Elections in Bangladesh show a people hungry for democracy

This is where America should be engaged...by encouraging moderate Islamic cultures to embrace democratic principles and human freedom.

 

This is where Jimmy Carter spent a lot of effort in trying to ensure fair elections in developing countries.

 

Challenge for the day: Name 5 "democratic" islamic culture nations where democratic principles are embraced and Christians have human freedom and are not persecuted. You can't and you won't. Maybe you'll find 1 or 2, but it is doubtful.

Turkey? Nope.
Egypt? Nope.
Pakistan? Nope.
Iran? Nope.

Here, check out the US State Department Report about Religious Freedom for 2008 for all nations of the world here:

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index.htm

 

Exactly why I say we need to encourage them to embrace such ideas and move out of the 16th Century.

 

Historically, the USA has stood by peoples desiring freedom, and a democratic existance.... Watching us slowly step away from Israel makes me wonder how much longer the world will depend on us....

 

>Challenge for the day: Name 5 "democratic" islamic culture nations where democratic principles are embraced and Christians have human freedom

Read Jewish historians and you will find that Jews (prior to WW2) did better under Islam than under Christian governments.

The first step is encouraging human rights for Islamic people in Islamic countries. In the mean time, better for Christians to leave Islamic countries.

 

We've been engaged in trying to ensure free and fair elections in several developing countries around the world over the years but, alas, the liberals seem to always end up claiming we're trying to force our ides on others and that we should get out because it's not worth fighting for. They don't really have the stomach for what it takes to make it happen.

I think I've seen this play out two or three times now in my life time. I'm kind of tried of it and I don't think they could get me to go again unless they were damn convincing that they really meant it and weren't just trying to impress one another with do-good liberal talk.

 

I may be misunderstanding you, but I am not advocating military engagement.

 

Nope, that's the point! It always take military force to secure liberty because the talking just doesn't convince the enemy. The loud mouths are always around to proclaim the need but the weak resolve becomes evident when the killing starts.

 

There's where I fundamentally disagree. Forcing cultural change at the end of a bayonette never works. History, while bloody, is replete with examples of bloodless revolutions.

 

It worked here in our nation and we owe our freedom to God Almighty first and to those who paid the price second. It's been the case in every free nation I know about. The "bayonet" draws blood and blood is necessary for freedom among men. We have no reason to expect otherwise.

 

Allrighty then. No wonder we are seen as a warlike nation that wants to rule the world under the threat of invasion. We will soon find ourselves alone in the world with this attitude.

 

Nope, we'll have challenges among nations and peoples until the end of time. We should seek to live peacefully but be prepared for war we necessary. When we go to war we should fight to win with all that we have and then treat the defeated - once defeated - as fairly as possible. The sword of justice is an element of human existence and is ordained by God. Military force is an essential part of establishing and maintaining liberty. America, by the way, is not a "warlike nation" regardless what some others around the world - each with their own revealing histories - might wish to impress upon the rest.

 

Democracy is best taught by example.

 

Agreed! We've been the best example the world has ever seen and so many others around the world continue to try to emulate what we've built by the grace of God Almighty.