How many of you have the habit of just throwing in all the things in the suitcase while packing? Is it not easier? It serves the purpose. But does it help in the long run? How does it end up in the end? All squished, messy, unruly, unorganized. However, if you have the habit of systematic packing, then all clothes are neatly folded in one side, while other necessities are organized in an orderly manner. It makes things a lot easier to find later. If something does not fit or if something is left out, you try to arrange everything and make place—even if you need to start all over from the beginning. It is the same with notes jotted down in the classroom and it is the same for democracy.
Democracy is not about forcing rule upon people but it is people’s issues being taken into consideration. But are the present democracies taking this aspect into account? Myanmar with its partly democratic and partly martial government has been chasing out the ethnic minority of the Rohingyas in large numbers. The military officials have inflicted many crimes on the Rohingyas and tortured them. Even the elected leaders have shown nothing but negligence on this matter better known as the “Rohingya crisis”. Many more ethnic minorities like the Rohingyas such as the Uyghurs in China have been persecuted in recent years. I believe in an ethical administration of the society. Democracy is relevant not just because it stresses on ethics, but it also allows people to question whether something is ethical or not. The first power of ethics given by democracy is elections.
Elections are a very important part of democracy, it forms the foundation base. Elections determine the kind of democracy the nation actually is. While Norwegians find it absurd being questioned whether they would be voting in the next elections (which they answer with a vehement “Of course!”), on the other hand, certain countries are having irregular elections and some countries are still fighting for the right to vote!
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The recently held parliamentary elections on 30 December 2018 resulted in Sheikh Hasina coming to power. The rival candidate Khaleda Zia’s party, that is, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) rejected the result and demands for fresh elections to be held again. The BNP had taken to social media to campaign and lobby for votes. In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Mirza Fakhrul (BNP) said that in a parliamentary democracy, boycotting the election cannot be an option. Bangladesh’s elections witnessed many violent outbursts during and even after the elections.
In a democracy, the leaders may be corrupt but there are always others who keep a check on them. For example, parties contesting elections do so under the supervision of the Election Commission. Or more recently, in Bangladesh, the country had slowed internet ahead of the polls held on Sunday. According to an official of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC), restrictions upon internet services were put up to prevent fake information or any manner of rigging votes.
Democracy can stand the test of time, if it has people’s consent. Moreover it is more of the government that looks up to the people—a fact made universal since the 5th Century BCE. India’s first elections held in the year 1952 was considered the biggest gamble in the history of democracy. India’s campaign for democracy was then proved as a strong resolve of all Indians who came from all corners of the nation to vote. Most of the Indians at that time were illiterate.
Some countries call their government democratic—to some of them, it means holding elections in any form. Even if this means that power is accumulated in one person’s hands. What do anti-democratic governments do? They try to suppress media, and issues raised by people that they consider “unworthy of their attention”. These lead to violence, under which women and children are vulnerable especially.
Even if people are hesitant about democracy governing them, they all understand the concept of universal adult franchise. It itself is democratic—allowing men and women to vote equally. Democratic government is also more open to women’s participation in the governance of the country. Women look at issues from a new angle and bring out better policies and welfare programmes regarding domestic violence, health, etc.
People’s satisfaction in the governance is dependent on people’s interest and participation in it. Till people wish for a peaceful and satisfying life, democracy will remain important and relevant. People in the society fulfill their duty towards the nation by availing to their rightful services offered by the government and later help in creating a peaceful society that relies on justice. This process includes providing education that makes people gain awareness, this education leads to employment. Educational freedom is also provided in democracy. Children of any gender have the right to attend an academic institution.
Democracy is a medium through which we—poor, rich, old, young—can communicate. There are many crimes in every government (Yes, even in certain democratic countries.). However, people only get to know the horrors because we have the right to speak, to voice our opinions and concern. Democracy should be considered thoroughly at a time when money has become far more important than lives of people.
Both Egypt and Sudan are presidential republics. Both countries have had media backlash in their dealings with human rights and international justice. The trials for protesters in 2013, leading to General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi coming to power, have shown the need for democracy. Protesters were tried as criminals, and officials who led to the many deaths in the protest are free of any criminal allegations. It even involved the trials of many innocent bystanders and passersby who did not even participate in the protest. Protests are necessary, as people have believed to say many a times—that the officials governing the country sometimes forget certain tasks. The people then proceed to remind them of it through achieving peace by means of violent and non-violent struggles.
When we are aiming for world peace, we should not have one country ready to execute its people for any hazy purpose. For democracies, people and their welfare are a prominent concern in the foreign policy. When a country is involved in a political crisis or humanitarian crisis due to its regime ruler, certain countries view their own benefit and hold monetary gains and other profits more important than people’s suffering. Anarchy is deadly.
To sum it up, democracy is relatively much accountable, impartial, liberal, supportive and much more constitutional. It always has room for more opinions, activism, innovation, policies, etc. Democracy is people’s rule. It signifies itself and governs itself. Media is the mirror of the society. It entails the voice of people to be heard. The most beautiful quote apt for democracy is the motto of the Washington Post– Democracy Dies in Darkness. Democracy needs light; it is based on right and not might. Hence, it is important to live in a democracy. Democracy is a full-fledged fight to eliminate all inequalities, unreasonable restrictions, bigotry, stereotypes, and disorder.
