Radicalizing Democracy

I am disturbed daily by the shear arrogance and stupidity of all sides of the Israeli and Hezbollah conflict, as well as those involved in the Iraqi situation. One definition of insanity is to continue a cycle of retribution that has no resolution other than the annihilation of one or both sides. Standing on the outside watching only what the news media reports is often frustrating and I believe that the people of the United States and the world are frustrated. But the people are not being heard. Israeli’s are overwhelmingly against any further military action. The majority of the American people do not want the Iraqi war to continue and yet the arrogance of those that govern, who are supposed to represent the people, instead of bending to the publics will, try to bend the will of the public. The Bush administration makes a big point about fighting the enemies of Democracy and spreading Democracy around the world, but, I believe, they are only interested in their brand of Democracy. When the people go to vote and choose a person or party that our democracy doesn't like all of a sudden, that kind of democracy is no longer valid.

I believe that the aggressive actions taken by the United States and Israel will have a democratic backlash. It will lead people of such countries as Lebanon to democratically vote in more and more radical groups and candidates in order to represent the frustrated, outraged and disenfranchised population. It will be democracy at work and will legitimize radicalization, just as the Palestinian’s did by voting in Hamas as their government.

Then, where will Bush and his cronies stand on democracy? Already they have bent and twisted our own democracy to a point where our founding fathers would not recognize it; with the president breaking the law, assuming powers more of a monarch than a president. As our democracy crumbles, who are we to say that the Chavez democracy of Venezuela, or the Hamas democracy of Palestine is any less valid.