10-30-2004, 03:11 AM
Ok, I'll try to keep this short. I've been contemplating the Iraq war a lot recently and I've come to these conclusions:
The U.S. war against Iraq is, obviously, wrong on so many levels. However, the liberal argument that at least America will spread Democracy to Iraq is just as weak. Iraq is not ready for democracy. If true democratic elections were to be held, Americans would not want to see who the Iraqi people choose to lead them.
Democracy cannot be forced. America was once a land for rich White free men. Women didn't vote, Blacks were slaves, Indians were non-human, and the only people who mattered were rich White guys. Democracy came from internal struggle and reform. The argument that the U.S. has to spread democracy around he world is pointless.
There has to date been no major feminist movement, no secular movement, and no ethnic movements for peace in Iraq or Afghanistan. Without these, Democracy is impossible.
So I think that the next time Americans say that the U.S. is doing the arab world a favor, we should counter that if Iraqis want democracy, they will demand it. Until then, no amount of bombs or invasions will bring it quicker. It didn't work when the British were imperializing the world and it isn't working now.
Democracy, according to Socrates, is the fairest form of government. It is also the most desireable, but it cannot be forced. It has to start from the ground up.