== US DEMOCRACY: INHERENT CONTRADICTIONS ==
Namaskar,
In the wake of the current economic meltdown, to some degree capitalism is
coming under fire, yet the glory of democracy is still soaring. However,
we know that this is short-lived.
Prout is the ultimate socio-economic system, this we all know; yet in this
present era still "everyone" is running after democracy-- mistakenly
thinking that "D" is the panacea. Of course we A'nanda Ma'rgiis are aware
that on so many points Baba has openly exposed the loopholes & weaknesses
of democracy. So the theory itself is faulty. And, in the practical realm
also, here in this present world, the 'bastion of democracy' itself is
riddled with hypocrisy-- therefore making it nothing but a 'Mockery of
Democracy'.
TWO POINTS
Here are two points that are raided in this letter. The first revolves around
voting rights and the second centers on indigenous cultural expression.
MACRO PERSPECTIVE
At the same time the greater overall picture is that the US again & again
likes to herald itself as one of the 'great civilisations'-- the essence of
modern democracy. However, those living within and without the US and
especially those living in so-called Third World nations should not naively
view the US as being on some high pedestal. It is not like that: The USA is
not a great nation. Rather each and every day more of its loopholes and
failures are getting leaked onto the scene.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF DEMOCRACY: RIGHT TO VOTE
Everyone on the planet knows this essential fact that the most fundamental
point of any democracy is the right to vote. Indeed the world democratic
leaders pride themselves on this ideal and when toppling any totalitarian
regime or guerilla-style government, those same US / world leaders proclaim
that 'let the people vote in their new representatives and / or president'.
How far those elections are fair and just is another matter. Here the basic
point is that democracy and voting go hand in hand. One is inextricably
linked with the other. Where there is no voting there is no democracy; and
where there is no democracy, voting is not a way of life.
USA CAUGHT IN ITS OWN NET
These days one after another fire is being lit on the US political stage.
All of which undermine the "sanctity" of the US democracy. One such point
is voting rights and why certain citizens in the US are not granted the
right to vote.
In particular the discussion is roaring how those behind bars-- i.e. those
in jail-- in most cases are totally denied the right to vote. According to
US policymakers, just because those citizens did a big or little crime,
then they have totally lost their most basic democratic right: Their right
to vote.
And then, interestingly enough there is another splinter in all of this.
Namely that many behind bars are falsely accused and wrongly sentenced to
US prisons. And in that case also they lose the right to vote.
Of course the US is comprised of 50 states and this debate of whether
prisoners are allowed to vote or not is whipping all around from east to
west & from west to east. And the laws vary from state to state.
In the large majority of states those in prison automatically lose their
franchise-- that is they cannot vote if they are behind bars. But not only
that some states take it one step further: Even after those prisoners have
completed their jail term and are now free to live in society, still they
are not given the right to vote. Such ex-cons remain disenfranchised. Here
is but one classic case from a recent study:
"In 2000, the study says, [the state of] Washington disenfranchised an
estimated 160,000 felons, of whom 144,000 were out of prison." (Seattle
Post Intelligencer, Jan 30 2006)
And like that in each and every state there is some sticking point whereby
in countless cases US citizens are denied the right to vote.
It is no different from how things were in the past. Contemporary
politicians are quick to laud and praise the US as being the greatest and
longest standing democracy in the present world. Yet what they fail to say
is that at the beginning only white land-owners were given the franchise--
no one else could vote. And it took nearly 200 years for the ball to come
full circle (or nearly so) where women, blacks, and youths (18-21 years
old) could vote.
And still today the same claims are being made: That the US is the greatest
democracy of all time yet now our prisons are more full than ever before
and nearly all those inmates are disenfranchised, i.e. denied the right to
vote.
Hence in all the circumstances the US is besieged with hypocrisy and
contradictions. Then how can anyone think that the US is the greatest
democracy on earth, past or present. Yet this is the false billing that the
US gets as it convinces more and more developing nations to formulate a
democratic system based on the glory of the US.
MANY COUNTRIES GRANT VOTING RIGHTS TO PRISONERS
In contrast there are many, many nations around the globe which openly
grant voting rights to prisoners and encourage the democratic electoral
process. These countries include: Israel, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, plus
dozens and dozens of other nations.
WIPING OUT CULTURAL EXPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Yet not only is the retraction of voting rights indicative of the US's
tainted effort in establishing a true democracy. The US also has a horrific
track record with regards to the treatment of native peoples. Everyone is
well aware that in the contiguous 48 states of the US, the red-skinned
native peoples (i.e. 'Indians' )were savagely and brutally destroyed. And
up in the state of Alaska the same genocide was carried out against the
Eskimos.
The ruling elite of the US not only burned the bodies of those native
peoples but also buried their songs, dance, history, and all their cultural
expressions. This is the well-known and proven fact. And now the leaders
and chiefs of these indigenous communities are trying again to raise their
flag and point out the outrageous sins committed against them by the US
government. Unfortunately it is a little too late. Already permanent damage
has been done. The US has effectively wiped out those native societies and
severely broken their backbones.
Yet in their hypocritical stance, nowadays as the "spokesman" of democracy,
the US strongly condemns leaders like Mugabe and the Chinese
government which cracks down on ethnic minorities. So wearing their big
boots of justice the US firmly proclaims that local and native communities
should have their rights represented and protected in those countries. So
in the world arena the US is quick to point their fingers at others in
hopes of making themselves look good. But on their own homefront, the US is
shackled by their own dogma and hypocrisy.
Hence on numerous accounts and multiple ways the US democracy just cannot
stand on its own two feet. Externally the US tells one thing and within
their own borders the opposite is going on.
BABA'S PROUTISTIC SAMAJ SYSTEM FAR OUTSHINES US DEMOCRACY
So from head to toe, Baba's Proutistic form of government is far more
advanced and unquestionably more neo-humanistic than the present day
democratic systems. For starters, included in Prout is Baba's samaj system
which automatically honors and preserves the cultural expressions of all
peoples. Native linguistic expression is looked upon as the cornerstone for
preserving their legacy. And in totally all the 'ways of doing' of
indigenous communities is given deep value. Hence on this point and many
others Prout is the model of social justice-- far better than any of the
standing democracies like the US.
BABA REVEALS THE FACT ABOUT THE FIRST DEMOCRACY
So while the US likes to bask in being the originators of democracy, in one
of His epic discourses on democratic life, Baba has revealed the first
democracy was formed in India in the state of Bihar by the Licchaviis.
Baba says, "The Licchaviis of Vaishali abolished the monarchy and
established the first republic about 2500 years ago. The representatives of
the people were known as Licchaviis, and they formed an executive body
known as Mahalicchaviis through elections. The Mahalicchaviis controlled
the power in Vaishali that was previously controlled by the monarchy." (PNS)
Thus where is there scope for the US to go pounding its chest and
proclaiming themselves as the torchbearers of democracy.
BABA'S BLESSING
Here following is Baba's divine blessing that the day is not far when a
Proutistic form of government will take shape on this dusty earth.
Baba says, "PROUT is the panacea for the integrated progress of human
society. It aims to bring about equilibrium and equipoise in all aspects of
socio-economic life through totally restructuring economics. Without PROUT,
socio-economic emancipation will remain a utopian dream. Only PROUT can
save the world." (PE)
Namaskar,
Punya'tman
Note 1: THE BBC REPORTS ON US "VOTING RIGHTS"
'Prisoner voting: world views'
"Overall, 48 states [out of 50 in the US] deny the vote to serving
prisoners, 33 disqualify parolees from voting, and eight even bar
ex-convicts from the ballot box. Only two states - Maine and Vermont -
place no restrictions on prisoners."
"Conviction rates among ethnic minorities in the US are much higher than
rates among white people. As a result, a much higher proportion of black
and Hispanic people are excluded from the vote."
"This has prompted criticism and even several lawsuits claiming racial
discrimination - particularly in Florida, where it is estimated almost
one-third of black people are denied the vote."
"The state was crucial in deciding the 2000 presidential election in
favour of George W Bush and his Republican Party. Many in the defeated
Democrat Party blamed the disqualification of ethnic minorities -
traditional Democrat voters - for their loss." (BBC, 28 April 2005)
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Jada (Crude) Samadhi
Baba says, "Suppose, one is a great yogii but if there is no love for his
goal, then those suspended propensities are finally converted into crude
matter, that is, the subtle human existence becomes like iron, it becomes
like wood, it becomes like sand. What a deterioration! What a downfall!
This particular type of yoga where a yogii does not bear love for the
Supreme Entity is called 'hat'ha yoga' in Sam'skrta. It is dangerous for
the human elevation." (AV-2, p.18)
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