From: Jamal Mazrui <jamal.mazrui@outlook.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 11:14 AM
To: Jamal Mazrui <jamal.mazrui@outlook.com>
Subject: Sharing a New Year's resolution proposed for wide adoption
From the web page
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160134125681079&id=790041078
Calling for a Mass Resolution in 2022
I propose a resolution for the new year. It concerns the viability of democratic society in our world. Perhaps the greatest achievement in human history has been the development of a set of core institutions and values that enable democratic society. It has facilitated peace, understanding, and flourishing better than any alternative. Ingredients include the following: separation of powers in government (legislative, executive, judicial); rule of law; due process; human rights; individual liberties; free press; fair markets; and the scientific method.
Half a century ago, global trends -- such as popular uprising against colonial rule -- implied considerably more democratic society would exist in the world today. At present, antithetical extremes against democratic society include the countries of North Korea, Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia. The government of North Korea exercises absolute control over the lives of its citizens, who are hidden from outside observers. Russia has been poisoning internal opposition leaders and closing organizations that focus on journalism or human rights. China is eliminating democratic practices in Hong Kong, while maintaining mass prison camps of innocent Muslims. Saudi Aribia murders journalist critics and continues blatant discrimination against women.
Notable, major offenders against democratic society include the countries of Egypt, Turkey, Poland, and Brazil. The Egyptian military overthrew a democratically-elected government and imprisoned political opponents. Turkey is run by a dictator who jails critics. Poland has been dropping judicial independence from executive power. Officials in Brazil practice corruption from the top down.
An especially troubling decline in democratic society is represented by the United States of America. This case deserves elaboration because the country used to be a beacon of aspiration -- still needing to improve, but generally moving in a positive direction since its democratic founding more than two centuries ago.
No principle in a democratic society is more important than the right of citizens to elect the leaders of their government. In November 2020, American citizens elected a new president by a clear margin of victory.
Unsatisfied with the outcome, over fifty lawsuits were brought by the opposing party, claiming to federal courts that voting fraud had occurred. The courts found none.
In addition, nineteen state governments, controlled by the opposing party, brought a combined lawsuit to the Supreme Court alleging illegitimate results in the presidential election. Even though three of the nine judges had been appointed by the incumbent candidate from the same party, they found the case to be so lacking in merit that not even a hearing could be justified. In states where ballots were recounted, the mathematical result determined the same outcome.
Yet, despite abundant facts and overwhelming conclusions based on investigation, a large portion of the losing party have not accepted the presidential outcome of this fundamentally free and fair election. The problem originates with the losing candidate, who promoted falsehoods and attempted a coup to overthrow the election results, but was unable to persuade enough other government officials to break the law and constitution for a brazenly corrupt purpose of such magnitude.
In light of the unprecedented, corrosive trends against democratic society in the world, I would like to suggest a 2022 New Year's goal for every adult, whose circumstances permit. Over the course of this year, we should look for opportunities, in whatever ways, whether big or small, to take actions that promote the institutions and values of democratic society. We should support candidates for office who are committed to these principles, whether they win or lose an election. We should consider running for office, ourselves, on a platform that includes such principles. If we work in government, we should uphold integrity and decency in the policies and programs that we are entrusted to implement. In our natural conversations with family, friends, and neighbors over the year, we should take opportunities to voice support for democratic society over its opposite.
In witnessing alarming trends against human progress in the world, we are reminded how precious has been the invention of democratic society. We must counter these trends before they gain a momentum from which we may not escape. Global crises, such as those related to the climate and the pandemic, require the best capabilities of humanity to solve. Democratic society is needed in this collective endeavor. Let us ensure it grows, for the sake of ourselves and future generations.
Please consider sharing this post with your networks.
No comments:
Post a Comment