The Parable of the Democratic Soldiers

One day while teaching, Josh was asked, ”Teacher, why is it that democratically elected officials are so quick to dismantle democracy?”

Josh spoke thus:

A group of soldiers approached their commanding officer.

“We’ve taken a vote,” a soldier told the commanding officer, “And we’re not attacking.”

“Of course you’re attacking,” the commanding officer said, “Now get back into ranks before I have you shot.”

“You can’t make us attack,” a soldier said, “We’ve taken a vote.”

“I don’t care if you’ve taken a vote,” the commanding officer said, “The orders are for us to attack, and we’re going to attack.”

“Why are we attacking?” a soldier asked.

“It’s none of your business why we’re attacking,” the commanding officer said, “All you need to know is that we’re attacking.”

“But what’s the tactical advantage?” a soldier asked, “We’ve all been talking, and that position is of no value to us at all.”

“It’s of value to the general,” the commanding officer said, “So it’s of value to you.”

“Who made the general the general?” a soldier asked, “What was the process?  Was there a vote?”

“Why are you all so obsessed with votes all of a sudden?” the commanding officer asked.
“We’re a democracy,” a soldier replied, “We’re fighting for democracy.  It only makes sense that we be democratic.”

“But we’re an army,” the commanding officer said.

“And they’re an army,” a soldier said, “The difference is, they’re a fascist army, and we’re a democratic army.”

“All army’s are fascist,” the commanding officer said, “That’s how army’s work.”

“Our army shouldn’t be fascist,” a soldier said, “If our army isn’t anything, it shouldn’t be fascist.”

“Democratic armies don’t work,” the commanding officer said.

“And fascist societies don’t work,” a soldier said, “I’d rather have an army that didn’t work than a society that didn’t work.”

“I’ve never seen a democracy that works,” the commanding officer said.

“You would say that,” a soldier said, “You’re an officer.”

The commanding officer sighed.

“If you don’t fight the fascists,” the commanding officer said, “You don’t stop the fascists.  You don’t stop the fascist, and the fascists take over.  Is that what you want?”

“We don’t want that,” a soldier said.

“Then you have to fight,” the commanding officer said, “And you have to fight like a proper army.  And proper armies follow orders.  And your orders are to attack the fascists.”

“I don’t think we need to attack the fascists,” a soldier said, pointing at the fascist lines, “The fascists are attacking us.”

“Who votes we fight back?” the commanding officer asked sarcastically.  All the soldiers raised their hands earnestly.

“Well get into ranks then!” the commanding officer said.  The soldiers got into ranks.  The soldiers began to advance.  The commanding officer ordered his own artillery to fire on the soldiers.

“You let democracy spread,” the commanding officer said to no one, “You never know where it will end.”