Democracy
Well, it seems that in the eyes of various people on the Right, the people of Spain have gone from being a brave people who were defiant in the face of terrorism on Friday night to a bunch of paella-eating surrender monkeys, and all in just 48 hours. That may well be a record time for a complete collective 180-degree change of opinion on so large a group of people.
Still, it's good to know that the people who set themselves up as the defenders of justice, liberty, freedom, democracy and all that sort of stuff are so eager to condemn people who dare to use their democratic rights to disagree with them. Of course, now we're being told that people should consider what 'message' their votes are sending out to Al-Qaeda and vote accordingl. Apparently Al-Qaeda - who, we're told, hate democracy and freedom - want to see a peaceful change of government, as part of the democratic process. Plus, of course, they wanted to see Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (and, just to digress into frivolity for a moment, that's a great name, isn't it?) become the new Spanish Prime Minister, because it's somehow in their interest to have a a Spanish PM who says 'My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism' after being elected. Oh sorry, I forgot, there's only one way to fight terrorism and that's to be in total agreement with the Bush Administration at all times, isn't it?
But, if we're meant to be determining our public policy on the grounds of whether or not Osama Bin Laden approves or not, can I make a suggestion? If you really want to piss off Osama, then support gay marriage. If you really want to annoy a Wahhabist then go out and encourage people to be sexually free and to spend their time drinking and partying. If you really want to do what 'Islamofascists' oppose, then encourage people to watch porn, listen to pop music and wear whatever clothes they want. If you want to show how much you oppose fundamentalism then encourage people to think for themselves, use their own rationality and debate issues openly in public before voting on what course of action they might prefer to take. If you really want to support freedom and democracy, and not just the freedom of people to agree with you, then applaud the fact that the people of Spain - many of whom have lived under fascism, so have a good idea of what it's like - were out there voting today and that one party will peacefully replace another in government.
Democracy is alive and well in Spain and throughout the world. If that's what you're so eager to defend, don't start getting angry when people use it.
Still, it's good to know that the people who set themselves up as the defenders of justice, liberty, freedom, democracy and all that sort of stuff are so eager to condemn people who dare to use their democratic rights to disagree with them. Of course, now we're being told that people should consider what 'message' their votes are sending out to Al-Qaeda and vote accordingl. Apparently Al-Qaeda - who, we're told, hate democracy and freedom - want to see a peaceful change of government, as part of the democratic process. Plus, of course, they wanted to see Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (and, just to digress into frivolity for a moment, that's a great name, isn't it?) become the new Spanish Prime Minister, because it's somehow in their interest to have a a Spanish PM who says 'My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism' after being elected. Oh sorry, I forgot, there's only one way to fight terrorism and that's to be in total agreement with the Bush Administration at all times, isn't it?
But, if we're meant to be determining our public policy on the grounds of whether or not Osama Bin Laden approves or not, can I make a suggestion? If you really want to piss off Osama, then support gay marriage. If you really want to annoy a Wahhabist then go out and encourage people to be sexually free and to spend their time drinking and partying. If you really want to do what 'Islamofascists' oppose, then encourage people to watch porn, listen to pop music and wear whatever clothes they want. If you want to show how much you oppose fundamentalism then encourage people to think for themselves, use their own rationality and debate issues openly in public before voting on what course of action they might prefer to take. If you really want to support freedom and democracy, and not just the freedom of people to agree with you, then applaud the fact that the people of Spain - many of whom have lived under fascism, so have a good idea of what it's like - were out there voting today and that one party will peacefully replace another in government.
Democracy is alive and well in Spain and throughout the world. If that's what you're so eager to defend, don't start getting angry when people use it.
Nick got away with this at 3:20 AM
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