BOTM: The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky

Mycroft · 17th March 2005, 07:31 AM

The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky.

Could China have been brought to reform if we had applied these ideas 30 years ago?

What about Syria? Could a regime willing to level a city (Hama) be brought down by Western insistance and monitoring of human rights?

Where else in the world do these idea apply?

aerocontrols · 17th March 2005, 10:29 AM

Is this the book for March, or the book for April? I suggest giving people a 2-week window to get ahold of and read the book of the month before jumping right into a discussion.

That is, I believe that there should be no BOTM for March, that this book should be the book for April, and that May's book be announced in the middle of April.

If this conversation is going to start right now, I imagine that it will be fairly well-developed by the time I am ready to join in.

MattJ

BPSCG · 17th March 2005, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aerocontrols
If this conversation is going to start right now, I imagine that it will be fairly well-developed by the time I am ready to join in.

Nobody cares what you say anyway...

Seriously, yeah, I think it would be a good idea to hold off on discussion for a few weeks - that way, my brilliant observation about Sharansky will stand unchallenged for everyone to admire...

In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before.

aerocontrols · 17th March 2005, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BPSCG
In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before.

You still don't belong. Go sit in the corner until it's time to bring us our coffee.

Mycroft · 17th March 2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BPSCG
In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before.

Me neither. I figure it's an advantage, we won't be burdened by expectations and will be free to make up the rules as we go along. We don't need no steenkin' precedents to show us how to do things.

And because Aerocontrols is so persuasive, Iâ€™ll agree to make The Case for Democracy the BOTM for April. That will give me plenty of time to finish all these other books Iâ€™m reading.

rikzilla · 18th March 2005, 08:11 AM

Cool! I've never been in a book club either. Since I read Sharansky back in late Jan I guess I'll just keep reading my current Ann Rule true crime book....(she's a guilty pleasure)

I could make a review to rival yours Beeps...but yours was awfully well done!

Also, since I've only made about a zillion posts urging folks to read it, I guess the other great thing about Beep's review is that it isn't by me.

-z

punchdrunk · 19th March 2005, 09:15 AM

Okay, I've dusted off my library card and now have the book. Prepare for some sparkling gems* of wisdom come April.

* - If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshiat.

17th March 2005, 07:31 AM	#1
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,105	BOTM: The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky. Could China have been brought to reform if we had applied these ideas 30 years ago? What about Syria? Could a regime willing to level a city (Hama) be brought down by Western insistance and monitoring of human rights? Where else in the world do these idea apply?
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

17th March 2005, 10:29 AM	#2
aerocontrols Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,445	Is this the book for March, or the book for April? I suggest giving people a 2-week window to get ahold of and read the book of the month before jumping right into a discussion. That is, I believe that there should be no BOTM for March, that this book should be the book for April, and that May's book be announced in the middle of April. If this conversation is going to start right now, I imagine that it will be fairly well-developed by the time I am ready to join in. MattJ
	__________________ Misunderestimated in 2000. Unredefeated in 2004. My dog does his tricks. My roomate's dog tries to escape the kitchen. We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest. Source

17th March 2005, 12:31 PM	#3
BPSCG Cannibal Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Looting Fafner's Cave Posts: 17,556	Quote: Originally posted by aerocontrols If this conversation is going to start right now, I imagine that it will be fairly well-developed by the time I am ready to join in. Nobody cares what you say anyway... Seriously, yeah, I think it would be a good idea to hold off on discussion for a few weeks - that way, my brilliant observation about Sharansky will stand unchallenged for everyone to admire... In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before.
	__________________ Philanthropist (n.) - Someone who spends his own money to advance his version of Utopia. Socialist (n.) - Someone who spends your money to advance his version of Utopia.

17th March 2005, 12:36 PM	#4
aerocontrols Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,445	Quote: Originally posted by BPSCG In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before. You still don't belong. Go sit in the corner until it's time to bring us our coffee.
	__________________ Misunderestimated in 2000. Unredefeated in 2004. My dog does his tricks. My roomate's dog tries to escape the kitchen. We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest. Source

17th March 2005, 06:11 PM	#5
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,105	Quote: Originally posted by BPSCG In case it isn't obvious, I never belonged to a book club before. Me neither. I figure it's an advantage, we won't be burdened by expectations and will be free to make up the rules as we go along. We don't need no steenkin' precedents to show us how to do things. And because Aerocontrols is so persuasive, Iâ€™ll agree to make The Case for Democracy the BOTM for April. That will give me plenty of time to finish all these other books Iâ€™m reading.
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

18th March 2005, 08:11 AM	#6
rikzilla Ninja wave: Atomic fire-breath ninja Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 5,001	Cool! I've never been in a book club either. Since I read Sharansky back in late Jan I guess I'll just keep reading my current Ann Rule true crime book....(she's a guilty pleasure) I could make a review to rival yours Beeps...but yours was awfully well done! Also, since I've only made about a zillion posts urging folks to read it, I guess the other great thing about Beep's review is that it isn't by me. -z
	__________________ "You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon." -Chancellor Gorkon "inside Mr .Skinny lives a big man" -pillory (18 Jan 2007)

19th March 2005, 09:15 AM	#7
punchdrunk Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,003	Okay, I've dusted off my library card and now have the book. Prepare for some sparkling gems* of wisdom come April. * - If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshiat.
	__________________ Freedom is self-responsibility; nothing less, nothing more. Finally, proof!: "Republicans = evil fundie criminal warmonger vampires" - (BPSCG, 5/11/06)