In the run up to this elections that is being touted as a possible turning point in US and world history, it is likely that nothing will change unless numerous democratic process that have fallen into desuetude be revived and strengthened.

In the run up to the ’04 elections, democracy has been forgotten. Rather, democracy – a process where common citizens (not just the majority) influence the direction of policies and actions of the government as well as the nature of the society in which they live – has become synonymous to voting. Democracy, understood as an environment that allows for voices to be heard as well as influence change, unfortunately, continues to be eroded. The processes that engender such an environment continue to be constrained.

Neither party is interested in working to build an environment where a variety of voices can be presented, where discussions can happen and compromises made in a way that respects the humanity of beings who are part of this society – the environment that is democracy. George W. Bush clearly defined his process by claiming that those who are not with him are terrorists. The Republican Party leadership has already said that the only voices that matter are the ones that echo its own. The Democratic National Convention almost presented a déjà vu. The focus on unity ensured that voices that opposed the war were cloistered in a free speech zone decorated by barbed wires and protected by armed personnel far away from the decision making process. Diversity was relegated to an African American leader making a keynote address focusing on unity – there was no space for diverse ideas, dissenting voices, different cultures, diverging philosophies or frameworks. Those presenting themselves as saviors had nothing to say regarding how dissenting voices could co-exists and make decisions through compromise. They had no vision for a working democracy. So the important task of building this democracy is left to the people of the USA.

Unless one counts vicious ranting and abusive gestures as conversations, there have been none on any issue of social and political relevance. On the abortion issue, for example, the pro-life community has labeled the pro-choice groups as immoral and evil. The pro-choice groups, on the other hand, have labeled the pro-life groups as inhuman, unthinking, religious fanatics. Within such an environment, the only interactions have consisted of one group shooting at the other, or ranting at one another during rallies and demonstrations. Strategies of both groups have focused on media campaigns to increase support for their own views or the use of judiciary or legislative arms of government to influence laws. Democratic processes of discussion, and people’s participation through which concerns may be shared and policies that can assuage these fears evolved, remain unused. Unfortunately, with the current strategies used to resolve an issue of such significance, whichever side wins, there will be large sections of the country whose concerns will be marginalized. That is not a democracy.

The processes have been the same for every issue of importance – war, gun control, education, gay rights, health, or taxes. On the issue of the war on Iraq, for example, there was no space for common people to speak with each other; there were no conversations between common people with different opinions. All conversations were delegated to television experts and columnists. Democracy does not work through sparring of media voices or experts; it demands participation of its citizens. In the absence of avenues and spaces for conversations on issues of social or political relevance among people with different views, there is no exchange of human concerns, only shouting of slogans, spouting of rhetoric and expression of anger. When there is no conversation, how can there be any expectation of understanding, of recognition of other concerns, of compromise through sharing of humanity? Instead, the citizens elect a representative and expect that individual to present their concerns. The process of decision-making between representatives is not a process of compromise based on sharing of humanity; it is a process of negotiation influenced by balancing of lobbies and special interest groups. Such a process can be the basis of a market place, not of a democracy. Democracy cannot survive if its only tool consists of elections; it needs the cultivation of a culture of dissension, of discussion, of disagreement in an environment that respects the individual. It needs such an environment built not by institutions of the state but by the people of the land.

It is this democracy that must be reclaimed by the people of the US. It must be rebuilt a person at a time by recognizing his/her humanity, his/her concerns, hopes, fears and dreams, irrespective of his/her ideologies and despite all disagreements. It can begin only with sympathy – sympathy by the pro-life activists for the concerns of a family bringing up children with Downs syndrome, sympathy for a girl who has been raped and must bring up the child born out of this violence even if she is not ready for it. It must begin with sympathy by the pro-choice community for the violence of abortion as well as the fears and insecurities of a religious group whose identity and social structure is threatened. Rebuilding of a democracy must begin with conversations about issues that are of social and political relevance, conversations with friends, with neighbors, with people who have different concerns, different needs. Rebuilding of this democracy must begin with love.

This implies that various activist groups need to rethink their strategies and goals, unconditionally and independent of the strategies that the opposition uses. It implies that groups must recognize that ideologies are but models that help us understand the world, not filters to hate and marginalize people. This implies that communities be built not as a collection of houses but as groups of people with different needs, fears, philosophies and ideologies who recognize the human in each individual and finds ways to live together. It implies that ways must be found that people with opposing views can participate in the process of decision-making.

The excitement over these elections has distracted attention from the fact that it is a democracy that must be rebuilt, not a government. It is time to look beyond these elections; it is time to get to work. To rebuild a democracy. With love.

- Sanat Mohanty