In response to my blog yesterday noting that the cultural left opposes democracy in the Muslim world, several people expressed indignation. One challenged me to provide a single example. Others lugubriously noted that they favored the idea of democracy but alas it wasn't succeeding in Iraq. Certainly it does seem odd that a left which is always calling for "more democracy" in America would resist democracy in Muslim countries.
Yet it's true, and my book The Enemy at Home provides chapter and verse. For instance, the leftist author Robert Fisk resolutely opposed America's attempt to introduce democracy in Afghanistan. Incredibly Fisk said that the Taliban government should be kept in power because it had nothing to do with 9/11. Leftist Howard Zinn also equated America's displacement of the Taliban and holding of free elections with the 9/11 attacks themselves, as though both were equivalent crimes. Leftist legal scholar Richard Falk called for a "negotiated settlement" with the Taliban in order to protect the country's "sovereign rights." If leading leftists such as Edward Said, Toni Morison, Jesse Jackson, Barbara Ehrenreich, Jane Fonda and Jim McDermott had their way, the U.S. would not have overthrown the Taliban government and Afghanistan would not have had free elections.
Immediately following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, leftist philanthropist George Soros warned that "I would consider Iraq the last place to choose for a demonstration project" in democracy. Why the Iraqis were ineligible to rule themselves, Soros did not say. When Iraq had its first free election, columnist Bob Herbert said it meant nothing because "a real democracy requires an informed electorate" while the Iraqi people were "woefully uninformed," apparently because they didn't make the choices that Herbert wanted. Leftist columnist Robert Dreyfuss said the Iraqi elections were invalid because "the Sunni community was tricked into voting" and moreover the elected Sunnis "do not represent the resistance." Apparently Dreyfuss thinks car bombers need representation too! Ivan Eland wrote in The American Prospect, "Spreading democracy doesn't reduce terrorism and, if anything, actually makes it worse." How democracy promotes terrorism, Eland neglected to explain.
Notice how the cultural left routinely condemns Bush for "hypocrisy" in using the rhetoric of democracy while the U.S. is allied with secular despots, but very rarely do leftists call for free elections in countries like Syria, Egypt or Saudi Arabia. There was even some cheering on the left when Turkish generals threatened a coup to subvert the elected government from holding free elections a few months ago. So why does the left hate democracy in the Muslim world? The reason is simple. Muslims are socially conservative and generally want a greater role for Islam in their private and public lives. Consequently Muslim democracies are likely to be more conservative socially than they are when secular despots rule them. The left fears Muslim democracy because it is terrified of Muslim values, especially sharia or Muslim holy law. Feminists and gays are not likely to fare very well under Muslim holy law.
When Iraqis rejected secular candidates and voted for a party that pledged to have sharia, at least in some forms of domestic law, the New York TImes howled that democracy could be "consigning Iraqi women to a life of subjugation." Columnist Maureen Dowd warned that "the Iraqi election may actually be making things worse" because "it is going to expand the control of the Shia theocrats." These complaints might have some plausibility if women or Sunnis were not permitted to vote. But women and men both voted for the Dawa party, and so essentially the Times and Dowd were arguing that if Iraqis don't want equal roles for men and women, their democracy is a sham.
Bush's attempt to introduce democracy to Iraq, and to expand the role of democracy in Egypt, Lebanon and Pakistan, is a brave and noble experiment. It might fail, and past historical experience is not promising. But if Bush succeeds we could see the beginning of an historical transformation no less significant than the transformation of the old Soviet Union. No wonder the left, not usually given to supplication, is praying very ardently this Christmas season that Bush does not succeed. If democracy fails, in Iraq and elsewhere, there is the added benefit that Democrats will have a better chance to take the White House in 2008.
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Why the Left Hates Democracy
Posted Dec 28th 2007 1:32PM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Breaking News, Iraq, Cultural Left, Islamic Radicals, Controversy
Filed under: Breaking News, Iraq, Cultural Left, Islamic Radicals, Controversy
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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 27)
31. 30. Libertarians, Clif? I'd hardly lump them in with modern day conservatives. Especially as its mentioned in the same sentence as "exporting fascism".
xxx
Unrestrained capitalism is synonomous with fascism. Libertarianism is unrestrained capitalism.
Modern day conservatives practice unrestrained capitalism. the result is corporate consolidation that now controls government. That's what you have now, and it is and has been fascist for quite some time. The final step will be melding of church and state as you all appear to want.
The first step was Reagan's non enforcement of the Sherman and Clayton Acts. The last few steps have been ceding of eminent domain to any nation or corporation with the price to buy and suspension of habeas corpus and the bill of rights.
Clif Kuplen at 4:40PM on Dec 28th 2007
32. I just got a catalog from a major musical instrument supplier. It's reflecting our shrinking global dollar pretty accurately. Most import prices are up about 35-50%. Some economy!
Clif Kuplen at 4:43PM on Dec 28th 2007
33. The Left hates democracy because people like Bush get elected. Remember what our liberal brothers said about his election?
'I didn't know there were that many stupid people in the world.'
When you are an ideologue you have no tolerance for the (unenlightened) masses. In there hearts of hearts liberals only want people that agree with them to vote. You can tell, because anyone that disagrees with them is 'obviously' stupid. Elites, especailly liberal elites are the second most intolerant drones on the planet. Islamofascist are worse ... only because they act on their beliefs, and liberals just bitch.
Thomas J Gassett at 4:45PM on Dec 28th 2007
34. True Democracy will never exist until the powers of religion are buried! To institute a theological government whether Christian, Muslim or Judean is to institute oppressive living standards. Those few that benefit will be the religious leaders who rule over the poor with scare tactics. (As always)
If these countries want true democracy they should fight for them just as America fought for our democracy!
America should stay out of these foreign affairs and worry about our trillion dollar deficit (THANKS BUSH!) that is bringing down the dollar. I'm sure we'll never hear a thank you from any Iraqi for intruding in their country. First by saying we're after weapons of mass destructions and then disguising that lie with "We're introducing democracy".
goddess1prevail at 4:48PM on Dec 28th 2007
35. Great refutation of a three year old Maureen Dowd column. Because things have gone so well since the Iraqi elections. All those women have so much more freedom now. Do you have any other strawmen (or NYT columnists) back there to tear up?
Mo MoDo at 4:51PM on Dec 28th 2007
36. 22 to show that it itwas dems that tried to steal 2000 election from bush, i stated facts that a child ( or an emotionally immature adult such as yourself)could easily verify ,unless they fear the truth.i stand by the facts stated in post 9.if you believe 2000elction stolen then list verifiable facts to support.your position. i didnot call anyone a liar only stated the FACT that it is a lie to say bush stole election. you, on the otherhand, resorted to name calling. this is something that people on the wrong end of the truth often do.
felix at 4:51PM on Dec 28th 2007
37. Bush is infringing on our rights of privacy and habeous corpus. As in Vietnam you don't kill hundreds of thousands of their people destroy their land with bombs and depletd uranium or agent orange and think that they are going to give you respect and support. What would we do if a nation came over ousted Bush and then set up democratic elections for us? No country likes to be occupied and this includes Iraq and Afghanistan. We may so call win in the sense where we gain some control over them but there will always be a signifiicant faction that will hate us forever. If you had your child blown up by one of our cluster bombs or if you wife had a deformed baby from the effects of depleted uranium you would never look at us as being the good guys. We have the luxury to not have to pay attention to the war. It's far away and they won't even show us our soldiers caskets to shock us to the reality of the devastation. So if your boy's not over there then it's business as usual. Merry christmas and a bloody new year!
Rick at 4:52PM on Dec 28th 2007
38. I am totally in agreement with your reasoning about why the left hate democracy..i will add ..they hate it because it is the only reason they can't get to power..democracy allow people to grow and educate their individual knowledge and character to depend in no one but themselves and God..normaly they become rich and powerfull..democracy haters..comunists..socialists..they want people to be couchable..dependent in goverment..followers of goverment programs..seculars non believers..if they can keep people dumb ..then..they can gain control and impose their rule and elitism..they will seisse and expropiate your property..your individual rights and freedom..and will give you equality in poverty and sadness..while they will have all the power of goverment to funtion as a governing class with all the privileges..fully funded bank accounts..good education for their children..freedom of movement and association with their oun elite members..look at the promoters of comunism and socialism in the United States..most of them are rich..and have their money placed in trust accounts in foreighn countries out of the reach of the USA IRS..but they want more taxes for the rich and goverment programs to gain more power and control ..but you dont need me to tell you here what they will do with so awsome power..there are some good examples of societies that are ruled by the good intentioned comunists or "new progresive democrats"..see all the wealth and freedom of the people in ..North Korea,Cuba..you cannot afford to let this "progressive Democrats" gain control here in the USA..you owe it to your family...I approve this message..Ernesto Colon
Ernesto at 5:07PM on Dec 28th 2007
39. My problem with Islam is that it wants a greater role in democracy than Christianity or Judaism.
I'm by no means a feminist in the Gloria Steinam tradition, but my mother was more than willing to smack me into next week, if I took the attitude that there are jobs that women aren't supposed to do.
I get the feeling that many followers of Islam would have a problem with my mother's attitude, or the situation that I'm in: I'm the stay-at-home dad, while my wife is the breadwinner.
So, on the one hand, I agree with Dinesh that the Left seems very much afraid of the concept of democracy in the Middle East. But on the other, I don't like the idea of Middle East democracies based on sharia, rather than on the more libertarian philosophy of people like Bill Buckley, Barry Goldwater, and Ayn Rand.
Kent at 5:11PM on Dec 28th 2007
40. We Leftist's don't hate democracy. What we hate is the arrogance of Fascists like yourself and your fellow neocons imposing formal democracy on other, weaker countries by means of bombs, invasions, torture, "extraordinary rendition", and concentration camps such as Gitmo.
emelpe at 5:15PM on Dec 28th 2007
41. DD is incorrect about the left. The left would like to see democracy if it means that terrorism would be destroyed. Democracy cannot evolve at the point of a gun. This administration believes in using military might as opposed to negotiation and helping those in poverty. A Marshall Plan would be more effective in the Middle East than all the tanks and guns and troops we send.
Allan Mohl at 5:33PM on Dec 28th 2007
42. Today is the first time ever blogging. not agood typer please forgive errors. in post 37 I incorrectly refered to post 22(andrew v) when I ment post21(clif kuplen). most of the comments are well thought out except for clif'swho just cant seem to cite facts to back up his irrational assertion that 2000 election was stolen by bush.I still stand byall that i said in post 9. dems tried to steal election for gore.in the process did many reprehensible things,such as having 10's of thousands of absentie military votes(overwhemingly infavor of bush) thrown out.
felix at 5:33PM on Dec 28th 2007
43. What is it with you people and any mention of GOD, you incert him in your politics, your atheists spouts and now he is the reason for the right wing fundementalist. You know there hasn't been a good president on the Democratic side since Roosevelt and that was even before my time. He at least put people back to work. So as a right winger I really don't need government taking care of me. I have really been fine doing things for myself. I don't need socialist health care. We do need to see about our elederly and children who need it but, I don't care if you white, black, yellow, green or purple we do not need government interferring with our rights. Also, with the continuing unrest in the Middle East you better hope you do put someone in the White House that can take on those wonderful people you all left wingers keep talking about cause they have an agenda and anyone who thinks they don't better think again. You sit around and talk about Christians as though we are just not in touch with anything that is going on. I have the right to believe in my Lord as you have the right not to. That's is what this country is all about. So please stick to the subject at hand and discuss what you are all up in hand about Mr. D'Souza latest column and if I'm a bigot then all I can say is the words of a country song"You gotta stand for something or you'll fall for anything" That my left wing friends is the truth. I don't want or need more government and I don't need Hillary, Obama, Romney, or any of the other out- rageous person left or right that has government trying to take control over my decisions as a citizen of the United States. In less you all have forgotten this that is what the column is about. Rita
Rita at 5:46PM on Dec 28th 2007
44. Here we can see D'evil D'Souza's views on democracy.
http://mattbrundage.com/publications/hitler-democracy.php
You just have to replace 'Jew' with 'Muslim'...
"..democracy itself is defined in its broadest terms."
"A political order is a democracy when there exists elected officials, free and fair elections, inclusive suffrage, the right to run for public office, freedom of expression, the right to alternative information and associational autonomy (the right to form interest groups) (Dahl 221-222)."
One or two elections leading straight to a theocracy is NOT democracy in action.
Congress passing laws against torture only to be "signing statemented" away with a "Can if we want to!" presidential addendum... is NOT democracy in action!
pboyfloyd at 5:49PM on Dec 28th 2007
45. In countries led by cruel tyranny, most of the citizens would prefer Democracy, but their hands are tied. They don't even get to express their wishes in public, since speech is not free. They are held captive by cruel forces that control their political future.
When Democracy ventures into a country that has been traditionally held captive by tyrannical rule, the citizens rejoice at their newfound freedom. It's a choice that many of them wish to make, if only they could.
America is trying not only to set us free from future threats of terrorism, but also to set the Iraqis free from the forces that create that terrorism in the first place. We're pulling up terrorism by the roots. It's a responsible choice.
Renee Marie Vetter at 5:52PM on Dec 28th 2007