I’m watching Bonhoeffer right now. It’s a documentary on the life of the German theologian and pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
A thought struck me early on. Germany had been given democracy after the first world war. When I say given, I mean it was forced upon them. The german monarchy was dismantled and democracy was set up as one of several means to ensure Germany would never send the world to war again.
I have been saying that giving democracy to those who have not asked for it, sought for it, or fought for it themselves is a dangerous proposition. I had not realized that history gives incredible support. Remember, Hitler was elected.
Sidenote: New podcast is finally coming tomorrow… Je promets, mes amis!
that’s a new thought to me — forced them to take democracy, and within 20 years they have a dictator of the worst sort.
is this your original idea, mr. hartung?
tammy
January 29th, 2005
I don’t know about original, but I couldn’t tell you where I got the thought from. Except that the Bonhoeffer documentary I was watching noted that Hitler rallied support by offering a type of return to the monarchy. He had no intention of staying democratic, but he rose to power through Germany’s forced democracy.
How do you think Iraqis are going to vote if they feel humiliated a few years from now?
Anonymous
January 29th, 2005
they could go in the direction that iran went.
tammy
January 30th, 2005