Democracy, as the world knows it simply can not last in the world as we know it today!

The Western world has "enjoyed" all the benefits of a stable Democracy for many decades, and yet without fully understanding the responsibility that inherently goes with that democracy. Therefore I contend, the time is arriving very quickly that, democracy as we have known it in the Western world and in its true form, by definition, and indeed as a logical conclusion just can not continue to offer those benefits.

About to Fall? Yes fall. I believe the very best definition of our democracy was that given by the renowned British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. This definition still stands today but we do need to remember it is a very different world now from when he uttered his famous quote "Democracy is a terrible form of government but it is the best we have".

At that point of our history the world had just survived an horrific World War which had forced by necessity, many societies to redefine and also fully embrace and therefore appreciate democracy and all the true freedoms it offered. But since then, western society has progressively allowed misguided (all in the name of further freedoms) and continual dilution of that democracy, and allowed it to become steadily, but very surely eroded.

Since 1945 the World has lived largely in peace and prosperity. Many arguments are put forward to explain that state of affairs e.g. Modern communications guarantee a much lower level of ignorance on international Politics and affairs among any given population around the World e.g. It is widely perceived that the falling of the Berlin wall can be largely attributed to that fact. Surely the main reason though would be that the Nuclear age, has stymied any real outbreak of war, as obviously more than ever before in the past, there would certainly be no winners.

It's worth looking at the downfall of the great Roman Empire, and what attributed to that fall and allowed the Northern Tribes of Europe to sweep down and engulf and destroy that great empire. Was that the third or fourth century AD? It is very thought provoking when we look at, and see many similarities to many of the issues demonstrating themselves now and becoming very apparent today.

Democracy as we know it, post Abraham Lincoln, is a relatively new form of government when looking at the World's history over say, the last two thousand years. Many of the signs manifesting themselves in our society currently, are, I believe without doubt bound to lead, quite soon to a similar downfall. Given that fact, it must be very timely, as we approach the new millennium to take stock and look closely at these signs and just what do they mean.

Lets see if these "signs" sound familiar.

The Arts. The first being the presentation of what is now considered art by some individuals today.

This is important. Look at some of the recent examples in the USA, The United Kingdom, and also Australasia.

¥ One exhibition touring the world was a small statue of the Virgin Mary draped in a condom! Yes a condom!

¥ A much heralded exhibition of a canvas, with horse dung being plastered over it. An exclusive art piece?

¥ Five tin containers of human excrement stored and stacked in a gallery?

What an insult! Some art critics over the years have been easy targets for discrediting but really those examples demonstrate the level that this so called art has fallen too. For a modern, intelligent society to be presented with such rubbish in the name of art is a definite sign that a slide is under way and that things really are not right.

When a Society has reached the point that they consider these things to be worth exhibiting, surely its time to take stock of just where we are.

You will probably remember Henry Moore in the 1950s who produced works of art that were considered to be quite outlandish in his day. Looking at those art pieces now they are really quite a classic and artistically beautiful in their own way and certainly nothing like the recent examples given above.

The other factor in this decline is that our freedoms are being largely subverted. All in the misguided attempt to exercise our own "human rights".

Human Rights.

These rights, have many definitions, but for me Ògive me freedom or give me deathÓ does certainly hold true, and if it came to the crunch, most of us would agree with that.

Most Western societies have enjoyed such a high level of freedom, and along with reasonable levels of wealth they in turn become very misguided and donÕt really understand the makeup of such freedoms. It would probably be true to say that it has not even occurred to many, in fact a large proportion of Western populations, that these freedoms, could ever possibly be eroded and therefore in time ultimately lost to us.

Let me explain a little further. These are some recent examples where that freedom is effectively being eroded.

Take the recent example of a legal case that is being brought against a six year old boy for "sexual harassment"? Sexual harassment at six! What a nonsense!

Think about it, this kind of thinking has slid to such an absurd level and therefore I ask. "How could that be taken seriously?" Ask any overfifties male and he will probably explain that he would personally be unwilling to pick up a small child and give that child a ride home, no matter what the circumstances, in case the intention was misconstrued! Ridiculous and downright unhealthy I know, but this is where we have degenerated too.

So that's freedom?

To be continued soon .....

Copyright © 1999 Prof Nicholas Lee-North