By XHABIR DERALLA
The world is for the second time celebrating Democracy Day (September 15) since the start of Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. Why is this fact important? Because the military aggression against Ukraine isn’t just a bloodthirstyracist attack against a peace-loving country in Europe, but is also a fierce attack on the democratic order in the world. This is a time when the enraged evil is trying to destroy humanity and plunge the world in fear, darkness and despair.
I’m reading CIVIL’s announcement and the reactions on the occasion of International Day of Democracy, September 15, prepared by my colleagues (I also participated a bit) and I cannot shakeoff the impression that, as obvious as it is that democracy in the world is truly under fierce threat, people are just as hard trying to shut their eyes tightly, as if the horror will pass them if they don’t see it.
It’s very clear that people who want to live in democracy, in peace and prosperity, are in great majority, both in our country and around the world. But it seems that they forget – the world is in unity and that evil spreads quickly and affects everyone, no matter how far they are, no matter how much they think that they have done enough to protect themselves. That’s why we stand in solidarity will all those who are fighting for democracy and with all those who are fighting for their freedom and peace.
In order to have democracy, it’s important to have eyes wide open, and to speak out against all the evil that dictatorial regimes, their generals and their media lieutenants are pouring out. No matter how numerous are the people who want to live in democracy, if they don’t oppose the dictators – evil will win.
Democracy is a path we walk every day. If we stop, it disappears. If we keep silent, it’s as if it was never there. You can’t say they yesterday there was democracy, so today we can rest. If we don’t build it, if we don’t walk towards it, if we don’t defend it – darkness sets in.
In darkness – democracy dies, reads the official slogan of Washington Post (Democracy Dies in Darkness), referring to the darkness that centers of power and authoritarian leaders create with their “alternative” truths, more specifically – with disinformation, false narratives, hate speech and by establishing strong propaganda machineries that help them rule.
Democracy without human rights and human rights without democracy – cannot be imagined. Have you read the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsat least once? Imagine, those rights belong to everyone in the world, just because they were born as a human being.
You can never say – we have enough democracy –or – human rights are respected enough. Such a thing doesn’t exist. The moment someone says that we have enough democracy, it’s already endangered. Democracy is never enough, because something more can always be done, ways can always be devised that will enable more human rights and freedoms to people.
And be aware, just as there will always be those who will abuse democracy and human rights and freedoms, in order to achieve their dark goals.
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
