Beware fake models of democracy

The word "democracy" keeps haunting me these days as I read the Western media's reports about the recent riots in Lhasa and Tibetan-populated areas in neighboring provinces. They have gone to the extent of even condoning the ones who killed innocent people and looted and set fire to stores and other properties.

Their bombardment reminds me, ironically, of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) years, when I first learned the phrase da minzhu in Chinese, or "great democracy" in English.

As a teenager, I initially believed da minzhu gave the majority of the people the right to express their opinions. Indeed, most people talked or penned posters, or went out on the streets for demonstrations.