Message Forum: Re: How can one disagree with something so eloquently put? :)

Re: How can one disagree with something so eloquently put? :)

Posted By: Stephen, on host 216.203.227.169
Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at 08:07:51
In Reply To: Re: How can one disagree with something so eloquently put? :) posted by wintermute on Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at 06:48:27:

> > 2) I'm extremely proud of our accomplishments. We are the longest-standing democracy in history, absolutely destroying Athens' previous record.
>
> Iceland, if memory serves, has been a democracy continually since 930 AD. I think that might beat America's record.
>
> wintermute

A quick Googling of "history of Iceland" shows that it became a Norwegian colony in 1262 and later a Danish colony (subject to the Danish Crown) in 1387. The Danish king abolished the parliament at least once in 1800 (it was brought back in 1843). I would question how democratic a country could be living under the rule of another's king.

Furthermore, 930 is the date of the establishment of the Alţing, Iceland's parliament which looks like it was originally a collection of lords (set up in place instead of a strong central government). As near as I can tell from a quick examination of the Web, that assembly is similar to England's House of Lords, which is hardly a democratic system.

If anyone has more substantial information, I'd be interested to know.

Ste "I am still having been coming from Iceland!" phen

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Message:	> > > 2) I'm extremely proud of our accomplishments. We are the longest-standing democracy in history, absolutely destroying Athens' previous record. > > > > Iceland, if memory serves, has been a democracy continually since 930 AD. I think that might beat America's record. > > > > wintermute > > A quick Googling of "history of Iceland" shows that it became a Norwegian colony in 1262 and later a Danish colony (subject to the Danish Crown) in 1387. The Danish king abolished the parliament at least once in 1800 (it was brought back in 1843). I would question how democratic a country could be living under the rule of another's king. > > Furthermore, 930 is the date of the establishment of the Alţing, Iceland's parliament which looks like it was originally a collection of lords (set up in place instead of a strong central government). As near as I can tell from a quick examination of the Web, that assembly is similar to England's House of Lords, which is hardly a democratic system. > > If anyone has more substantial information, I'd be interested to know. > > Ste "I am still having been coming from Iceland!" phen
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