Democracy

 I don’t think I have the privilege to say anything about democracy in our America: I am not one of the people in “the government of the people, by the people, for the people” by law. I don’t get to vote, even though I have my own clear idea who to vote for that will benefit the United States most. Majority rules doesn’t make sense at all if you are among either the majority nor minority. However, just like the point mentioned by Chris in class Monday, when you are in the mist of everything that is going on around you, it is hard to notice some simple aspects that are obvious to an outsider. I am that outsider.

Whitman said that he would “use the words America and democracy as convertible terms”(758). I agree that America is probably the freest and the most democratic country in the world, and it is true that the democracy Whitman was talking about changed over last century. I am just not sure if America has reached the state of democracy that America is democracy. The democracy America has is American democracy, not just democracy. And of course China has its so-called Chinese democracy. I think the difference between the American democracy and an ideal democracy is that democracy should be universal. This democracy should be applicable in the world of the people, by the people, for the people. Americans, born with democracy and freedom implanted deeply in their souls, assume that other countries should embrace this American democracy too. But look at the Philippines, Taiwan, Chile, and Thailand. They all try to follow the steps of American democracy, but does it really work? I don’t think so. The American democracy makes America the number one country in the world, but some of those countries who are practicing/have practiced American democracy cannot even produce a car or cannot defend their own land and benefits when the more powerful countries invade. A democratic political system is extremely inefficient. Just imagine a country that is suffering from starvation and poverty, freedom and democracy seem to be less important than survival and living a basic life. I am not saying that democracy is inefficient so it is bad. There is a cost of democracy, and not everyone can afford it right now.

Then what and where is that universal democracy? I still need more time to think about it, but as of right now, I believe that one day the human race will all come together as a whole on earth, that there no longer exists the benefits and lost of different countries. And people are all educated and independent. This might sound way too idealistic but I don’t think it is impossible. During the election a couple months ago, I really wished that I could vote. I could tell you I would vote for so and so because of so and so, and a lot of people would buy it not because of the person I wanted to vote for but because of the reason. Erik raised a question Monday about whether or not a Mexican gets to vote right when he is crossing the boarder. And I heard some “No”s in unison. But is it reasonable for me, a fairly smart (at least personally I think I have the ability to make a logical decision after thinking critically) college student that have lived in America for about three years but not a US citizen, be able to vote if there was no law saying that I was ineligible? I bet some people are going to say yes. Americans have been debating among themselves about where the line should be drawn between educated people and the uneducated, and why are there people who are uneducated. There hasn’t been an answer to this debate, and I don’t think this debate is going to end any time soon. And even if magically in my case I did get the chance to vote, then where the line should be drawn between me and any other Chinese?