If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their countries.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of faith in democratic processes and the potential consequences of losing that faith.
Kofi Annan's quote highlights the critical role that belief in democratic systems plays in governance. When citizens lose faith in their ability to effect change through established democratic means, such as voting, they may resort to more radical and potentially harmful actions to assert their dissatisfaction, which could lead to instability and unrest within their countries.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of participating in elections.
If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.
Let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world's disadvantaged. Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world.
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?
People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what β and who β we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
It's impossible to change the social without changing the personal - you have to put your money where your mouth is. And if you're not making those challenges at home, it's unlikely you'll make them in a larger setting.
As much as people say they love change, they love it when you change - not when you want them to change. Even when it comes to processes they don't like, they're afraid of change.
Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, _x000D_ will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society. _x000D_ And they may well call this _x000D_ the time of the Great Turning.
Throughout the 20th century, we created wealth through vertically integrated corporations. Now, we create wealth through networks. We are at a turning point in human history, where the industrial age has finally run out of gas.
It will be the people with the greatest love, not the most information, who will influence us to change.
In a moment the ashes are made, but a forest is a long time growing.
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