At 9:17 PM +0800 6/12/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: >"Can't a raging racist country be a a terrific democracy too?" >I don't see how. Any examples? >Another definition of democracy besides the obvious one of being able to >elect our own representatives - "a state of society characterized by formal >equality of rights and privileges; political or social equality; democratic >spirit." >JS
**** South Africa was a democracy under Apartheid. The USA too was a democracy that approved of racism. So did Britain. The point I am trying to lead to is for people to understand HOW a democracy might help alleviate, if not eradicate social, cultural, political injustices. The reason for my bringing it up is the fact of people mouthing off about 'democracy' without having even a rudimentary understanding what it is all about or how its benefits can be realized. To many 'el;ekshuns' are the be-all and end-all of their demokrasy. **** Being able to 'elect' one's representative does NOT, in any way shape or form ensure building a > "a state of society characterized by formal >equality of rights and privileges; political or social equa lity; democratic spirit." *** A people can elect thugs, racists and megalomaniacs to represent them. Does not the Congress party or the BJP condone criminals among them as a necessary part of their 'democratic' ways? *** And these 'reps' can make racist, casteist, discriminatory laws , can't they? And when they do, how will that ensure a fair and egalitarian society? Did not desi-demokrasy enact AFSPA? And do Indians NOT take that as a lynch-pin of their 'democratic' state's 'security'? *** There are ANSWERS for these. But I won't give it out yet. Let us see if our exponents of 'demokrasy' can figure them out on their own. And when they do, I will be delighted to admit that I was wrong about my perceptions. But until then they are free to demonstrate to the world how useless their slogans about democratic values are. > >On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 8:50 PM, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >..So much for the "greatest democracy in the >> world". >> >> >> What does democracy have to do with racism? Can't a raging racist >> country be a a terrific democracy too? >> >> Or is democracy synonymous with all things good? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> At 8:39 PM +0800 6/12/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: >> >It is usually the old and the senile who refuse to change with the times. >> >Probably you could tell the old man that it's most likely that he would be >> >in box before Obama. That would be dangerous actually, that old person >> could >> >be carrying a gun :-) >> >Maybe colour is still a big issue in the US. A black man standing for the >> >White House is a big news there..So much for the "greatest democracy in >> the >> >world". >> >JS >> > >> > >> >On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 4:01 PM, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >wrote: >> > >> >> Hi, >> >> >> >> Since many of us seem to be Obama fans amongst us or atleast Democrats >> >> (those in the USA - NRAs) and are always criticing Iraq War etc and >> blaming >> >> Bush, I have a question. >> >> >> >> The question is not mine. Actually, it is from a couple of students of >> mine >> >> , who are now in the US. During our dinner conversation at their first >> >> Indian (NRA) the students started discussing politics, one worried >> that if >> >> Obama wins the election then he would stop all H1B work visas which >> they aim >> >> for and I am on right now. They seemed to have followed tha race pretty >> >> closely. I do not access to TV. >> >> >> >> However, yesterday I was at McDonalds sipping by iced coffee waiting >> for my >> >> job to start and then came Obama on CNN tv channel. Saying all sorts of >> >> stuff about healthcare, tax and what not, blaming the Bush govt for >> giving >> >> millions to corporations etc. Along came an old guy (perhaps from an > > >> assisted living housing nearby), might be eighty, shaking and walking. >> He >> >> just looked at Obama on the TV and said, "He should be put in a box and >> sent >> >> home." Then the gentleman looked at me for approval and and nodded >> along. >> >> Again he looked up at the tv at ceiling level and repeated , raised >> in >> >> hand , pointing with his fingers as if taking aim. And said , "shoom!!" >> >> blew him away. I merely smiled and wondered if realized that Obama >> >> couldn't be sent home (I could). Obama was born the USA. >> >> >> >> any comments? >> >> >> >> umesh >> >> >> >> >> >> Umesh Sharma >> >> >> >> Washington D.C. >> >> >> >> 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] >> >> >> >> Ed.M. - International Education Policy >> >> Harvard Graduate School of Education, >> >> Harvard University, >> >> Class of 2005 >> >> >> >> http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) >> >> >> >> http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) >> >> http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. >> >> A Smarter Email. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> assam mailing list >> >> [email protected] >> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> >> >> >_______________________________________________ >> >assam mailing list >> >[email protected] >> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> assam mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> >_______________________________________________ >assam mailing list >[email protected] >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
