- Nov 25, 2011
- 209
- 26
True. Given you have scoped the discussion, we can talk about Athenian democracy.
Chattel slavery was rampant in Athens.
Women and metics could not vote nor participate in politics.
Surely democracy as evolved since then. On a side note, Sparta and Athens were sworn enemies of each other and both had very different ways of doing things. I dont know if Sparta was a democracy, but spartan women certainly enjoyed more rights than their athenian counterparts.
Romans (who were influenced by the Greeks) took slavery to a whole new level, and a lot of the slave force was comprised of ethnic europeans. I dont know if you have heard about it, but I recommend reading about Spartacus.
Also, what of Juan Peron and his oppressions in Argentina during the 1950s?
Argentina was a democracy during that time, yes?
Yes it was a democracy. Repression was directed mostly againts political and ideological dissidents: right vs left *yawn*. My parents have been peronistas since they emigrated to Argentina and they passed it on to me, sort of...althought I dont like politics.
By the way, im not saying that democracy doesnt have faults. Goverments tend to give their own interpretation of democracy to legitimicize their policies so I tend to digests their speeches with a grain of salt.
Well there was slavery, Indian removal courtesy of the US military, discrimination based on ethnicity or religion, taking of lands ... err.... "right of discovery" courtesy of the Marshall Supreme Court, State sponsored terrorism through such groups as the KKK, Jim Crow, Slave Codes, Black Codes, and much more !!
That's merely the tip of the iceberg ....
*gasp* reading about all that is going to take a while man... but thanks for pointing me in the right direction .