Democracy, democracy, democracy

By Samir Sobhi

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Talking about democracy has always been the prime concern of the rulers as well as the ruled.

Egypt, for instance, knew democracy as a term and slogan over 100 years ago, when Ahmed Orabi, mounting his horse in front of Abdine Palace, told Khedive Tawfiq, "we are not slaves, we were born free and from now on we will not allow anybody to inherit us".

Since then, the 70 years of Britain's colonialism of Egypt, as well an its interference in Egyptian domestic affairs have not silenced our calls for democracy.

Prior to this, another assertive step towards democracy had occurred when Khedive Ismail established a Shura council for issuing laws. This was a result of the influence of the French revolution and parliament, as well as the practice of European governments. The principle was quickly picked up by individuals who put it into practice, such as MP Abdel-Salam Al-Huweilgy who voiced his opposition to the government courageously. He was so vocal and enthusiastic, that he threatened the head of state.

However the implementation of democracy has continued to face obstacles on the social, as well as the political, levels. Autocracy continues in many forms, when the social value system condones that the head of the family, the father, can act as the despotic ruler of the family, and the mayor the despotic ruler of his village, and so on, until we reach the top of the hierarchy.

Freedom and democracy are everlasting demands, which can only come about when there is the will to engage in open discussion and argument, and to produce the correct and complete vision. But in their attempt to express freedom of speech, opposition newspapers resort to criticism and sometimes rebuke. Some people may ask whether freedom of expression and democracy should necessarily require censure.

Perhaps the most effective way to instill democracy in our societies is to teach it in schools as a basic subject, so that children become familiar with the values of democracy at an early age. The outcome is that they will learn how to balance and accommodate, their specific interests and points of view, with those of others, and to resolve this conflict in a way the majority will accept. In this manner, compromise can be reached, in a manner that is neither negative, nor destructive.

This week's Soapbox speaker is deputy editor-in-chief in Al-Ahram.