Democracy Is A Lie?

[Hosnon]

I posted this on a conservative message board. Thought I'd post it here in the interest of being "Fair and Balanced", haha.

Hey everyone, I know you've missed me, haha. I've overcome the election depression and am ready to get back to discussing topics that need to be such. I figure that this is such a topic:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/m...main/index.html

"Democracy is also based on the right to choose your religion," he said, and that is "against the rule of God."

That comes from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, an enemy of the U.S. in Iraq. I was against this war but I'm definitely pragmatic about life and refuse to be an impediment when lives are at stake.

That said, this guy really pisses me off. He is against Democracy. I have to say that if Bush is as honest about spreading Democracy as he acts, he may be a guilty pleasure of mine.

In the role of a narrow minded liberal, I'd like to analyze this statement in the way Aristotle would have (I was a Philo major so such is life, right?).

Democracy is based on the right to choose your religion. I would, in my own belief, remove the qualification "religion" and, for basic purposes, keep with the idea that Democracy is based on the right to choose. Obviously there are further qualifications but it does not seem that the qualification is limited to religion as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi insinuates.

As far as the second half of his statement...against the rule of God...that is one issue I have with many people in this country. A statement as such assumes that one is right that there is not only a God but that he/she/it is involved in worldly matters. I believe in an "It" but see no evidence for believing any further. This man's ideology is the type that kills men and starts wars. Life is easy if you say that God commands a certain action. But this is a world of men and God is not proven and to act in his name, unconditionally, is asking for problems. Don't get me wrong, you can act in his name but to demand the same from others is still asserting that a belief you hold is true - which is far from proven.

Democracy is rule by men in a world of men. It may not be perfect but it is the best. Dogmatic religion in the governance of men leads to oppression and numerous problems. Al-Zarqawi will learn that lesson as the Iraqi people vote as humans - with God being a secondary question to be debated in a civil society.
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"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" - Aristotle

"The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as regulated by wisdom" - Aristotle

"Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults" - Antisthenes

[kentuck]

1. From an earlier post, I asked.....

what part does a police force or military play in a democracy?? Just as they wish for a "democracy" in Iraq, unless they crack down with a military or a trained police force, there will be no democracy. How different is democracy from totalitarian regimes in that sense - that they must have a strong military and / or police force?

[Hosnon]

2. Police

I would say that the physical side of a government (police, military, etc.) performs the function of reinforcing the status quo. Luckily, our police and military, on a personal level, want Democracy (Republicanism). There really is no difference between the police in a government, as ours, and that in Russia (thanks to Putin). The only difference is the aforementioned maintenance of the status quo. Efficacy is one of the most important parts of a government and the physical presence facilitates that.

[kentuck]

3. As when the Bonus Army marched on Washington...

after WWI ? And were driven out by the military, of which I think McArthur, Patton, and Eisenhower were all involved with?

[Hosnon]

4. Not quite sure as to what you are referring...help me out. eom

[ThorsHammer]

5. In theory, it should exist to protect people's rights

However, in practice this is easily abused and often goes the other way

[Hosnon]

6. Yea...in theory there is always the exception...often times even

in practice that exception exists. But, we are indoctrinated with Democracy and most people raised here are such and will defend it.