“Today, we are confronted with a new debate on the development of democracy, one that threatens us with an ever-diminishing capacity to respond adequately to the new societies’ need for democratic change. Critics, in my view, quite sincerely respond to the challenges of democratization in fragile post-totalitarian societies. They paint a picture of a moving train – of unfinished construction with all the resulting blemishes. Their reaction to what they see is sincere, but I think they are wrong.
…Now is not the time for hesitation in the face of difficulties. Today is a time to redouble our efforts.”
The quote is by J. Brian Atwood* as part of his speech at a conference hosted by Freedom House in Washington, D.C. in March, 1998. organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
We take the liberty of quoting him, worried by the black-eyedness that is capturing the minds of more and more people. We know that democracy must be defended daily by peaceful means by each and every one of us. Thank you for sharing Ivan Kanev’s photo report. Today it is time to redouble our efforts!
Head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1993 to 1999.
