Democracy for All -- or Just for Some?
Reported by Ellen - February 7, 2005
Today on Studio B with Shepard Smith, he spoke about the Shiites having the most dominance in the new government in Iraq. He said the Shiites have said they will seek approval from the top Islamic clerist, but that the top Islamic clerist, Sistani, said that Islam should not be involved in the daily governing of the country. Sheppard wanted to know if this was just a bunch of talk or what was the reality here?
Shepard then made the following remark, "Well, we'll get the answer fair and balanced 'or' we'll at least discuss it. (comment; thanks for being honest, Shepard).
Shepard discussed this issue with Michael O'Hanlon from the Brookings Institution. O'Hanlon said there would be 'shades of grey' and there will probably be 'some' Islamic influence. But, he added, that might be perfectly fine with the United States for our purposes.
Shepard added that Vice President Dick Cheney had said that it won't look like America's democracy because they're not Americans.
O'Hanlon said he saw two possible differences in how we look at a democracy. The first difference might be in the banking industry as Islamic law has restrictions on interest bearing accounts.
The second difference was discrimination against women. O'Hanlon said we may see 'things we don't like', but added that we could probably 'live' with these things that we might not like as long as there are not 'outright' mistreatments.
Comment: Is Fox 'preparing' us for some discrimination against women in the new Iraqi government? What happened to democracy for all? Or, is that just democracy for all 'men'?
Reported by: Donna.....................Donna's Dissertations..
