The Arrival of True Democracy

Democracy, as outlined by Aristotle from the very beginning, is based on the principle of equal access to power for everyone in society. Over the last two weeks we have begun to see the arrival of true democracy to the world, not through the firing of guns and wars on terror but in the very buildings where democracy is, or at least should be, taking place.

Following the pomp and circumstance of Barack Obama’s inauguration as America’s first black president (yes, it is ok to say that), another victory for democracy will be taking place with slightly less pageantry (but no less importance) in the financially fraught nation of Iceland. Johanna Sigurdardottir, the current foreign affairs minister is expected to take over the reigns for the ailing Geir Haarde.

But why is this such a big deal? That’s exactly the point! Let me explain.

In his speech last Tuesday, Barack Obama pointed out how “a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath...” At the same that Obama was elected as president, a country with a gruesome history of racism took a huge step towards the further not just the eradication of racism but to moving past race as a barrier to true democracy.

Jump ahead, one week later and another wall is being torn down as Johanna Sigurdardottir will become the first openly gay women to become a Prime Minister. Yet that question still lingers: Why is this such a big deal? The truth is it’s not.

Although moments like Obama’s inauguration and the selection of Johanna Sigurdardottir draw attention and headlines it is actually the subsequent silence that is most significant; not silence on the issue of homosexuality but the silence of the critics. A silence that signifies a realization of the equality we share as human beings regardless of our skin colour, sexuality, religion, or beliefs and the insignificance of everything that works against this principle. The silence that marks the arrival of a true democracy.

Despite these significant steps however it is clear there is still work to be done. The fact that the headlines will no doubt cite Sigurdardottir’s sexual orientation is proof enough that we are still not totally comfortable with homosexuality. If we were, maybe we would instead hear the story how Sigurdardottir worked her way up as a flight attendant in the 60’s and 70’s and has been a mainstay in Icelandic politics since 1978. Maybe we would hear the story of how she missed an opportunity to become leader of the Social Democratic Party in 1994 and marked her defeat with the quote: “My time will come.”

These traits of hard-work and commitment, which mirror those virtues profiled in Obama’s speech last week, make her seem like a perfect candidate to bring Iceland out of a very dark period. Wouldn’t it have been a shame if she had been ignored because of who she was?

It is very seldom in the news we hear anyone applaud anyone for anything but in my view several positive steps have been taken in the last few weeks for both democracy and equality. I sincerely hope that these moments will not be forgotten, but that their memory will put to rest the irrelevant and un-democratic roadblocks we have been obstructed by for so long.

Will Grassby

Responding to Anarchy and the Somalian Pirate Attacks

After reading about the latest in the recent string of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean I found myself brooding over these events and trying to understand them on a different level. The most recent pirate attack involved the hijacking of an oil-tanker holding over 2 million barrels of oil that is estimated to be worth about $100 million US.

With that being said is it at all surprising the reports of the US taking military action against Somali pirates began surfacing this afternoon? After all, oil is the currency of the Bush administration.

For just a second however, let’s take a look at this from a different perspective. While in no way justifying piracy, the fact is that Somalia is a country that has been emblematic for anarchy and was last year named number 3 on a list of the top failed states in the world. With no defined governing body and lawlessness abiding throughout the country, who is there to condemn these actions? In a place where there are so many have-nots and no authority to turn to, is it any surprise that groups of people band together and take what it is they need?

Of course these pirates are not the have-nots of the Somali society and they are both well-organized and equipped. At the same time however they are not necessarily the blood-thiristy, eye-patched buccaneers the Western world might be familiar with. In fact, these pirates originated as a response to illegal commercial fisherman that had mined the Somali waters of a previously rich tuna-stock. In an article that appeared in The New York Times in September after a Ukranian ship loaded with arms was hijacked, the pirates are quoted as having no idea that ship had any arms on board and saying that “Killing is not in our plans...We only want money so we can protect ourselves from hunger.” Now, I am not one to believe a pirate word for word and I doubt very highly that these pirates would go hungry if they had not hijacked this ship; however their disposition is hardly that of a group of people looking for a fight. The crews aboard hijacked ships are kept safe and even treated to fine cuisine purchased off credit from local merchants who know that more than fair reimbursements will arrive when a ransom is negotiated for the ship’s safe return. What’s more is that these pirates have been rumoured to be pumping money in the economy of local Somali villages and even funding schools.

Now let’s put this back in perspective. Pirates are thieves. They have moved beyond a reactionary group against illegal fisherman to a multimillion dollar criminal organization that puts every ship passing through these waters at risk. They affect the international economy and with this attack against the MV Sirius Star they have attacked well outside Somali waters. It has reached a point where attacks are almost daily with 11 attacks to date this month alone. Clearly something has to be done to restore aquatic security in the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding area.

An Indian warship yesterday destroyed a large pirate-ship and, although no official numbers have arrived, likely killed pirates in the process. Can this be justified?
Can these pirates, who have not been proven to be involved in piracy with violent intentions, be legitimately shot at and killed? In my opinion this is merely seeking to conquer lawlessness with lawlessness. The sinking of ships and killing of pirates will not solve the causal problem behind piracy. These pirates have made up their own rules in the lack of any others and until a stable government is in place in Somalia other people will continue to follow this example.

As an anecdote I would like to mention an ironic twist involving one of the hijackings by Somali pirates. The Ukrainian ship that was hijacked on Sept. 25 was carrying a load of tanks and other arms to Kenya which were likely going to be sold illegally to Sudan for use in the ongoing war in the Darfur region through which over 250,000 people have died. In light of this, despite the high profile pirates have gained in the news recently, one has to ask oneself if they are truly the greatest threat to humanity. Perhaps their prominence in the news is due to the threat they pose against the sustenance of Western dominance through the disruption of commerce. When seen this way it is a little bit clearer why the US is all of the sudden taking things more seriously just two days after 2 million barrels of oil became involved.

Will Grassby