총 48페이지

09
Overview
PowertothePeople?
ByLeeYeong-eun
EditorofCultureSection
havetoadmitthatIamdisillusionedwithdemocracies.Whatonceseemedlikethegreatestgift
to mankind by the West, now appears to be a poisoned chalice. Yes, the ideological framework
behinddemocracyissound,butlikeallideals,itisamurkyreflectionofreality.
WithalternativesbeingthecoldregimesofcommunismortheseeminglyharshShariahlawsofthe
MiddleEasternIslamicstates,itseemsinsanetorejectdemocraticrule,forthepastthreedecadeswas
agoldenage.Thegoodtimeshavecoveredupthecracksofthepast.Foryousee,democraciesdonot
guaranteetoupholdthepromiseof“Liberte,egalite,fraternite.”
Ideally, giving power to the people will ensure that every citizen is entitled to fundamental human
rights.Foritisnaturalforapersontowishtobegrantedsuchrights,thecollectivedesireofeveryone
will manifest into a social contract that will guarantee the providence of such entitlements by
constitution. Unfortunately, how humans perceive reality is twisted by their biased views and such
prejudices can become law even till today. As xenophobia sweeps through Europe, parliaments are
debating the merits of imposing restrictions on foreign immigrants. Who can protect the victims if
almosteveryoneisthebully?
Corruption is still rampant. The problem of blessing the power of management over people is that
itcanbecomecorruptandoppressive.Onceplacedinpositionsofpower,somearetemptedtoabuse
their authority for their own private gains. No matter what their nationalities or backgrounds are,
it seems inescapable that some people look after their own self-interest first at the expense of those
theyserve.Perhapsitisaninherentflawofdemocracythateverythinghingesontheintegrityofthe
leaders. Sure, there is the judiciary to hopefully keep in check the elected leaders. But recall how
membersofparliamentcangetawaywiththeircorruptionformanyyearsbeforebeingcaught,orhow
legallyelecteddictatorscangetawaywithactsofevilsuchasgenocidebeforebeingdisposedof.Isit
wisetogivesomuchpowerandhopetoafew?
Thisisnotanattempt tomalignbothdemocraticidealsandthepeoplethattheyseektoprotect.In
fact,asafemale,itisdoubtfulIwouldevenbetypingnow,criticizingtheveryinstitutionthatprotects
me and gives me this right if not for the enormous leap in liberties gained during the struggles
for democracy. However, just as how human rights were first fought for and earned, there must be
continuedandactiveattemptstomaintaindemocracy.Wemustusetheutmostvigilanceinourcivic
responsibilitiesandbeopen-mindedtopreventfreedomfrombeinghijackedbymaliciousinfluences
thatseektospreadprejudiceandpartiality.
yeongeunlee@hufs.ac.kr
DECEMBER 2010

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