I once recall the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan sharing with us how 'DEMOCRACY' is a very high and advanced form of government. Democracy is defined as "government by the people; especially: rule of the majority" (Merriam-Webster).
In the word's Greek root, "Demos" means people. And "-cracy" comes from "Kratos" meaning rule. Hence, "democracy" is the rule of the people. But what people are mature enough morally to sustain a democracy?
For those of us who are parents, when our children were very young, what form of government did you rule your house with? Was it democratic, where your house was run by the rule of the children? Of course not, because no people can successfully self-govern before education and moral discipline. When we lack education in the area of self-preservation, social respect, and knowledge of human needs, we CANNOT be self-ruled. Instead, we have to be governed.
So, once again, how did your parents govern the household where you were raised? Was your father present? Was he the breadwinner, or was he an absentee? Most of us were raised primarily by our mothers. What did she teach you that has educated you beyond her limitations?
One day, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was teaching me how when we have children, they carry many of our traits, to the degree that— at times—we see in them a reenactment of the not-so-good part of ourselves. The Minister taught me that this produces an opportunity for us as parents, to correct—with the right approach in the children— what was not corrected in ourselves. I love this concept! It does not make parenting easy, however, it's helpful for all of us who are parents in developing the right approach in correcting in them, what may have taken us 50 years to correct in ourselves.
Arguments and in-house quarreling can be deadly, particularly when you can acknowledge self-hatred and rage reflected in another, what you hide against yourself. Loving ourselves and hating ourselves can be reflected in how we treat someone who is like us. Once again, 'democracy' is a very high and advanced form of government that does not work unless we have matured as a people in the area of self-mastery.
Remember the words of Michael Jackson wherein he says: "We are the world We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me" (1985).
Democracy is about choices that can only be made when we are mature enough culturally, intellectually, and humanely, into making compassionate decisions. The enemies of democracy (rule of the people) are sexism, racism, and classism. Democracy does not work under a monarchy. When democracy is governed by a monarchy ideology, that kind of democracy is inherently a hypocrisy that disallows freedom, justice, and equality for all, regardless of their creed, class, and color.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us an immutable truth in the following simple words: "any people that will not treat you right, will not teach you right".
I'll close for now with a final thought: When the rule of a people is devoid of the desire for your own brethren what you desire for yourself, this lack of moral integrity will turn "demos" into "demon", and that's where instead of "rule of the people" we experience rule of the devil.
Until the next time— there's a choice we all must make: we must choose the rule of GOD, which will secure for us freedom, justice, and equality, regardless of our creed, class, or color.