Since my situation has been the subject of some interest in many parts of the world, on blogs aswell as in respected newspapers, I deem it appropriate to try to communicate it in English aswell. Thus I have translated into English language the posting below named ”Demokrati och terror”:
I have now been forced to leave my job, mainly because of what I have written in this blog. The positions taken here are pro-democracy, pro-freedom. What I have written against, is terror. More specifically this has resulted in a pro-Israel standpoint, since Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East and the only state in the world facing the threat of obliteration.
No Swedish government would probably claim that Israel is not a democracy. The threat of obliteration has more recently been put forth by two organizations, Hamas and Hezbollah. The European Union has decided that Hamas is to be considered as a terror-organization. Sweden is a member of the EU. Any Swedish government would probably share the opinion of EU.
Nevertheless has my employer – a Swedish governmental agency – taken the position that my endorsement of the democracy in Israel and against terror-organizations is not compatible with me keeping my previous position within the agency. But since my standpoint is aligned with statements and decisions made by Sweden and the EU, I consider the standpoint taken by my employer as an illegal restraint on my freedom of expression that almost amounts to political persecution. To persecute an individual that take a pro-democracy standpoint against terror, a position that also is founded in a corresponding standpoint taken by the Swedish democratic government, should not be possible in a democratic state. But it seems to be happening here and now.
This fact thus raises the question of whether my employer is really sharing the view of the Swedish government that Israel is a democratic state and that Hamas is a terror organization? Does my employer really embrace the values of democracy?
Let us hope so. The treatment of me up until now however speaks an entirely different language.
Well if they are worthless, why discuss them at all?
Happy New Year to you too!
you said ”As for Gaza, I don’t think there will be more elections there with Hamas ruling the area, hence no democracy.”
When they do i will show your readers how your opinions are worthless. till then i hope you have a happy new year.
Jim if you think that Hamas charter is too old to be taken notice of, than what about the US Constitution?
You seem very focused on equating democracy with elections. You may feel free to do so. As for Gaza, I don’t think there will be more elections there with Hamas ruling the area, hence no democracy.
Oh my God, You know better than Jimmy Carter who has been there and talked to both sides? Have you, have you been and talked to both sides?
you said ”The charter of Hamas states explicitly that Israel is to be obliterated by means of war: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp (Artice 13 especially)”
It was written 1988. Parties change and that has happened all over the world, from far right to far left becoming center.
you said ”“Democracy is, i.a., the ability to perform more fair elections than just one.”
i replied” well actually Palestine had 3 elections and all were fair and since you said “Democracy is, i.a., the ability to perform more fair elections than just one.”
then you said ”Then there is more to democracy than elections. It’s a good start, but it’s not enough. ”
My university teachers would have sent you out of the room and tell you think before you talk and don’t keep changing the goal post. My opinion is that you don’t really understand the subject of democracy, all you have done is read wikipedia and say what you think, are you a scholar , but what it is obvious is that you don’t like Hamas, and either do I, but that does not excuse you to changing dictionary definitions.
Remember when EU sanctioned Austria in 2000.
”For the first time in the history of the European Union (EU), diplomatic sanctions have been imposed on a member state. The 14 other EU countries reacted to the entrance of Joerg Haider’s extreme right-wing Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ—Austrian Freedom Party) into the Austrian government by freezing bilateral relations with the alpine republic.” You can read more here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/797136.stm)
and this ”But at the same time, the Swedish prime minister has called the sanctions ”correct and powerful” – and said countries should not pressurise each other into ending the policy.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/920300.stm)
but, here we go again, Austria is still a democracy. Israel, love them or hate them, even every Palestinen in the world would agree, is a democracy. You see, when you live in a democracy, you have to accept the out come and not attack it (if you play the game accept the rules and results, that what makes a person democratic. America has to accept Venezuela is democratic and he was voted in, EVEN if they don’t like him.
I don’t care what Hamas says or wants to do and I hope you don’t think i like Hamas. The people voted for them and that is democracy. If the people voted for sharia law, women have votes there to, then so be it and stop accept that that’s how they want to live. If they don’t like it, they can vote against it.
You said ”I know that next election in Sweden will take place 2010 and in Israel next year, and in the US there was an election this year. But I don’t know when the next election will take place in Gaza. Do you?”
16/12/2008
”We will call for parliamentary and presidential elections soon, very soon, in the West Bank and Gaza.”
”Abbas’ comments, his clearest yet on elections, come at a time of growing animosity between rivals. Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza from Abbas 18 months ago, contends that his term as president ends January 8th 2009.”
(http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1047205.html)
Hamas has only got into power 2007. On thurdays it will be 2009. Did you check out the laws in Palestine stating after how many years is elections. Of course you didn’t, but tell us you opinion how often elections should be in a democracy. You are a very very bad researcher, and a very very bad debater. YOu lack the fundamentals, know the facts before you debate, and you are subjective instead of objective. I say it again i don’t like hamas, i wish that they were not in power but I’m being objective. Israel and Palestine are democratic and are both in the middle east or are we going to debate were the middle east is and what your opinion it should be.
Jim, please read this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/21/israelandthepalestinians.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
Carter says that Hamas want to let Israel live in peace. This is nothing more than a lie. The charter of Hamas states explicitly that Israel is to be obliterated by means of war: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp (Artice 13 especially)
So I am not prepared to take Carter as a witness of truth.
Of course there has been more than one election in ”Palestine”. I know that next election in Sweden will take place 2010 and in Israel next year, and in the US there was an election this year. But I don’t know when the next election will take place in Gaza. Do you?
Then there is more to democracy than elections. It’s a good start, but it’s not enough. I’m not saying that Israel or Sweden or US is perfect in these other things. But the rule of Hamas is by far much less so. Hamas wants to establish sharia law and make Gaza an islamic emirate. That is not democracy.
So, true, there has occured some elements of democracy in Palestine in the past. But will it in the future? Will democracy develop in Gaza? Judging from the present situation, the prospect is gloomy.
This is the problem with the world, there are laws and guide lines and there are people ”like yourself”who bend it with this is ”my view.” I tired to stick to the facts by quoting sources i.e the uk parliament, plus i gave the link to the monitor of the Palestine election EX US president Jimmy carter (www.cartercenter.org) without me going to what’s my view (except you should not have been hired in the first place, which is a debate.)
Now you want to debate what is democracy, ok.
Lets take your link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy. the very, very first sentence states ”Democracy is a form of government in which power is held by people under a free electoral system.” I hope you can free that happened in palestine, if you don’t here is the link again http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2006/rp06-017.pdf
you said ”You have to distinguish between the ability to accomplish one fair election, something that indeed was accomplished in the Palestine Authority in 2005”
and you said ”Democracy is, i.a., the ability to perform more fair elections than just one.”
well actually Palestine had 3 elections and all were fair and since you said ”Democracy is, i.a., the ability to perform more fair elections than just one.” i guess Palestine is a democracy, but were they fair jimmy. i, as usual will leave you quotes and links with facts.
This is from the monitor of the 3 Palestine election EX US president Jimmy carter (www.cartercenter.org)
”We covered every Palestinian community in 1996, 2005 and 2006, when Yasser Arafat and later Mahmoud Abbas were elected president and members of parliament were chosen. The elections were almost flawless, and turnout was very high — except in East Jerusalem, where, under severe Israeli restraints, only about 2% of registered voters managed to cast ballots.” (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-carter8dec08,0,7999232.story?coll=la-home-commentary.)
so far i stuck to the facts. Now lets get to your criteria of what a democracy is
Freedom of Press and say what you want.
Mr. Irving is a historian also a holocaust denier and to my opinion and idiot was jailed in Austria for being a denier (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4730832.stm) 11 other countries like Poland, Israel, France jail deniers but not Sweden, UK, America. Is sweden, uk more democratic than Israel, France and the rest?
My opinion – Democracy is a form of government in which power is held by people under a free electoral system. Democracy is a system of governing a country. Dictatorship is when one man governs a country. In dictatorship they there is no freedom of press, people gets taken away for no reason etc. NO again – Dictatorship is when one man governs a country. Stick to the definition and not empirical evidence or what your opinion is.
so Democracy is
Jacket image of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary
democracy
/dimokrsi/
• noun (pl. democracies) 1 a form of government in which the people have a voice in the exercise of power, typically through elected representatives. (http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/democracy?view=uk)
Is there freedom of say and press in Palestine?
my opnion NO
Do there human right violation in Palestine?
my opnion Yes.
Is Palestine a democracy?
(http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-carter8dec08,0,7999232.story?coll=la-home-commentary.)
Yes
Is Israel a democracy?
Do people vote for their leader in a fair election? Did they have more than one fair election (haha)?
Yes.
then it is.
I hope others would read my post and see that you are a denier. My god even Secretary Condoleezza Rice sees Palestine as a democracy, if you take the idea of election as democracy (http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/59870.htm.)
Jim, unfortunately you seem to be very mistaken.
You have to distinguish between the ability to accomplish one fair election, something that indeed was accomplished in the Palestine Authority in 2005, and the ability to maintain the principles of democracy, not once, but always.
Democracy is, i.a., the ability to perform more fair elections than just one. After the election of 2005, Hamas made a coup d’etat in Gaza. Is that also democracy in your view?
I can cite many writings on the issue of what democracy really is all about. But I think this will suffice for now:
”Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are essential so that citizens are informed and able to vote in their personal interests.
Popular sovereignty is common but not a universal motivating philosophy for establishing a democracy. In some countries, democracy is based on the philosophical principle of equal rights. Many people use the term ”democracy” as shorthand for liberal democracy, which may include additional elements such as political pluralism, equality before the law, the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances, due process, civil liberties, human rights, and elements of civil society outside the government.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy.
Jim, which of these elements of democracy would you say is present in today’s Palestine (or Gaza)? Not many, in fact probably none of them, in my view …
You said ”Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East.”
Actually NO. Palestine is a democratic country and it is in the Middle East.
I dare you in front of all your readers to find me a reliable source that says Palestine is not a democratic country.
I too am disgusted with the Migrationsverket and will be complaining; how could they even hire an uneducated person such as yourself.
The monitors of the Palestinian election EU, EX US president Jimmy carter (www.cartercenter.org) say that palestine is a democratic country since it holds democratic elections. Are they fair and not tempered? this is what the UK parliament said about the recent Palestinian election (http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2006/rp06-017.pdf)
”International observers, of which there were around 450, noted some irregularities, but
declared the elections to have been largely free and fair. The 186-member EU Election
Observation Mission, the largest present, said in its preliminary conclusions”
Wishing you strength against those for whom liberty is a vice and submission is a virtue.
Håll ut, du frihetens förkämpe i denna mörka tid ! Jag har inte läst dig förr, men nu har din blogg lagts till favoriterna.
Don’t give up without a fight!!!!
I support you in and on principles. You have ane extremely trong opinion in the Mid East conflict but that is your damn right to have.
I support you Lennart and your position pro democracy. We are lot of swedes that support you today!
Stay Strong ! God Bless