16/12/1997: Democracy and Liberty
So that democracy and liberty do not become instruments of abuse, like reasonable or necessary limitations by constitution on certain types of freedoms, democratic movements and rights can be exercised also only within reasonable limitations.
It is not merely a question of having national stability or security as the overwhelming consideration to restrict such movements to not fundamentally destabilize an otherwise stable society objectively needing no [violent] revolution. It is also essential that such actions are targeted only for public good and not for self-serving gains. After all, the basic ingredient of democracy is to let the public at large enjoy something more than what they may have now. However, if a democratic movement is undertaken to basically bring the nation and people miseries and civil strives, it should not be encouraged. As well, since it is to gain only democratic freedom which has never been and should never per se be sufficient cause for a revolution, anything promoting democracy by threats or violent means should not be misconstrued as a true democratic movement. That is because if it is done to threaten or overthrow the very existence of a stable system not meeting the strict criteria for a revolution to have it overthrown, it would have become an unjustified revolution. Therefore, the very purpose and nature of democratic movements demand that such be done in a civilized, peaceful, non-violent fashion. Otherwise, it would have become and must be classified as a revolution.
Under the false disguise of "democratic movements," even warlords, fascist dictators can resort to massive "democratic movements" to gain power using massive or sufficient public participation to force the government out of office. That means if "democratic freedoms" are not reasonably restricted to within civilized limits, barbarity can replace civility by democratic means.
In terms of consequences, democracy should never be permitted to be the only thing people treasure or pursue. Instead, if decency and civility would be overcome by barbaric democratic means, the so-called democracy must be reasonably limited. For instance, if most of the public would turn aggressive if given democratic freedoms at that point in time, the leaders have that moral obligation to deny democracy until the public has been educated to being civilized and peace-loving. It is the story of mankind that few always led the way to civilize many. Jesus Christ, Confucius, Buddha, etc., were among the few who taught us to be nice. We have evolved from barbarity to civility. In that process of evolution, less and less do we think and behave like the wild beasts. However, had our ancestors that great freedom of democracy to live out their primitive instincts, today, Jesus would still be crucified: that is what it means that when people are barbaric or incompetent, they must first be educated before given that freedom to act out their own individualism in public affairs or wield power. Jungle democracy where the lions rule surely is always worse than a civilized orderly society governed by benevolent and competent dictators.
Without a certain necessary degree of dictatorial power for the moral leaders to civilize the otherwise barbaric public, democracy and democratic freedoms only mean the persistence or even promotion of barbarity in human societies which have nothing to show other than "democracy and freedoms to be wild, aggressive, inhumane, and outright criminal." So, when speaking of democracy and freedoms, see who is talking (hopefully not barbarians having all the freedoms to be bad and aggressive), and who could/should enjoy them( hopefully not those acting out barbaric instincts when given "democratic" power and their brand of freedom to do evil).
(21/12/1997)
Even where a cause may be just, democracy has to be practised in a truly democratic fashion. Imagine what it would be like for the blacks by their civil rights "movements" without going through the democratic processes of elections in the U.S.A. to replace the presidents with their own! Would that still be a "civil rights movement?" That would be undemocratic: they were not elected but forced their way into the White House using a "democratic" movement to replace the presidents.
Rest of my arguments on democracy can be found in my earlier articles.

 

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