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Varlan Allan
Thunder Bay, On
Canada

Teacher, I CAN READ

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The Democratic Lie

Was there truly an "Arab Sprin"? Is there more to these countries and is there something much deeper and sinister behind this movement.
Like one Ted talk said, "Beware of stories" for they often play off our most extreme emotions and are based on highly improbable situations based on highly reasonable circumstances. The Media of the west is the best known storyteller and the story on nearly 99% of westerners' TVs and internet. We need to be highly suspect of such stories and how we think about global situations.
I, for one, do not believe that the "Arab Spring" was a popular uprising. It was only a "popular" uprising for western media consumption and small discontented factions from within the countries involved. Isn't arming a rebel group considered a regime change?
Funny how I do not see NATO offering assistance to Dr Chee of singapore who is fighting for fairer elections and political freedom. All is up for debate though.

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Barry Palmer 50+
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Jun 27 2012: I doubt very much that the Arab Spring uprisings were especially popular. Most rebellions involve only a small part of the populace, and I have seen no evidence to suggest that these are different in that aspect. Were they covertly supported by the west and USA? It seems very unlikely. Was the Muslim Brotherhood and similar organizations involved in spreading the revolt? Very likely.

Note that I have no facts, just probabilities based on history. That is the same position as the major news organizations, which are constrained to report only the facts.

I think the big lie is that these uprisings will lead to democratic governments. The rebels say they are fighting for freedom, and the media associates this with democracy. I think most of the people who were doing the fighting were fighting against the established dictators and they probably understood that they had little control over the form or content of the next government.

"Something much deeper and sinister" -- Of course there is something deeper, but what are the facts? What is more sinister than massive bloodshed?
Stewart Gault 30+
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Jun 26 2012: I think there needs to be a lot more detailed coverage on the East, especially from my own research recently on the Arab Spring and the role of the Muslim Brotherhood, I found a manifesto of it's originator and it may have changed since then but their ideals then, if applied now, would send the east into another regression. Does anyone know anything else about the Brotherhood?
- Varlan Allan 10+
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  Jun 27 2012: Don't you find it interesting that factions of the same group related to the Muslim Brotherhood were also in Libya? Look up some of those connections between Muslim Brotherhood and the "Arab Spring" countries.
  
  I don't doubt the legitimacy of SOME rebel civilians in their qualms with the governments of these countries but its easy to find discontent when you search for it, or rouse it.
  - Stewart Gault 30+
    
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    Jun 27 2012: If a lot of leaders linked to the Muslim Brotherhood start popping up the east in going to have some serious problems
Varlan Allan 10+
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Jun 26 2012: Let us say that simply "choosing" who is on the ballet does not validate the process as democratic.
Obey No1kinobe 50+
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Jun 26 2012: Egypt seemed to have an illusory spring. Generals still in charge with puppet supreme court.

Syria is closer to a civil war than a spring.

Anyone know how Tunisia and Libya are going?
- Varlan Allan 10+
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  Jun 26 2012: And let us think where these generals derive their power... oh yes, the U.S. has given billions in military aid to those people...the egyptian people can pick whichever puppet they like. That is a democracy, they are still getting a choice, right?
  - Obey No1kinobe 50+
    
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    Jun 26 2012: Hi Varlan, I agree the US has propped up many dictatorial regimes.
    
    I don't know if they need to US now they are so entrenched,
    
    Many countries have a dysfunctional military/government relationship.
    
    After a while the military has huge economic interestss even if there is a democratic government e,g Thailand, Pakistan etc.
    
    It seems egypt is going down the Pakistan direction.
    
    Maybe not puppets but certainly near powerless elected leaders.
    
    I note in except secular candidates got more than half the votes in the first round but split between many candidates. Muslim Brotherhood put up 1 and eventually got the presidency.
    
    It is very sad. However I note it took hundreds of years to get the democracy we have now in say the UK, that influenced our systems. Early parliaments were just the nobles. There were periods of decades when the monarch did not call for parliament. In the end they had a long civil war and ended up beheading King James. It took a long time after that before all men and a few decades later all women got the vote and centuries of an evolving balance of powers.
    
    These things take time. I'd like to think real representative democracy is where it will head, but maybe not as fast as we would like.
    - Varlan Allan 10+
      
      0
      
      Jun 27 2012: Obey,
      loving your comments and bit of the insight into English democratic history. And I hear you about thailand...I'm married to a thai and go there every month, completely agree with you.
      I also agree that entrenchment has taken place. Once you have all the weapons its hard for people to tell you what to do.
      We will continue to see how it unfolds. Let's hope for the best.
edward long 100+
- +1
Jun 26 2012: As a teacher, Mr.Allan, you are familiar with the importance of clarity in communication, particularly when in a leadership role. Therefore, I ask you to restate with a greater degree of specificity what is "the Democratic Lie." Thank you!
- Varlan Allan 10+
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  Jun 26 2012: One of the many lies that are given in order to war monger is "Humanitarian reasons". As well as to spread the ideas of freedom and democracy. These countries democracies are not much more than democratic than any dictatorial leadership elsewhere. But its clear that NATO loves to play puppet master.
  - edward long 100+
    
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    Jun 26 2012: Even with that additional information regarding your point. I am still not crystal clear on your issue. Maybe your answer to this question will help me: Do you think The Muslim Brotherhood, who just won the election in Egypt, is one of the "puppets" the war mongers arranged to run? Thank you Mr. Allan!
Rafi Amin 20+
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Jun 26 2012: Whatever this may be called, but I see it as a good change. The rulers of these countries were ruling son after father & so on for centuries.

Who had gifted them this kingdom ?
- Varlan Allan 10+
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  Jun 26 2012: I respect your comment Rafi. But nobody is ever gifted a kingdom, it is taken by strong men or given by greater power.
Kevin Jacobson
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Jun 25 2012: NATO has other things to worry about. No sense in wasting resources over something so irrelevant to NATO's problems.
- Varlan Allan 10+
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  Jun 26 2012: Which part is irrelevant Kev?
  - Kevin Jacobson
    
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    Jun 26 2012: Well, maybe my words were a little strong, but I just think that NATO shouldn't have to worry about the middle east for now since the western world has other problems like efficient economic systems, of coarse energy, the war on terror ect. All of which will cost quite a bit.
Varlan Allan 10+
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Jun 25 2012: I'm interested to hear from all people, but very interested to hear from those who are not getting their info from CNN, BBC, AL-JAZEERA(its western too), NBC, FOX, CBC.

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