions because they agree with the constitution it was founded upon.

Call this the dual nature of legitimacy for a proper Democracy, a crucial measure in order to create a fully Democratic government. And, believe it or not, there is only one way to achieve this. A revolution held by the people for the people. Yes, with no outside force, though influence is not such a bad thing. Good democratic philosophy comes from another place. The enlightenment from Europe influenced American democracy, which influenced British, and for that matter, European democracy. And this whole idea of Western democracy must carry itself to other places. Consider India, the largest democarcy and possibly the most stable democracy east of Poland. It is no coincidence.

We can fight the Taliban in middle of the Afghan desert, but as long as we don't attack the mentality and philosophies that fuel it, we'll just be like Dushasana trying to strip Draupathi of her sari. And, unfortunately, to these people, brainwashed by these fundamentalists, the Taliban is Krishna, supplying them of endless sari. Its not a matter of fighting the Taliban or al-Qaeda. Or any sort of totalitarian regime. We must crush these dogmas just as we did to Communism. Dilute the bullshit.

The United States, in all her glory and money, should support less radical and more Islamic (as in peaceful) Muslim scholars and leaders, who will persuade their fellow Muslims on the rights and wrongs of living Islam. There is no such thing as a bad student, just a bad teacher. We can't afford to kill any more innocent civilians.

Violence is nothing but a temporary band-aid, and this is no stupid cliche. Its true. We must try to expand the borders of Democracy, not of our country. This must be done through good diplomacy and proper statesmanship. In the words of John Winthrop, after all, we are "the city on the hill."

MEN AND WOMEN, FIGHTERS FOR DEMOCRACY, ENTERTAIN NOT VIOLENT TEMPTATIONS.

Violence makes the oppressors victims and victims oppressors. The basics of Gandhi's and MLK's philosophy. Fight the urge, use passive agression and victory will be yours, ours, the World's. Show them the other cheek!