The Rhetoric of Democracy

Kellner argues that Bush’s Axis of Evil speech, and his general rhetoric and actions toward Iraq and Afghanistan, was a manipulation of the American people in order to push through a “right wing agenda”.  He contends that Bush elicited fear out of American’s in his discussion of foreign and dangerous regimes, in order to push through his own agenda.  Kellner believes Bush manipulated the essential components of democracy, controlling the American people and drawing support out of panic.

Osama bin Laden’s letter to America is a description of why the Muslim world is in opposition to American actions.  He cites reasons such as American support of Israel, and attacks placed on Muslim countries by America. 

Bush’s response to 9/11 in the “Axis of Evil” speech, is a hawkish reply to those who do harm to the American people, and that terrorists and dangerous regimes will be brought to justice by America. 

In all of these readings we see the discussion of democracy.  In Kellner’s piece, it is ways in which leaders can manipulate citizens in a democracy in order to push through their own agenda.  In Osama bin Laden’s letter to America, he writes that the American people have “chosen, consented to, and affirmed their support for Israeli oppression of the Palestinians, the occupation and usurpation of their land, and its continuous killing, torture, and punishment and expulsion of the Palestinians. “ Bin Laden, then, sees American democracy as a threat to the Muslim world, in that because the citizens can choose policy, and since that policy is often perceived as being anti-Middle East, that all Americans must feel the same.  George Bush in his Axis of Evil speech paints democracy and freedom as something that must be defended against evil. 

Being American, it is difficult to view democracy in a negative light.  Often, to Americans, Democracy is the most free and fair regime choice.  It should be spread to countries where the people are oppressed by dictators.  However, it is interesting to understand other viewpoints, in which democracy is used as a tool to manipulate the people who subscribe to it. 

Bin Laden even discusses American tax dollars, arguing that because American’s pay taxes, and since those taxes are going towards bombing Afghanistan, the American people are in complete agreement with their government’s actions.  In America, we know that we cannot always control where our tax dollars go, despite being required to pay them.  Though American’s can see this is a major misunderstanding of democracy, we must also recognize that we misunderstand Islamic values.  Bin Laden views the US as the aggressors, and themselves as victims.  However, it is obvious that Americans felt themselves to be the victims after the 9/11 attacks and felt that the invasion of Afghanistan was warranted, as only about 6% felt it was a mistake to send in military forces (gallup.com).  There is an obvious disconnect between Islamist fundamentalists and the American people in understanding the demands and feelings of each side.  Something as simple as democracy, a regime type that enables citizens to choose their own government, can be viewed completely differently depending on an individual’s values. 

In relations with other nations, it is important to keep in mind that a difference in cultural and religious values will sometimes mean a fundamental disagreement on select issues.  We, as Americans, must make greater efforts to understand Islam and the values associated with the religion.  They too should make greater efforts to understand ways in which American society functions and our cultural values as well.  Though this is not a silver bullet to solve conflicts between the two civilizations, it is a starting point.