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South Pacific Independent News Network · 09-19-2020, 12:18 AM

Year 18 | 18 September 2020

THE SPINN
BANNING WHOLE INDIA WAS A CRITICAL TEST FOR THE REGION, AND IT PASSED
James D. Halpert | Senior Editor

THE WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

• Whole India was banned by Regional Moderators for espousing far right views, including a sympathy for Nazism.

• The Charter has been amended to allow the Local Council to pass constitutional laws.

• The High Court has admitted a mock case against Varanius, a foreign dignitary, for the charge of puppy kicking.
Whole India was banned today by Regional Moderators after a brief but heated confrontation with the Assembly. The clash, which started with Whole India’s submission of a bill that sought to criminalise the use of profanity, turned into a debate on their views on nationalism and their espousal of far right views. Senior Moderator Nakari announced the ban by saying that "Whole India openly identified as a Nazi and proclaimed support for Hitler, and for ethnic cleansing of communists" and explained that outward fascism has no place in the region.

Beyond all questions of process, leniency or tolerance, I would say that moderators were right to ban Whole India. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the region faced a critical test and passed it with flying colours.

We always take pride in the South Pacific being “the oldest democracy in NationStates”, as we should, but seldom do we consider what democracy truly means. The truth is that democracy isn’t just casting a vote every four months. Voting is for sure a key way to make oneself heard, but it is merely one aspect of democracy, and perhaps the least critical one. What are the things that truly make us a democracy and not just a region that holds elections?

Democracy is affording equal opportunities to all. A new legislator has as much potential in the Assembly as any of their peers: they could draft an exciting new law, freely participate in debate, even learn from more experienced legislators. We are strong because our elders don’t hoard power for themselves but instead freely share it with others, constantly helping train the new generation of leaders that will take the region to new heights.

Democracy is seeing power as a trust, not a conquest. Power is ours to confer, not our officials’ to take, and so the authority that they exercise they do in our name and in our best interests. We thrive as a community only as long as our officials, and that includes legislators, remember that they are where they are because the community trusted them to do right by them, even if this involves making difficult choices.

Democracy is standing up to bullies. In the context of the game that is often raiders, but even outside the game, when dealing with out-of-character matters, we must be careful not to confuse openness with passiveness, not to fall for the trap of tolerating intolerance. When faced with individuals who seek to restrict our freedom, even deny the equal worth of others, there can be no doubt, no equivocation, no hesitation. Our duty as members of a democratic society is to draw a line and let them know that they will not be allowed to go any further.

It was right for moderators to ban Whole India not only because they broke the rules, but most importantly because they tried to stifle our democratic values and in the process showed themselves to have views far beyond what should be tolerable in any open society: fascism and any sympathy for those who would commit genocide have no place in democratic society. When met with this test, the region chose wisely.

The South Pacific Independent News Network (SPINN) is an independent news organisation established in 2003 with the goal of providing good, insightful and timely commentary on regional events for the citizens of the South Pacific. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board. Content is published via pseudonyms. The SPINN is not associated with the Government of the South Pacific.

(This post was last modified: 09-19-2020, 12:18 AM by South Pacific Independent News Network.)