http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOAtz8xWM0w
"In the decade that followed, chaotic social and economic changes as well as lurching attempts at reform gave democracy a bad name. Many people welcomed the stability that Mr. Putin brought, even at the cost of some democratic freedoms." (The New York Times, August 19, 2011.)
Oh.
" [Former (and Future)] Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, called the fall of the Soviet Union the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.' "(Same)
Et tu, Poot-poot?
In Germany free elections in 1932 and 1933 resulted in the ascendancy of the the National Socialist Party and Adolph Hitler to power. What the German people wanted was bad for America, bad for the world, bad (ultimately) for the German people. The fall of the Soviet Union, America's World War II ally against Nazi Germany and Cold War enemy, was what the Russian people wanted and has been good for America, good for the world and good for Russians--unless you ask (some of the) Russian people and Vladimir Putin.
“ 'At that time in Russia, behind the Iron Curtain, we had only heard of democracy,” said Mr. [Gennady] Veretelny, 54, who was at the time supporting himself as a driver. “We really believed the magical, beautiful word democracy. But a lot of things turned out not exactly the way we expected. We began to ask ourselves what we spilled our blood for.' ” (Ditto)
That's a meaningful statement. Democracy was an abstraction--"magical, beautiful"--for some Russians, not a practical mode of governing. It seemed to me that something like this was going on in Tahrir Square in February. Some of the protesters there chanted for democracy, some chanted against Israel and America and most chanted for President Mubarak to go. Most chanted for Mubarak to go. Democracy, it seems to me, was a "whatever." It was thrown out there whenever Western observers asked them what they wanted instead of what they didn't want, which was really all they were saying.
Any people are capable of democracy. Some don't want it enough. Some get buyers remorse after they have it. Democracy does not necessarily result in a "good" government: not necessarily in a government good for the world, good for America, or good for the people exercising democracy.
Image: Chair, League of Women Voters, Moscow.
