The road of democracy

There are many who have tried to define democracy, and there are many definitions for the same, but when I think of democracy I think of a road. A road leading to one’s Utopia! It is a narrow road, but one on which we have to allow all others to travel with us, because democracy can only survive if we all drive together. Most times we don’t; some of us drive a bigger car or a heavier truck and with forceful argument or bullying muscle we try to push others off the road, but it is of no avail, because without those others alongside, there’s no democracy at all.

There are rules for the road, rules as to how one drives; we don’t cut lanes, bang others in their cars, oh no, we learn to avoid hitting others. We learn to use skill, to move towards our Utopia without hurting others who are also striving to reach theirs. How often I watch trolls and critics who lash out at others in newspapers, on websites and other platforms, making fun of them, jeering and mocking someone’s views, someone’s accent. Like motorcycles on a road they are an irritant to car drivers. They move in and out and spoil your drive. When we learn to ride a bike following the rules and not annoying others we have learned the first step of democracy.

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