A Lesson Of Democracy.

I heard that Frederico Mayor Zaragoza, the ex director-general of UNESCO was invited to the RCD “colloque” organized during the 7th November celebration. It seems that he kept praising Bourguiba, Med Ali Charfi and never mentioned the current president which left all the attendees frozen in their seats, not even exercising their favorite sport, applauding.

So I tried to find his speech on the net, unfortunately I could not. But I found another one he made back in 11/7/1992 and I loved it. I find it an answer to many posts and comments on the Tunisphere in the last couple of weeks. A lesson on democracy.

Here is a the introduction of the speech:
'Justice should always come before charity', as Malebranche so rightly said in his Treatise on Morality. Charity is a last resort that is appropriate only in the absence of justice. Humanitarian action, however necessary and however generous, is clearly an acknowledgement of failure[...]

And a selection:

I have recently been rereading 'Al-Muqadimmah', the introduction to the Discourse on Universal History by Ibn Kaldun, and more than one passage struck me by its profound relevance to the present. Allow me, to quote a short extract to you:
'Treating pupils unjustly and with brutality is likely to make them weak and prone to lying and hypocrisy. Through fear of punishment they hide what they really think. They lose those feelings most deserving of the term "human" and fall a prey to others (...). In short, they fall short of their true potentialities and do not achieve the full development of which human nature is capable'.

[...]

Can democrats be trained? Can democracy be taught? Can democracy be a subject for study, like mathematics? Is it a science, a technique on a subject for epistemological study? Can it be passed on, and, if so, how?

[...]
As for the nondemocratic countries - and they still exist intervention is a sensitive issue, but is none the less possible: some of the ingredients of democracy help to foster an awareness of 'citizenship' whatever the regime, and there are other ingredients that, in all countries, are conducive to economic development.

[...]
As far as autonomy is concerned, democracy means an absence of constraint and thus physical and spiritual independence. As far as participation is concerned, it means the association of the governed in the exercise of power. Freedom is an indispensable element of democracy, and consists, in the words of Article IV of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, in 'being able to do anything that does not harm others'.

[...]
Other people, whom we would much prefer to see as a reflection, image or replica of ourselves, disturb us by their very difference; they arouse in us suspicion, reserve,hostility or even hatred.Hence the need to get to know them, so as to be able to understand them, acknowledge their rights,listen to them, enter into a dialogue with them ... in other words, to learn tolerance.

[...]
It is clear, then, that democracy is much more than in institutional structure. It is a 'state of mind' for Pierre Mendès France and, for Thomas Masaryk, 'not only a political concept, but also a moral concept'.

[...]
It is a whole series of values that each country can absorb into itself
according to its own particular genius and its cultural identity.

[...]
A child whose parents and teachers behave democratically will naturally be inclined to adopt the same attitudes. In the
workplace, emulation is of some considerable importance in encouraging democracy. In the media,respect for democratic values will help democracy to become more securely established.

[...]
It is a whole series of values that each country can absorb into itself according to its own particular genius and its cultural identity.

[...]
Corruption and nepotism, for example, are among the evils that undermine democracy.

[...]
For those who are struggling to survive in the morass of ignorance or poverty, a 'bad example' can be enormously destructive. Among the gravest dangers now threatening all democracies and of which the public - and young people in particular - need to be informed, we know how racism, xenophobia,discrimination and social exclusion endanger the very fabric of social organization.

[...]
Freedom in sharing: the first has no meaning without the second, since although democracy is a source of spiritual joy, the demands of the body must also be satisfied.


I really encourage you to read the whole speech. Trust me it is worth your time!