Be What God Made You Essay, Research Paper
Be What God Made You
?Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the ?worst? form of Government except all those others that have been tried time to time.? Winston Churchill, after being witness to several forms of government, agreed with most free peoples that democracy is the best choice of government. Democratic governments offer its citizens the freedom to conduct their own affairs as they see fit, provided it is within the bounds of the law. Most people see democracy?s greatest attributes as the philosophy of one ballot, one vote, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Admittedly, a democratic government is not perfect, but it is still better than most other forms of government.
Democracies embrace British philosopher, John Loke?s idea that the leader is allowed to rule by consent of the people. The people are allowed to show their consent by casting ballots. Despite the fiasco behind Election 2000, this system of choosing leaders has proved to be a good one. Part of the appeal of the democratic voting practice is the philosophy of one ballot, one vote and the fact that once the election is over and the votes are counted, the victor is declared without question. People are not allowed to vote more that once per election and elections are not held repeatedly until the results are to the liking of one of the candidates. This was not the case in Germany when Adolf Hitler was vying for power. Hitler forced several elections to be held until the results were in favor of his political party. To help ensure favorable results, people were taken to polling places so they could vote several times for the Nazis.
One of the most basic freedoms granted to citizens in a democratic society is the freedom of speech. Not having to fear retribution for one?s words are seen by most as a God-given right. On the other hand, in the former Soviet Union, citizens were constantly in fear that their words would gain them time in prison. If someone were heard saying something deemed inappropriate, the State Secret Police would arrest the person and throw him or her in prison. If that person was found guilty of saying something grievously wrong, they could face possible execution. Democratic peoples take for granted, but are still thankful for, their freedom of speech.
America was colonized because of the quest for freedom of religion. This right was desired so much that when the nation was founded, this right was ensured to all citizens. British descendants are especially thankful for this right, because when Britain was still under a monarch?s rule, the subjects were expected to worship God as the monarch saw fit. This policy was so fervently followed by the rulers that they went so far as to execute those that did not worship the ?right? way. Freedom of religion is one of the reasons democracies are favored around the world.
Even with all its imperfections, the democratic form of government is still favored by free peoples the world-over. Democratic peoples embrace the philosophy of one ballot, one vote, relish in the right to free speech, and thank God for the right to worship him as they feel is right. Henry Ward Beecher sums democracy up best by saying: ?The real democratic idea is, not that every man shall be on a level with every other, but that every one shall have liberty, without hindrance, to be what God made him.?