Definition of "democracy" - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Why Turkey May Need a Coup d'État
in response to reader comment: shame

Submitted by Baris Tarim, May 30, 2007 19:02

The problem is that most people do not understand what democracy means: it is not just a ballot box. In the same way that Huga Chavez started chewing at the democractic process after being elected "democractically", the same goes for people like Erdogan who do not understand that "democracy" is much more than simply winning a bunch of votes: that's called plebiscitarianism, NOT democracy. Secularism is an integral part of democracy, without it there can be no democracy (according to its correct philosophical definition). The proof? Ahmedinajad was also "elected", so were the Nazis in 1932. Elections do NOT equal democracy. The army has all the right to intervene to uphold the principles of secularism and the TRUE democracy, in other words, one without religious fundamentalism creeping all over the place. That's the difference between "mob rule" and democracy.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
It is shameful that you have posted such a terrible, discriminating article. He should have preached democracy not military intervention. [MORE]	selcuk gul	May 5, 2007 12:12
The problem is that most people do not understand what democracy means: it is not just a ballot box. In...	Baris Tarim	May 30, 2007 19:02
The Turkish prime ministers tricks are similar to those used by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Correa in Ecuador and some... [MORE]	leah	May 4, 2007 19:12
People seem to forget that even in America - birthplace of modern democracy - the vote was orginally only granted... [MORE]	Scott Baker	May 4, 2007 12:08
Its is sad and pathetic how the AK party takes advantage of the uneducated, people of Turkey and uses religion... [MORE]	Feride	May 4, 2007 12:02
Seculars in Turkey are majority Muslims. Islamist ideology is supported by a minority of Turkish people. The AKP that got... [MORE]	Umut	May 4, 2007 08:59
I live in Turkey and I have been following developes very closely both with the Turkish press as well as... [MORE]	David	May 4, 2007 03:23
Ibrahim is right on target with this column. In a democracy you just can't let the wrong people win elections...I... [MORE]	Martin	May 4, 2007 02:50
Man, your views on Turkey are so misguided, I don't know where to start. You clearly don't have a clue... [MORE]	Steven Devijver	May 4, 2007 02:28
At last some sensible comentator after reading rubish from European and American news agencies. [MORE]	Franz	May 4, 2007 02:13

Reader comment on:Why Turkey May Need a Coup d'Étatin response to reader comment: shame

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Reader comment on:
Why Turkey May Need a Coup d'État
in response to reader comment: shame