Let the Record show that robert bowman on or
about Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:37:02 -0700 did write/type or cause to
appear in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:
Gunner Asch wrote:

For extra credit: *Name an example of an independent republic and of an
independent "pure" democracy existing in the Western Hemisphere prior to
the American Revolution.


The Iroquois Nation

Perhaps. There is a degree of romantic coloration, both in the era of
Rousseau and in the 1980s. From an Algonquin point of view, they weren't
the best of neighbors. A couple possible etymologies of 'Iroquois' make it
an unflattering term employed by the Hurons. That's par though. The name
most tribes use to refer to themselves translate to 'The Real Chosen
People' where the common English name was bestowed on them by some other
tribe and translates to "those sons of bitches"

When you have about 10 to 12 thousand people and a traditional culture that
results in uniformity of beliefs, some sort of democracy might be feasible.
When you have 300 million people with little in the way of shared beliefs
and values, forget about it.

There is a big difference between multi-ethnic, and
multi-cultural. The Roman empire was multi-ethnic right up till it
was taken over by the Ottomans. And in both cases, while the Empire
was multiethnic, it remained predominately one culture. Even the
"minorities" knew what culture they were different from.

tschus
pyotr
-
pyotr filipivich
We will drink no whiskey before its nine.
It's eight fifty eight. Close enough!