by Tumbling Snake » Fri Jun 11, 2004 7:26 pm
I know who said it, and I'd like to serve him a plate of freedom fries, with extra grease. In fact, his own country looks like more and more Arab everyday, so I guess he's an expert.
A democracy is a government by the people, rule of the majority. The power is held ultimately by the people, and exercised by them thru elected representatives. If your an Arab, and you have been elected by other Arabs, then I guess you could call it an Arab democracy.
I don't agree that it is a culture, not purely anyway. I don't take a vote on decisions made in my home, I'm the dictator and my kids know it. We don't vote on who gets that parking space or the last copy of Ghost Recon at Blockbuster. In fact most of us don't vote even when were supposed to, so their you go. Democracy is tolerated, it's the one system where most people can get along and live a decent life without killing each other, and when the Arabs realize that they have to live together somewhat peaceably or continue living and dying by the whims of maniacs then they'll tolerate an imperfect democracy. Democracy is not a culture, it's an arrangement.
JC may have meant to say, "an Arab social democracy" or communism, which he is much more familiar with.