The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Afghans Misunderstand Democracy -- Or Do They?

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The Spectacle Blog

Afghans Misunderstand Democracy -- Or Do They?

By Doug Bandow on 8.7.09 @ 10:17AM

Fornication, bare flesh and a descent into Western decadence -- these are Afghan definitions of democracy that expose how little the foreign concept has permeated the national psyche as elections near.

Afghanistan will vote August 20 in its second "democratic" presidential election but centuries of tribalism, decades of war and the draconian legacy of the Taliban ensure that confusion still reigns over what voting will bring.

"Western democracy is freedom and fornication. This is democracy for Western, American and European people and it is developing the same way here," said Wasim, a 28-year-old waiter in a Kabul kebab restaurant.

View all comments (7) | Leave a comment

Crusader| 8.7.09 @ 11:06AM

Pull. Out. NOW! These people don't want to be free nor do they deserve to be free.

Anonymous| 8.7.09 @ 11:39AM

Well, it certainly seems that the Afghans understand where self-indulgent liberal leftards are coming from, at least.

L. Ross| 8.7.09 @ 12:24PM

Well, Crusader:

Love your screen name. I think our greatest mistake has been to not name the name of the enemy. Traditional Islam. Our military operations should be called Crusades, and our goal should be the conversion of these muslims to a real religion of peace.