When tumult becomes monotony, the world beckons change. The consistent outbursts of corruption, violence and death in the Middle East and the African continent have not only desensitized spectators to atrocity but nullified hopes for change.
The allure of the revolutions today is a matter of shifting tides.
Now that the Western World has been shown sufficient proof of the disparity between radicalized governments in the Middle East and their subjects, we wonder where such a progression leads. Thus far, the progression has consisted (vaguely in this order) of rallies, violence, a resignation, an interim government and attempts by the populace to regain normalcy stifled by spikes in sectarian violence.
With the global community now directly involved, we ponder the final outcome of these struggles.
If one is to hold democracy as the ideal outcome as I fervently do, therein lies a question no one wants to ask and even fewer wish to answer: Is democracy what these people need? Are they ready for it?
This is not about secularists, moderates or protesters but the minority groups that give bad names to nations and ruin politics for all.
Democracy has many demands the members of a society must uphold for it to work, however, which often poses a problem. For one, they must be tolerant and allow equal participation by all regardless of ethnicity and religion.
With tolerance also comes mutual respect to the human condition, along with an acceptance of every person’s basic rights — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For example, when riots in Afghanistan rage for days attacking U.N. officials and killing dozens because of the bigotry of a man in another hemisphere, is tolerance shown?
What about when churches are burned in Egypt over inter-religious lovers?
When considering the prospects of democracy, the multitude of incongruous, irreconcilable sects find themselves under the magnifying glass.
The reason Hezbollah collapsed the Lebanese government through mass resignation is the same reason Hamas recently beat protesters and journalists in Gaza: neither sect will compromise or reconcile itself with modern politics.
Hezbollah punished Lebanon for cooperating with the U.N., and Hamas punished Gaza for seeking unity with Palestine.
Extremism earns its name through a lack of negotiation and the refusal to compromise. It’s all or nothing for them, and extremists take pride in integrity. The truth, however, is that no individual religion can compromise on such a level that its laws, whether voted upon democratically or not, may be applied fairly to all of society.
Another standard for democracy emerges: secularism.
So are the revolutionary nations of the Middle East ready for democracies?
Perhaps some, but not all.
While places exist like Tunisia — with modernized, secular governments and relatively peaceful people — there exist far more countries plagued by tribal and sectarian violence that will not subside under popular vote alone.
Perhaps leaders like Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia or Hosni Mubarak of Egypt were not correct in forcibly stamping out extremism, but they did understand that democracy, among other freedoms, cannot be implemented in a society where extremism exists. Not without an iron fist.
Obviously, the answer will never be black and white, but secular and ethnic tolerance are indicators of the natural progression to democracy that can be monitored.
Democracy, however, is not a one-size-fits-all program. The shoe can only be worn once it fits the populace.
Democracy demands compromise and respect. There can be no Montagues and Capulets, no extremist “us vs. them” and, most importantly, no risk of violence when the radical minority is asked to compromise for the moderate majority.
As the revolutions of today have shown us, the day of democracy draws nearer and toleration of the intolerant is depleting. The day is coming, but there remains much work to be done.
Clayton Crockett is a 19-year-old international studies freshman from Lafayette. Follow him on Twitter
@TDR_Ccrockett.
 
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Contact Clayton Crockett at [email protected]