The meaning of the words democratic forum; like most words in English, depends upon the context in which they are used. However, they are highly symbolic and powerful words in English. For many people they connote 'what is right' and signify important political values.
Many of the political and philosophical notions developed in Ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the English language but there is a large discrepancy between what words meant then and what they mean now. To an Athenian democracy would have meant an excellent system of government in which a very small group of privileged men discussed how to rule over a huge majority of women and slaves. To a Roman the Forum was a city center where affairs of state were discussed by aristocratic patricians.
People from Western cultures can easily fall into the trap of assuming that their way is the right way and others are automatically inferior. Such attitudes are sometimes evident in schools and universities where teachers and student are firmly convinced that their particular department of institution is the best in the country. A visit to an Eastern country where democracy has never been known can be enlightening.
As the power of Rome declined in Europe warlike barons acquired power for themselves. They became monarch and even writers like William Shakespeare went along with the idea that there was a Chain of Being with God at the top and slugs at the bottom. Kings came just below the angels and just above aristocrats. Anyone who stepped out of line might find himself named as an unnatural imposter deserving of severe punishment. Thus, for many hundreds of years after the demise of ancient Greece the world knew nothing of democracy.
It was to escape the dreadful atrocities perpetrated by European monarchs and aristocrats that colonists spread out to other parts of the Globe such as America and Australia. As they sailed away in small sailing boats they might have resembled modern refugees known to the contemporary world as 'boat people'. However, the new worlds that were discovered in this days were sparsely populated and easy to conquer.
The power structures set up in territories like America were called democratic because they implemented governments that closely resembled those in ancient Greece. All men could have their say in public affairs and vote for leaders, but women and people belonging to indigenous tribes were excluded. A minority of men held power as was the case in Athens in classical times.
The French Revolution began in the eighteenth century extended the notion of political freedom to vast numbers of people. As time advanced it became accepted that all people accepted as citizens would have a vote as a means of political expression. At least one person who voted regularly throughout the twentieth century never supported the party winning power. His political views were never heard outside his family. Ironically, he was politically impotent in a democracy.
The internet revolution began in the late twentieth century and has been the means through which individuals have asserted their individual voices. Through technology and social networking individuals can quickly discover what their peers are saying and thinking. An online democratic forum can mean a place where members of one political party can discuss and debate views. It could also mean a more general platform where individuals can make their views known in the Global Village.
Many of the political and philosophical notions developed in Ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the English language but there is a large discrepancy between what words meant then and what they mean now. To an Athenian democracy would have meant an excellent system of government in which a very small group of privileged men discussed how to rule over a huge majority of women and slaves. To a Roman the Forum was a city center where affairs of state were discussed by aristocratic patricians.
People from Western cultures can easily fall into the trap of assuming that their way is the right way and others are automatically inferior. Such attitudes are sometimes evident in schools and universities where teachers and student are firmly convinced that their particular department of institution is the best in the country. A visit to an Eastern country where democracy has never been known can be enlightening.
As the power of Rome declined in Europe warlike barons acquired power for themselves. They became monarch and even writers like William Shakespeare went along with the idea that there was a Chain of Being with God at the top and slugs at the bottom. Kings came just below the angels and just above aristocrats. Anyone who stepped out of line might find himself named as an unnatural imposter deserving of severe punishment. Thus, for many hundreds of years after the demise of ancient Greece the world knew nothing of democracy.
It was to escape the dreadful atrocities perpetrated by European monarchs and aristocrats that colonists spread out to other parts of the Globe such as America and Australia. As they sailed away in small sailing boats they might have resembled modern refugees known to the contemporary world as 'boat people'. However, the new worlds that were discovered in this days were sparsely populated and easy to conquer.
The power structures set up in territories like America were called democratic because they implemented governments that closely resembled those in ancient Greece. All men could have their say in public affairs and vote for leaders, but women and people belonging to indigenous tribes were excluded. A minority of men held power as was the case in Athens in classical times.
The French Revolution began in the eighteenth century extended the notion of political freedom to vast numbers of people. As time advanced it became accepted that all people accepted as citizens would have a vote as a means of political expression. At least one person who voted regularly throughout the twentieth century never supported the party winning power. His political views were never heard outside his family. Ironically, he was politically impotent in a democracy.
The internet revolution began in the late twentieth century and has been the means through which individuals have asserted their individual voices. Through technology and social networking individuals can quickly discover what their peers are saying and thinking. An online democratic forum can mean a place where members of one political party can discuss and debate views. It could also mean a more general platform where individuals can make their views known in the Global Village.
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If you are looking for an in depth democratic forum, take a look at www.thedailypundit.com. You will find a hard hitting political forum and social network at the Daily Pundit, which is at http://www.thedailypundit.com.
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