Democracy is Alive and Well if You Believe.
Democracy does not start as a clean slate but rather rises from the ashes of a failed state of being.
No conflict would mean no resistance and no dream.
Go ahead and hate conflict. But know that it is evidence that part of the world wants democracy. Oh sure be a skeptic. Blame conflict on religion or oil. But look deeper. Terrorism is a direct result of one side wanting to take away choice from the other side. Democracy is not just about being able to elect officials. There is much more at the core of it.
Oh lest you mistake my meaning be sure that I speak of a dream and not a thing that yet exists. Democracy is not a thing that is obtained. It is a dream yet realized. It is a constant yearning and struggle.It is a giant experiment of man. It is reaching for the stars that are forever out of reach. But we must believe that it is obtainable.
We must live each day as though we are a part of democracy in order for democracy to work. Democracy is most notably not by the election of people by the majority but rather the participation in society by the majority. Democracy happens, democracy cannot be enforced. Democracy is not given it is earned. Democracy requires the inclusion of the outcast and most deprived members of a society. Democracy requires open borders, not necessarily for people but for ideas.
Be ready for it is coming, even to the U.S.A.
Are you ready?
Do you participate in your society?
Esperanza
And they come! They do not come for what is here or there. They do not come for a truth that exists they come for the dream and what it means. A freedom to be a part of. A freedom to have a voice and to stand for what you choose. A freedom to have a place to call your own and ideals and ideas to hold as your own.
There is no place yet fully safe for democracy. Democracy is neither born nor sustained by a peaceful coexistence between the governors and the governed. It is created and nourished by the conflict and eternal battle between the haves and the have nots. We are imbued, each and every one of us with the power to contribute and this must be exercised or it falls into apathy and atrophy.
Take the simple act of giving to the poor. Some would say that that is just an act of kindness. Well they would be wrong. Choosing to give one's money away as one sees fit is a huge act of democracy. Some would say that it is not as great of an act of democracy as when one chooses to vote. Well they would also be wrong. Exercising free will is the greatest move toward democracy and the foundation for sustaining what democracy we have obtained.
Truly I tell you that when you just now chose to read this article on democracy you have done wonders for democracy. No, not because the article is filled with democracy and not because the title has democracy in it, but rather by the simple act of choosing. You own your choices and in so doing you become a voice for democracy.
Democracy also comes through sacrifice.
There are no better buildings than those which have their sole purpose in serving the people.
What democracy is not.
Democracy is not the taking of rights from the minority. This fundamental requirement is the building block that all democracy is built upon. From denial of voting rights to slavery and involuntary servitude. From involuntary military service to suppression of free speech. We have fought and fought hard for the rights of the oppressed and that battle must continue, ever seeking a peaceful acceptance of alternative and diversified beliefs. The battle between the status quo or even reactionary views and progressive extensions of guarantees of new rights must continue. Both sides must fight to be heard and all arguments must be thrashed out in the open marketplace of ideas. There must be equal playing fields held sacrosanct in these struggles.
Democracy is not made of complacency. Democracy will never be sustained and developed by those who would espouse that we all just accept each other's views. While at times it seems the simplest course to just live and let live, that is a decay of the moral fiber that must flourish in each persons heart for democracy to flourish in society. The competition for the hearts and minds of our neighbors is the epitome of what is necessary for democracy to gain a foothold and then hold on to it.
It is as though we must hold on tightly to our own ideas in order that other's own ideas may be sharpened and honed to a presentable concept. Conflict sharpens the very tools we must have in order to obtain a lasting and general growth of democracy.
Democracy thrives in mutual respect. Yet can be destroyed by acceptance of anything less than a full effort toward democracy.
Democracy requires a flexible yet consistent process.
For well over 200 years the United States of America has been striving for democracy. It truly has not reached the pinnacle of that goal yet. But the effort remains true to the core of the country as a whole. Democracy is coming we just must participate more and more to make it a closer reality. We must tolerate and celebrate the diversity of those who would engage in the process. We must encourage all to be a real part of this grand experiment and dream.
It is often said that one individual cannot make a difference. I tell you to tell that to an immigrant who has been given just one chance by one individual. I ask you to relate that to one single mother who has been given just that one hand up. Heck tell that to my high school civics teacher who taught me well, and I taught my children well and they serve others. You can make a difference and if you want democracy to flourish then make one.
One of the greatest testaments to our effort to reach real democracy lays at the fact that we have changed government leaders routinely for over two hundred years. And we have done it generally peaceably. And we have done that by voting. That has never occurred in the history of man. So perhaps this experiment is proving that at least a glimmer of democracy is obtainable.
Perhaps the birthplace of democracy at some time in the future.
As for the author
There is in reality a fine democracy in effect at this time. But that is just a democracy for today. It is a fervent hope that the democracy of today is finely and finally honed into a better democracy for tomorrow and then on that day, work will begin to make it a better democracy for the next day.
Any one can copy an idea, but not the exact words.
This article was written by Eric Dierker. I reserve all rights to this article and desire no duplication without attribution. On the other hand feel free to share the content just let folks know where it came from. Copying it and claiming it as your own would be stupid and subject you to my legal harassment of you. Besides if someone asked you what it meant you would not know so yes it is copyright protected as original work by me. Just leave a comment to ask to use it elsewhere and please share it.
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