An editor of the Washington Post on democracy

[cema]

As a Chinese journalist, you may have your own definition of democracy which corresponds to your history and your way of seeing the world.

I wonder what his definition of democracy is, and to what history and what seeing the world it corresponds.

Democracy in one sense means the majority decides, but it also means the rights of the minority are protected. As UK late Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, democracy is the least bad system that we have ever thught of. So democracy is never perfect. It always has problems. Our democracy here in the US has many contradictions, problems and challenges. So democracy is not a cure that could turn everything bad into good. It has its own advantages and its disadvantages.

Has he graduated from the kindergarten already?

Update. Apparently, my point was not understood. Read inside for more enlightenment.
Update. The editor is now saying he was misquoted by the Chinese agency. His point was milder, but still along the same lines.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

A peculiar choice of examples. Neither Taiwan nor Belgium are truly independent or sovereign, although Belgium was a few years ago. Self-proclamation of sovereignty and independence in case of Taiwan only goes so far.

[cema.livejournal.com]

Neither Taiwan nor Belgium are truly independent or sovereign

This is exactly the kind of attitude that I consider absurd, and this is precisely why I chose those examples.

[(Anonymous)]

Absurd it may be, but unrealistic it is not.

[cema.livejournal.com]

There are two realities: one is the facts of life, the other its description. This secondary reality plays an important part in the professional development of all educated people. One unfortunate result is that such people tend to get carried away with theories, and words sometimes become more important than meanings.

So, the above attitude is not necessarily unrealistic in terms of this secondary reality, I agree. But not in terms of the primary reality: facts of life.

[(Anonymous)]

Not in terms of facts of life? Don't you read the news? Taiwan is on the brink of being treated by China as Chechnya is being treated by Russia. What sovereignty or independence is that, for god's sake?

[cema.livejournal.com]

Israel was on the brink of being treated by Arab neighbors just like that, in Spring 1967... So, I think as long as the country can act, it has enough sovereignty.

[(Anonymous)]

How many countries officially recognized Israel in 1967 and how many countries (and which ones in particular) officially recognize Taiwan now? See the difference?

[cema.livejournal.com]

USA did not officially recognize annexion of the Baltic countries by the Soviet Union, and still it is obvious that these countries were not sovereign. Contrast this with Taiwan.