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Editorial:Compare the two, democracy is imperfect but clearly better (Apple Daily Taiwan)

蘋果日報 2020/06/04 14:00


After the African-American man George Floyd was killed by white police officers in the U.S., fierce demonstrations broke out in dozens of U.S. cities. Police used teargas and rubber bullets to handle the situation. President Trump fled into an underground bunker to make a hideout from protesters around the White House. Apart from defining the participating group “ANTIFA” as a terrorist organisation, Trump also criticised that the Democratic governors and mayors were not tough enough in tackling the unrest. Trump threatened to deploy the troops to quell the riots.
China get whitewashed from the U.S. demonstrations
The ongoing demonstrations on anti-racism and the fight for civil rights exposed many problems in the U.S.. China, recently being condemned by the international community for enacting the national security law for Hong Kong, uses those issues as bullets. As the focus of the international world was temporarily shifted, China grabbed the chance to claim that the U.S. is not qualified to have a say on Hong Kong’s civil rights, freedom and democracy. It can be expected that China will continue the same kind of argument to get herself whitewashed. Meanwhile in places like Taiwan, the conservatives and some others will follow. They may disparage the U.S., crying for justice for the CCP, or taking the “In every country dogs bite” logic to question the necessity and value of a democratic system.
We cannot deny that racial issue has always been a shame of the U.S.. African-Americans are still facing different levels of discrimination in different areas. Police officers’ brutal treatment of Floyd was certainly not an exceptional case. Black lives were maltreated. However, the way military police suppress the riots is reminiscent of Hong Kong. While the leader's strong and unforgiving speeches did not match with what people expected from the leader of a democratic country.
Democracy has never been perfect. No matter how advanced a democratic system is or how refined the rule of law or the legislative system is, the dark side in human nature can always find their way to a loophole. However, with democracy, freedom and rule of law, there is always the media who stand-by in critical moments, even though they were stigmatised. If the society is in disarray, the sense of responsibility and mission among the intellectuals are still a stabilising force. Wrong doings of a political leader can be monitored by constitution, the law and congress. Opposition parties can also counter-balance via different ways and mechanisms.
Democracy gives chances to improve
People have weaknesses and they make mistakes; that is why we need democracy. Although the modern democratic system is still unable to avoid mistakes, chaos and tragedies completely, it can minimise their probability, scale and severeness. What is more important is that democracy provides chances to repair and revise. Whistle blowers, media, activists, civic groups, intellectuals, judges, the people..., they form lines of defence. Constitution, law, science, knowledge, accompanied with human rights, morality and awareness of progress are the cornerstones of defending democracy and civilisation.
Of course, it is embarrassing that the turmoil in the U.S. exposed the shortcomings and imperfection of democracy and rule of law. However, That is not a failure of U.S. democracy. Instead, it is the democratic system that allows social problems to be exposed, gain importance through conflicts, and finally have a chance to be treated and resolved.
On the contrary, the leaders in Beijing haven’t changed their mindsets at all. From the June 4th Massacre 31 years ago, to the recent anti-extradition law movement and the imposition of the national security law, people’s will for democracy is always trampled. Suppression is always the only means. The 1.4 billion Chinese are trapped, they hear only one voice while dreaming of a grand revival of their race.
Who dares to imagine, what if the same kind of mass unrest happens in Beijing? When China’s leaders hide into a bunker, do you think the people in Beijing, or the whole country will survive from the bloody scenes?
“In every country dogs bite.” It may be more suitable for describing politicians. On assessing the system’s merits and demerits, Western democracy is yet to be perfect, but it is far superior than the CCP’s so called “Chinese Communism”. China officials thought they picked up bullets, but it is a mirror in fact, where the difference between good and bad is clearly reflected.
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