Who are the Friends of Democracy and Who Are Not?

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Nov 9, 2011 at 13:13

In proffering that 'Islamists must have their chance,' we are apparently left to dismiss that Islam has been around for centuries and Islamist ideologies in governments have never been attempted. Turkey would be a better one to point to, that Islam was put aside for a season after the demise of the Ottomans for the very same reason(s) that many say should happen to western culture: corruption. The common point to be made is that every culture, no matter the altruistic beginning, will degrade as they all must when the mindset shifts from the common good to the 'what's in it for me' (to wit: Arab upheavals-Occupy Wall Street).

Now as noticed by this article and elsewhere, Iran is model example of the intent of the Islamic revolution, that of shari'a law in action; the Taliban in Afghanistan is another. Is this the chance the world is ready to release upon worry worn societies? As we watch democracy get thrown to the wolves in varying places where the rule of law for the public good started out working fine, only to be trampled underfoot on the lawns and street of public places, are we to believe that Islamism can be a better type of life when it is shown historically it was that type of tyranny that got Turkey out of the Ottoman hold?

Of a truth, better government is necessary: but we are at the threshold that the people are heading for a different type of government of which the people know nothing about; and should be very afraid of. Islam did have its chance, something the resurgent adherents of the Quran want the people to forget as they forge ahead. Is it not an Islamic contention that 'once Islamic, always Islamic?' My, how easily is history shrouded in the darkness.

But Islam does get another chance; for those who should be in a better position to offer a better prospect of how a people should be governed lost their light also, that which should be seen in the proper application of Christian social mores. Even in the halls of government of those types of democracies, replacement philosophies have cheapened their responsibilities for wantonness and for that reason we see the Arab upheavals-Occupy Wall Street-European unrest. We are made to believe that the former Christian ideals that were once the basis of true democracy faltered, but in reality the practice of such ideals became wearisome to many and the ideals were left behind.

Islam does get another chance; its moment in modern history is forthcoming, even though very brief. Now there must be the question: why is that? Likely, what is no longer seen is the proper application of Christian social mores and there are no more chances left in the history of human lifetime to get it right. Think about how democratic Israel is being treated by democratic France and the U.S. administrative chiefs. Sounds kind of apocalyptic, doesn't it. Look around; are we not approaching that as it is? Think about what Dr. Pipes is explaining and think about it.

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