The Strength of a Democracy depends upon each Citizen's Respect for the Ideas of Others

The strength of a democracy depends upon each citizen's respect for the ideas of others.
Describe a specific situation in which the strength of a democracy might not depend upon its citizens' respect for the ideas of others. Discuss what you think determines when the strength of a democracy depends upon its citizens' respect for the ideas of others.
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Leading democratic nations, such as the United States, espouse democracy as the highest ideal in governance where citizens are treated equally with each having a say in decisions affecting the community. This is accomplished in a system where citizens (upon reaching adulthood) have the right to vote for their representatives and elections are determined by the majority. Indeed, upholding this type of system entails each citizen respecting the ideas of others. Citizens acknowledge that there are several paths to go about solving problems and that options considered most feasible or agreeable by the community will reach the representative. He or she will then vote accordingly with the constituents' wishes. A society where citizens do not respect each other's differing ideas are plagued with violence and filled with people who fear expressing personal opinions.

In a democracy, decisions are most often made by majority rule. That is, governments--through decisions made in the legislature-- act on options most palatable to the majority of the citizens. Granted, this type of system stifles the will of the minority and this might be conceived as a democracy's lack of respect for ideas of the minority. However, these ideas still receive an extent of respect in a democracy in that people usually do not fear for their lives after expressing an unpopular opinion. True democracies encourage different opinions to float around and be debated in public and private forums. In contrast, people of many authoritarian nations are regularly killed (by the government and private citizens) for being activists and expressing dissenting beliefs.

Nations are more likely to flourish when people can express their ideas without recrimination. More ideas and different ways of thinking encourage national debate. When people intelligently argue with each other about their points of view, they refine their arguments and perhaps reach new realizations and better ways to solve community problems. When only certain viewpoints can be expressed, a nation's development is hindered; people are unable to reach outside the box and fully participate in a debate that could use contributions from sharp, innovative minds.

The freedom of speech---which necessarily entails the government's and each citizen's respect for ideas of others-- serves to strengthen a nation. Unpopular opinions may enter the public forum and citizens may support or reject these thoughts by personally participating in the debate, voting for leaders who reflect their views, supporting advocacy groups through donations, among other things. In general, democracies have more to gain when people can express what they wish so long as those ideas do not harm others.