Democracy is a broad and far-reaching idea, and carries with it a specific set of relatively vague values. This becomes especially evident when attempts are made to transform the ever expansive interpretations of democracy into actual, tangible practice. An idea - however widely admired in theory - remains only as effective and representative as the mechanisms and persuasions in place to implement it into practice. How people interpret an idea and manipulate its indefinite principals - however self-serving at times or benevolent at others - will determine the subsequent outcomes.
The otherwise seemingly rigid, authoritative value structure with which our culture tends to affiliate democracy - underpinned with notions of freedom and liberty - is instead, and in distinct contrast, an evolving entity intertwined in perpetual transformation, by way of unending reinterpretation. A likely reason for this is the fact that values - the likes of freedom and liberty -typically revolve around one's unique concept of fairness, followed closely by one’s unique concept of the manner in which justice is best served. Thus, given the fact that any number of socioeconomic, spiritual, and cultural factors can shape a diverse range of opinion on what is and is not just, it becomes less certain that one nationally-accepted democratic ideal exists.
Some might argue that perhaps a stronger consensus on the ideals of democracy is more likely to surface from the process in which such innumerable interpretations are reconciled. Yet, even our nation’s earliest leaders exhibited fundamental divergence in their understanding of the ideal democratic process. A key example can be found in the matter of education. In American Education, historian Joel Sp...
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.... As an educator, I will aim to cultivate within my students qualities that strengthen both their roles as members of an economy and roles as civic participants. Respectively, these are roles that can serve to fortify the United State’s economic vitality and resiliency, and reconcile the inevitable injustices, and reward the that result from economic dynamism. The capacity of our nation to endure the will be contingent on our citizen’s ability to serve effectively in each of these complementary roles.
Works Cited
Spring, J. H. (2008). American education (13th ed.). Boston : McGraw-Hill.
PBS Online: Only a Teacher: Schoolhouse Pioneers. PBS: Public broadcasting service. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html
Sleeter, C. (2008). Teaching for Democracy in an Age of Corporatocracy. Teachers college record, 110(1), 139-159.
Democracy may be the best foundation on which to build a society, but to glorify it
Janda, K., Berry, J., Golman, J., & Hula, K. (2009). The Challenge of Democracy: American
Janda, Kenneth, Jeffrey M. Berry and Jerry Goldman. The Challenge of Democracy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Schiller, W. J., Geer, J. G., & Segal, J. A. (2013). Gateways to democracy: introduction to American government, the essentials. (2nd ed.). Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth ;.
A democratic society is one in which its members have their own informed opinions and have the freedom to define their role in society. John Dewey argues that a democratic society can only function if students receive an education that fosters critical thinking and analysis. However, modern-day high schools are inadequately preparing students to become exemplary citizens because schools withhold students in unfavorable settings while emphasizing irrelevant curricula and failing to expose students to the liberal arts.
Dye, T. R., Zeigler, H., & Schubert, L. (2012). The Irony of Democracy (15th ed.).
Landy, Marc and Sidney M. Milkis. American Government: Balancing Democracy and Rights. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Democracy is rule by the people; the people elect governing officials based off of their personal values and beliefs. Different political parties rule the political scene and are serving to represent the people’s opinions in the best ways possible. Previously, I had a belief that my political view was essentially the only one possible and therefore it was the best. These views changed quickly once I learned the different political parties, their views, how they represent the people’s views, and how public opinion shapes politics. The government is formed around differentiating opinions on which policies should be in place and which social aspects need to be considered first. Not only is the government guided by opinion, but the people’s lives are guided by opinion as well. Each individual holds a different view, and each view can have an influence on society. Fortunately, after roughly eight weeks of studying American Government, I now have a better sense of complexity and the value of
1. Janda, Kenneth. The Challenge of Democracy. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA. 1999. (Chapter 3 & 4).
To many, the Unites States serves as the ideal model of democracy for the modern world. Yet, how truly worthy is America of this status? Although it has been said that, “Equality is as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie,” one must be extremely critical when analyzing such a statement. By taking a historical perspective to the question of how “equal” American equality actually is, it is simple to recognize how problematic the “Land of the Free” mentality can be. The early America’s most prominent thinkers have been sensationalized and given credit for developing a free and equal system. However, one can recognize that their manner of thinking was far from this idea of “all men are created equal” by critical examination of their literature.
Human history is pock-marked with innumerable wars and revolutions. The cause for most of the revolutions has been the choice of freedom. The opportunity to live a life without physical, mental or emotional restrictions has been and still is of supreme importance to man. This has resulted in the most widely followed discipline of political governance: Democracy.
One of the contemporary definitions of democracy today is as follows: “Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives; Rule by the majority” (“Democracy” Def.1,4). Democracy, as a form of government, was a radical idea when it manifested; many governments in the early history of the world were totalitarian or tyrannical in nature, due to overarching beliefs that the strong ruled over the weak.
In comparing the average citizen in a democratic nation, say the United States, to that of a non-democratic nation, for instance Egypt, it will be found that the citizen in the democratic nation is generally better off – free of persecution, free from fear of the authorities, and free to express his opinions on governmental matters. And while national conflicts occur everywhere, incidents like violent revolts have shown to be more prevalent in nations where citizens are not allowed to choose who governs them. It is slightly paradoxical that democracy, so inherently flawed in theory, can lead to such successful outcomes in practice. The question, then, becomes: “If democracy has so many weaknesses, why does it work?”
Democracy is robust, widely accepted and highly anticipated around the world. It is the triumphant form of government; dominantly used in Europe, North and South and America and becoming reformed and taking new roots in Africa and Asia. Although the term democracy is based on its Greek origin, demos kratos, meaning people rule, the term cannot be simply understood as such. Due to vast coverage, the adaptation of democracy has varied greatly, whether regionally, nationally, by state or through different branches of government. Perhaps this can be advantageous when the different categorizations listed above can use democracy to rule and suit themselves best, but other factors, such as globalization and neoliberalism, has caused the need for
...titutions and most importantly the citizens. To expect all the citizens in a democracy to lack ambition and greed is practically impossible, especially when modern society teaches individuals that ambition is a necessary component of success. Yet, there are nations that do ascribe to the democratic ideals as realistically as possible. By allowing and encouraging citizens to vote and by creating and implementing laws equally these democratic governments are instituting some of the most important ideals of a democratic government.