We are the Knights (that’s pronounced phonetically - cuh-nig-its - as of the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail) Who Say Cyclic, a group of High School students, all of whom attended 6thgrade at Challenger School. At Challenger, we each gained not only a respect of the English language but also the want to change the world. Our noble mission is to improve America, one step at a time – primarily by improving the U.S.’s tongue and correcting false ideas about how its government functions. To learn more, please visit our website at www.cuhnigits.org.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Democracy in the Middle East

You've probably heard of all that's going on in the Middle East.
Southern Sudan votes to secede.
Tunisia pressures their leader into exile.
In Egypt, riots lead the president to step down.
In Algeria, people are becoming restless to follow Egypt's example.
And in Yemen... same thing.
And in Iran.
Crazy, huh? And it all started - funnily enough - on Facebook. Social networking has connected people to such an extent that all this has been able to happen. Who'd have guessed?
Remember learning about the Red Scare, when capitalist countries like the US feared that communism would spread like falling dominoes to the nearby countries? (Which never happened, by the way.) Now it seems like democracy is doing the same thing. And, while we're on the subject, is that good or bad? A democracy may be preferable to a dictatorship, but... well, rule by the people can be dangerous, right? So, this may not be the optimal solution, but is it a step towards capitalism and republics in the Middle East?
Okay, I'm just so hyped about this. Sorry if I'm droning on. But please leave any profound thoughts in the comments of this post... I'd love to be able to get a good discussion going!!!
Zealously yours,
Sol

11 comments:

  1. And, P.S., there have been protests in Libya TOO, as of today!

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  2. And now Bahrain too.
    Come on, does no one share my interest here?
    That's fine, of course. Regretable, but fine.
    Here's an interesting quote though, from a Bahraini encouraging his people after a masacre of a few demonstrators the other day : "To All Bahraini: we must never forget; never forgive." Thoughts on THAT, anyone?

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  3. All right, your thoughts don't have to be PROFOUND like I asked for in the original post. Any comment would be accepted.

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  4. Good, because I'm not the person to come to for profound stuff. It is crazy, all that is happening. Why so many places at once?

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  5. Hahahaha! Thanks, I needed a laugh.
    You're "not the person to come to for profound stuff?" That's a good one, Laga! =)))
    I'd guess that there had to have been some restlessness in the Middle East beforehand. Then someone in Tunisia used the power of Facebook to stoke the fires that were in everyone's hearts, and they acted, and that was just what the Egyptians needed - proof that it could be done. And the Egyptians acted, and now the Libyans, Algerians, Iranians, Bahrainis, and the Yemenis want the same thing. Again, the domino affect. All the pieces were in place, they just needed a little shove.

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  6. Next up: Pakistan.
    "I think Pakistan is completely ready for it," says Khan, an opposition politician with a growing following among Pakistan's youth. "In fact, it's even more ready than Egypt was." (from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2049747,00.html)
    AND, amazing, there have been protests in.... drumroll please.... CHINA! Mind-boggling. But I think chances of success are extremely low. About as high as Kim Jong Il being overthrown in North Korea. But who knows?

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  7. Where are you, Odin/Baldr/Mira, in this conversation? And even Laga hasn't been on since Friday. =(

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  8. Here I am!
    Now, I am leaving.

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  9. Baldr, you make me laugh every time I read your comments. They are so pointless. In a good way. ^-^ Back on the subject. Now, honestly, I don't like democracy. People could potentially vote their rights away, with no way to get them back. I do agree that it is preferable over communism, but, well... people are people. Democracy would someway or another end up as communism. It certainly doesn't convince me that it would lead to a Republic. People just aren't that prone to luck. History has shown that.

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  10. THANKS Bladr. =P You kabob.
    Mira: Loved that part about the pointless-ness of Baldr's comments. =) So true.
    This makes me think about something I've more recently learned about: Singapore. That little city/country has a super-high (relatively) quality of life, and a booming economy, but the people have not-so-many rights. Apparently, they are willing to sacrifice/POSTPONE human rights to focus entirely on the economy. And it's worked, I guess: they're a rich central port that's connected to just about everywhere. So yeah, go figure.

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  11. Again, scourging ancient posts...
    I kind of want to start this conversation up again. If I may requote the quote I quoted earlier in the comments of this post, ""To All Bahraini: we must never forget; never forgive." This was said after the government massacred a bunch of peaceful protestors. So... what action do these circumstances demand?

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