This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Malay Wikipedia for the 26th week, 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The origins of democracy appeared in ancient Greece between the 600’s and 400’s B.C.  The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos, meaning people, and kratein, which means to rule.  Ancient Athens and some other Greek city-states had this type of government.  Each citizen of Athens had the duty to serve in the assembly, which passed the laws of the community.  This assembly also decided on important government policies in diplomacy, finance, foreign trade, and war.   Every citizen was expected to serve on juries which heard and decided court trials.  In this system women and slaves were not allowed to vote.

Sparta another Greek city-state government contrasted strongly with Athens in that the citizen was regarded mainly as a soldier who had to obey his superiors.  The happiness of the individual did not matter.  No kindness could be shown toward persons who were weak or sick.  The government tried to control the thoughts and actions of every citizen.

As we know most threats to democracy come from communism and fascism.  Communism works to destroy democracy.  The head of this group keeps himself in power by using force to crush opposition.  A communist government usually takes over all means of production and distribution.  The government controls the press, radio, television, and all other means of communication.  Communists claim that they seek equality for citizens.  But people have no way to protect their rights under communism.  The interests of the individual are less important than the interests of the communist government.

And then there is fascism which teaches that the government, not the people, is the source of all power.  According to the fascist doctrine, the people are too ignorant and emotional to rule themselves.  Under this government, a special group of leaders, supposedly superior in mental ability, governs the country.  A dictator uses force to control the people.  This type of government usually does not own the nation’s means of production and distribution; but it controls them completely.

American democracy established its roots in traditions brought to North America by the first English colonists.  The Pilgrims, who settled in Massachusetts in 1620, joined in the Mayflower Compact to obey “just and equal laws.”  Then more than 150 years later, the American Revolution began.  The colonists protested against British violations of democratic principles that were recognized in England itself.  The biggest violation was taxation without representation (does this sound familiar?).  The colonists also wanted more local government (does this sound familiar?).    The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1776 and is a classic document of democracy.  It established a doctrine of human rights as an ideal by which the government must be guided.  Millions of persons came to the U.S. in search of equal opportunity.  A pioneer spirit developed.  This new government stressed self-reliance, individual liberty, and the right to improve one’s economic standing.  So, in comparing all of the various rulings throughout history – which one of these best fits our present government in the U.S.?

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