Forum Editor

I won't insult your intelligence by assuming you really believe what you posted at 11.05. Most of the people we are discussing don't understand what a true democracy really is!

Take Egypt for example, the people wanted rid of Mubarak. What do they replace him with? Morsi! leader of the Muslim brotherhood one of whose first actions is to amend the constitution to give him supreme power and his second action is to sack all of the judges!

A fine example of democracy in action!

Muslim countries don't want democracy, they want a Government who will govern under sharia law. they are so indoctrinated into their own particular version of the God delusion that they cannot see any other alternative. The same is true of all Muslim states, their hidebound belief in the ridiculous stymies all progress towards a modern functioning western style democracy.

What does China do to it's people when they ask for democracy? It runs them down with tanks! Unfortunately some countries and some peoples are not yet ready for democracy, they are either to uneducated or to hidebound by religious dogma to be able to make the leap necessary to move beyond their own petty tribal and religious jealousy's to be able to grasp the benefits that democracy can bring.

You cite the plight of the populations of Zimbabwe and North Korea, two basket case repressive dictatorships ruled by megalomaniac dictators, what do you think would happen if they were offered democracy? In Zimbabwe's case we would just exchange one despot for another corrupt elected despot, taking all of our western handouts to feather his own nest.

In the case of North Korea, who knows what kind of Government would take charge, military probably!

I'm afraid, as politically incorrect as I've know doubt this sounds, some people and states are just not "mature" enough to embrace the concept of democratic government

"Whether Muslims are "mature" or not in their understanding of democracy is not really relevant when the overiding claim of Islam as the ultimate font of authority is more important to them."

That's the way I see it too.

While there are possibly odd exceptions who temper their beliefs to fit their own mindset, just as in the various Christian sects, in the main Islam and democracy are not fellow travellers, and the West must come to understand this.

"The iron fist in the chainmail glove" to quote somebody, I can't remember who.

I think that one can draw a parallel.

The currently followers of Mohammed are living by a set of rules that are similar to those adhered to by the followers of Christ, 1600 years after his life.

As FE says: "Who wouldn't want democracy." ~ but it'll take time. I hope not 400 years, but a couple of decades is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things. Unfortunately, many people will die, as they did in our Middle Ages.