by Jan Markell, OliveTreeViews.org

While good hearted, freedom loving Americans and other Westerners want to believe democracy is the governing choice for everyone, today one almost has to ask, is democracy for everyone? Of course most everyone does long for freedom, liberty, and the ability to live in peace and prosperity. America over the years has actually liberated some 70 countries and literally hundreds of millions of oppressed and brutally tyrannized people. Clearly, the world is a better place for it.

But "democracy Middle East/Muslim style" may be another story. That region and religion has never been known for peace. It is usually governed by Sharia Law (Islamic law) and despotism on earth for centuries. Now it has abused democracy by electing a brutal terror group known as Hamas.

Finding a road to democracy and peaceful co-existence in the Islamic culture has proven to be the most challenging peace initiative on earth.

It has been heartening, however, to see Iraq and Afghanistan make such giant inroads in their attempt at forming a brand of democracy. While we want to believe for the best for these and other nations just now making some changes from oppression to freedom, one has to wonder if it will last. Seeing Iraqis raise the purple finger saying, "I voted" rings in the heart of every freedom loving person. So seeing the glass half full tells us the love of freedom will squelch any effort to bring these people back to any kind of tyranny. Seeing the glass half empty says that it will be short-lived and these nations will descend into civil war, particularly once America pulls out of the process. Which plays out we do not know at this point. Many believe for the best.

But we are coming up against deeply-held Middle East Islamic convictions in that region. Peace and democracy require a commitment to lasting peace from all parties, all religious sects, and all ethnic groups within a country. Is Hamas, for example, going to follow the urgings of the Bush administration and the E.U. and cease its violent rhetoric, or, push for the elimination of Israel as only a stepping stone toward worldwide Islamic domination? I think the answer is obvious. Even if they said they would lay down arms and push for peace, we have heard that ad nauseum from Arafat and Abbas who have absolutely nothing to show for it. While talking peace and security with Israel, both of these Fatah Party leaders sent their Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade out to explode themselves among innocent Israelis.

There is a disconnect in the capitals of the world that the Islamic world wants democracy American style and Washington is no exception to this way of thinking. World leaders were convinced that if the majority of Palestinians turned out to vote, they would overwhelmingly reject violence and terror and embrace peaceful co-existence with Israel. While clearly some Palestinians just want to raise their families in peace, a greater majority voted in a "democratic election" to wipe Israel off the map. So "democracy" elected the world's first official terrorist government.

Though every human being on the planet deserves freedom and peace, democracy may not always be the means by which to achieve that goal. In this most recent case, democracy legitimized jihadists. These are the same kind of jihadists who danced in the streets when our Twin Towers fell and when Ariel Sharon suffered his massive stroke.

A primary ingredient in a "democracy" and in self-government is the conviction of peaceful co-existence with those who hold to other beliefs in that country. Only when there is an understanding of simple right and wrong, an inherent basic respect for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of every individual in that nation, is that nation suited for self-government and democracy.

Such is not the case within nations with major Islamic influence. They by and large seek "peace" through jihad and the existence of only one belief system: Islam. Democratizing parts of the Middle East may prove to be much like democratizing a maximum state security prison population. Freeing those who intend harm upon the world may prove very costly. The continued push for democracy in the Islamic world only reveals the pitiful lack of understanding of Islam on the part of the West, including Washington.

Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell