Analysis of the definition of the word democracy!

The definition of democracy as given to us, by Abraham Lincoln the American President who ignited the civil war for slave emancipation is: Government of the people by the people for the people.

The definition like all definitions has to be restated and adequately interpreted. The people/subjects,  political leaders, political parties and nations  need to converge around the explicit and implicit meaning, values and principles of democracy, lest the concept keeps humanity in perpetual conflict .

 Setswana interpretation of democracy as defined by Abe, falls far short of the definition intent. Puso ya batho ka batho obviously shortcircuits the essence, omitting the crux of the intentional definition. The interpretation confines itself to, ‘government OF …. BY the people;’ it excludes the part of the definition, which is, ‘…. FOR the people!’ Comprehensive Setswana definition should be, ‘Puso ya batho ka batho, go direla batho!’ ‘Of’ the people strictly and correctly implies, a system of Government belonging to people, not swine or some nondescript  animal; ‘BY’ the people means a Government in which the people participate; it isn’t run by angels or some fairies! Since it’s run by the people, it’s FOR the people; in other words, it should BENEFIT them!

Editor's Comment
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