Our country has always been a land of many immigrants, including when the first settlers came to lands already inhabited by Native Americans. We still see many people wanting to immigrate to the United States. On the one hand, Americans can be proud that our democracy is seen by so many people as a desirable system in which to live. On the other hand, it is sad that many people want to leave the land of their birth because the living conditions there are politically unstable or downright dangerous. People typically want to remain in their home countries, but fearing harm to themselves or their families, many are turning to the United States for a safe place to live and work.
Why do so many countries in our world today appear to be often poorly governed, subject to corruption, or in unstable situations that foster danger and violence? Is this the case? These conditions are prompting residents to seek immigration to the United States. Japan is certainly not perfect, but in the 235 years since its founding as a constitutional republic, thanks to the efforts and hard work of many people, we have become a country that boasts a high level of prosperity compared to many other countries. But the question arises: why has the United States been able to establish a well-functioning and constantly improving democracy while so many other countries in the world have not been able to establish free and stable democracies?
This is not a question of America’s leaders and people being smarter than the leaders and people of other countries. When you look at the history of each country, you begin to understand the differences. Most of the early American settlers came from societies where people had experience organizing themselves. This is because the English Revolution and the rise of parliamentary power in the 17th century meant that people no longer had to live under top-down government and could gain experience of self-government. Participation in numerous groups and organizations became a common experience. These were common in Puritan Congregational, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches. Many settled in America. When the French scholar Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in 1831, he observed the United States’ tendency to form associations, which he reported on in his book Democracy in America. Many members of the church were experienced in electing leaders, but in addition there were many other types of associations organized for special purposes such as politics, education, exploration, and business. .
As a more recent example, many of my friends and I have gained experience in elections and officiating meetings in fraternities, churches, and various other groups. We and most groups used the 19th century “Robert’s Rules of Order” parliamentary procedure. When I went to Taiwan, I saw Taiwanese and indigenous people learning how to conduct meetings and conduct elections in churches based on certain rules of order adopted by the church. This certainly helped Taiwan become a strong democracy.
My purpose in this brief review of history and current experience is to emphasize that democracy is a type of organization that is learned, rather than something that develops naturally. The more experience people have in democratic organizations, the better it is for society as a whole. Democratic organizations and activities should be integrated into school education and everyday experience. We live in his 2024 presidential election year, and there are many opportunities to observe and discuss democratic practice. One of the key elements of democratic politics is freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Governments can kill democratic movements by controlling the press and spreading false propaganda. This has not been easy in American society, but so far, free speech and a free press have produced a tremendous amount of information for Americans to digest. Competing sources are important so people can hear all sides of an issue. Democracies require a certain sophistication that gives citizens the ability to think critically. In other words, democratic citizens must strive to distinguish between lies and exaggerations and statements that more accurately convey reality.
Like all human endeavors, American democracy is not perfect, but a long experience that includes many difficult struggles has improved the ability of the American people to make choices that strengthen and preserve American democracy. American democracy faces challenges every election. It is the people’s responsibility to protect democracy, especially this year when so many falsehoods have been heard.
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