She was amused to hear Bush describe America as the ‘worlds oldest democracy!’ and says its that sort of arrogance that infuriates the rest of the world.
2000 years of European history just swept aside………………
for the record
Athens invented democracy……….
Iceland has the world’s oldest elected parliament, dating from 930 AD, however New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant universal adult suffrage in 1893,. although the Isle of Man predates that
In the UK we did have a little thing called the Magna Carta and a Civil war over the issue of Parliamentry supremacy…………………………..
Perhaps a history lesson may help to reduce the sense of self importance!
Doesnt he get any advisors?
I am sure the whole of Europe is grateful for the US ’s civilising influence!
A case of re writing history to suit!
Before anyone starts arguing about it please look at
She says this sort of thing is most infuriating! I tend to agree with her. Perhaps Hollywood can rewrite the history of democracy for us?
What? Lol, did he really say that?
Comment by Sophia Marsden — November 30, 2008 @ 12:17 pm |
He also said this right after the Mumbai attack. “The world’s largest democracy can be rest assured that the World’s oldest democracy will stand by it.” The words might be slightly changed though.
Comment by Kris — April 30, 2009 @ 2:08 pm |
I am afraid so, it must be very embarrasing for anyone in the US who has had a decent education!
Comment by madpam — November 30, 2008 @ 2:51 pm |
Thank God it wasn’t just me that nearly fell off my chair when I heard him say that.
Comment by Owen — December 1, 2008 @ 2:22 am |
I mean, they had slavery until the mid Victorian era! A bit of a blind spot there!
Comment by madpam — December 1, 2008 @ 9:22 am |
What about the isle of Mann? and didn’t Athenians have slaves? The iroquois in the uS? We have been trying to get at this idea of oldest democracy all morning…I know the west would love it to be Greek and then Roman and origin…I wonder?
Comment by JOhn — January 25, 2009 @ 7:41 pm |
Yes, in fact there is nowhere that had complete democracy, but conceptually the Greeks are often agreed to have invented the idea, and historically there have been quite a few cultures where decision making was taken by the majority ( usually white male) but to suggest its the United States is really irritating!Its more of a western idea than any other becuase of the rise of the individual, in many other cultures the loyalty is towards the group, rather than individuals e.g China
Comment by madpam — January 26, 2009 @ 9:46 am |
Having a parliament does not alone make you a democratic institution. Iceland had a king. I think most reasonable people would say if you have a king you can’t truly be a democratic institution as most Americans think. They didn’t even get true independence from Denmark until 1918. It is LAUGHABLE to think a country is a democracy if it is in FACT controlled by some other country?!
That said, if not all citizens are allowed to vote I think the same can be said. Blacks didn’t get the right to vote until about 100 years ago, women didn’t get the right to vote until 80 years ago. That is a much stronger argument for why America is not the oldest “democracy.” Besides, technically the US is classified as a Republic, as is most other “democracies.”
No body on this topic will ever agree because everyone on this topic has a different definition of what a democracy is.
I would define a democracy as ALL citizens get to vote for EVERY leadership position including the top position.
Comment by vectorsrule — March 1, 2009 @ 2:09 pm |
Well, to talk in terms of kingship is not to understand the true nature of a constitutional monarchy which is there to ensure no one person ever has supreme power and provide continuity. Its certainly not to rule in the old fashioned concept of kingship, which is why we had a civil war. The point is that the concept of democracry is evolutionary and nowhere has an ideal democracy, but to lay claim to being the oldest democracy is ridiculous and takes no account of the experience of other countries. Its that level of arrogance which is so alienating. Of course nowhere is perfect, but then that the point that needs to be made. To make a claim like that makes America a laughing stock.
Comment by madpam — March 2, 2009 @ 8:08 pm |
Say there, did you see where Hillary, the World’s Smartest Woman, said to EU leaders yesterday 3-6-9, that the US’s Democracy was older than European Democracys?
Let’s hear some mocking of her now.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5253XS20090306?sp=true
Comment by Billy — March 7, 2009 @ 5:54 pm |
It gets worse
Comment by madpam — November 24, 2009 @ 10:02 pm |
I live in Hong Kong and what is really surprising is that when you talk to some people here they assume that the US invented democracy. When I ask them why they think that they say they don’t know. Its just assumed. Maybe its because of the Statue of Liberty which of course was actually a French idea. There are lots of people inside and outside of the US that assume that the Americans invented democracy, probably because they are so vocal in promoting it.
Comment by john — November 28, 2009 @ 3:13 am |
The Isle of Man has the oldest democratic parliament in the world 979!!
Comment by Chris — June 22, 2011 @ 1:20 am |