If democracy is the ultimate form of government, then why can't we stop what's going on in Gaza Strip?
This is tricky, because you've inserted that clause where democracy being the ultimate form of government is a given. I almost feel it's a trick question, because the only answer that's in my head is democracy *isn't* the ultimate form of government. ..It was just the main distinction between the two superpowers throughout the cold war, and the non-democratic nations were largely opressive dictatorships or communist states (though there wasn't much true communism in what was actually practiced.) ..So democracy was equated with freedom and the USA has continued to champion it as the ideal political model beacause, well, it has to ..democracy=freedom has been the mantra, indeed, the religion throughout the entire cold war.
I think where democracy really breaks down is the apathy of the modern voter in a democratic nation. Most of us lead comfortable lives, the fighting for freedom (real freedom, not 'democracy=freedom freedom') and a comfortable existance has been done by generations before us. Heck, we're even allowing our freedom to be taken away by our own governments!
(Thinking of the patriot act, the new european hacking laws, and the farce that is airport security now. ) In addition to the apathy of the voter, the issues they are voting on aren't Gaza, they're selfish issues ..we're overworked and busy and don't have time to inform ourselves about the rest of the world and (probably the average Jo thinks) that part of the world has always been fighting ..is it any different to what's been happening before? I'm in my mid-30's and I can't remember a time when there wasn't fighting there (thinking a very general "there"), so we're so so desensitised to the conflict that goes on.
So right now, we're knucking-down to survive our own recession where we might not be able to afford a new car or ipod this year, and we might have to eat out a little less. Our life might get really hard. Let them sort themselves out.
("Sort themselves out" should be an ironic comment as, as far as I can see, most of the big conflicts of the last century and the 'bad men' that caused them were essentially created by the big 'free' nations, and their continual interference. ) Note: I'm not suggesting democracy is through and through bad.My ideal model is democracy-like. IMHO, we shouldn't go to dictatorships, communism, feudalism, anarchy, etc. ..though real communism (not USSR 'communism') has some appealing aspects.
No, seriously, the question leaves that to the reader to fill in. So, if you mean the U.S.Or any country that isn't Israel (or the Palestine "state" I suppose) then I don't think this is a question about Democracy specifically.It's a foreign affairs question. Whether you favor an interventionist foreign policy or not, it doesn't have a lot to do with Democracy in general.
Just because we have a democracy doesn't mean that we should impose our will on other countries. Israel may have a democracy but maybe the majority of the Israelis support the incursion. Democracy does not guarantee correct choices, only majority rule within the confines of the country ruled by that government.In other words, if we voted on their policies it would have no bearing on their decisions.
They are a government of their own choosing, their own will. If we imposed our views on them it would make us dictators.
Adding to tenor11's answer I also believe that democracy won't work if the constituents don't know the difference between right and wrong. There are simply too many examples of children being brainwashed into thinking that murder is ok for them to vote responsibly as adults. Compound the brainwashing with outright abuse of women and children and it is clear what the answer to this question is.
Lack of Education.
A university professor once said in a lecture (something like this): "Theorys are great but you put people into them and they stuff them up" When you think about it, in Theory (or as I understand it) Communism is arguably the best (or fairest/noblest) form of government. Everyone works to making the country better and everyone shares in the rewards equally. The problem is that people don't work like that.
Why spend time becoming a doctor if the street sweeper gets the same rewards. Religion and history play a part in Gaza as well. But when it comes down too it, people are involved and people stuff it up!
Sorry, truth hurts.
It is a great question and one we really should think about seriously, rather than just bashing democracies or critizing how the question was asked, it would do us good to think seriously about the meaning of this. We are a democracy, and we can not seem to figure out how to solve this issue, I would suggest, we apply the wordsof our constitution to all other nations and peoples of the world, this means not making israel or palestine take the blame for all the violence, pointing fingers at this point is useless, this is a conflict that has it's roots going back 2000 years, the united states was a country formed basically for religous freedom, our costitution is written around the concept that all people were created equally and they should have the right to practice whatever religion they chose, we need to respect the arab nations and also the jewish people at the same time, this conflict is very complex but fundamentally comes down to religious intolerence if people could live next one another regardless of religion people would not care so much about disputes over supposed holy land, it is amazing that the land which is supposed to be the holy land has seen the most blood shed of almost any area in the world. We need to apply the concepts of democracy where all the peoples voices are respected, where we not just tolerate people but actually accept them for who they are and enjoy the richness of the diversities of the two cultures, I am certain this can be achieved and I am certain it will happen soon, the modern age of internet and technology has made the youth in those areas the new hope for the future, when people have access to the larger world they tend to become more tolerant and accepting and learn to enjoy the differences of each other.
I don't believe a democracy is the ultimate form of government. It's right for the US because our democracy is phenomenally stable. But it's not right in other countries and people who aren't ready for it.
For a nation to be a stable, non-militant democracy, almost all people must want a stable, non-militant democracy. Otherwise, it would be a guise of a non-militant democracy under militant rule. And when you have two militancies vying for the same region as we have in Israel and Palestine where every viable solution is not fair to either side, we have war.
Democracy is neither the cause nor the solution to the problems in Israel and Palestine. Both sides accepting that a viable solution to their problems is phenomenally unfair to both of them is one solution. Another is one of the governments overrunning the other and absorbing the nation into theirs.
Good question that begs an even better answer. Well in my opinion whereas the Hamas were a democratically elected goverment/body in Gaza their actions have portrayed them as a serious threat to the stability and existence of Israel . This has happened twofold first by refusing to acknowledge the existence of Israel as a sovereign state.
Two by constantly shelling the isreali cities/towns of Sderot and Ashkelon at the rate of a rocket every 15seconds according to the testimony of the Isreali permanent ambassador Gabriella Shalev on the sixth January 2008 ,to the UN Security council. Now democracy as a form of government for the people and by the people does not give license to the elected body to act in a manner that is contrary to the preservation of peace and security of neighboring states like Hamas has been doing. That was the justification my neighboring country Tanzania used to invade Uganda in 1978 to oust the murderous regime of Idi Amin,who swept into power with the majority solidly behind him but had to be later ousted by a neighboring state because of his unquenchable bloodlust,which left millions dead.So yes democracy is the ideal form of government, but it is a form of power that should be wielded with control for power without control is nothing.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.