US Congressional team in Bahrain charmed by al Khalifa’s – Parrots Secretary Clinton’s “democracy will come slow”, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, “even US blacks had to take their turn at the back of the bus”

Democracy ‘can’t be achieved by violence’
October 17, 2011 – Gulf Daily News

MANAMA: Democracy can’t be achieved in Bahrain by resorting to violence and blocking roads, which may put the country on the brink of a “civil war”, three members of the US Congress said last night.

They also defended the right of Bahrain to choose the type of democracy that best serves the interests of its people, at a dinner banquet hosted by the Bahrain American Council in their honour.

Only peaceful means can make a difference when it comes to voicing demands, they pointed out.

US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, who is visiting Bahrain along with Donald Payne and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, stressed the importance of promoting democracy by co-opting all people and institutions, instead of seeking to impose individual visions or resorting to non-peaceful means.

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey said real democracy cannot be achieved through riots and road blocks. She also stressed that only peaceful means can mark any tangible difference.

Congressman Payne stressed vital US interests in the region.

The US legislators said that the US doesn’t “want to impose our democracy on the region, for it needs a great deal of time to mature and take root”.

Responding to a question on whether the US democracy suits the Arab world, he dismissed any intention on their part to impose their country’s democracy on the states in the region.

“Central Asian countries haven’t matured for democracy as they broke away from the now-defunct Soviet Union 20 years ago.”

Even in the US, Afro-Americans started casting ballots after 150 years of bitter struggle, although the US constitution stipulates the right to vote for all citizens,” he said. …source