When an individual accepts participation in a democratic system, he accepts the will of the majority of the people. He accepts the right of the majority to make decisions (directly via elected representatives or indirectly through the judiciary) even if he does not agree with them. In this system the individual retains the right to vote against representatives who implement policies he does not like. He also retains right to protest against and lobby and campaign against policies he does not like.
However, he does give the right of the final decision to the majority. This he does recognizing the right of the majority to decide policy and decisions.
What is usually missed in this line of thinking is that in essence the individual is both supporting the system and the decision implemented by the majority. As such by giving this authority to the majority, the individual is Responsible for the decisions of the majority so long as he accepts the right of the majority to rule.
What does this practically mean?
This has serious implication for Muslim in the west such as Muslim Americans. Those who accept the system but are against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq or against US support of Israel, in fact accept the US leaderships right to make these policy decisions. As such they are willing participants in the system, even though perhaps in a minority, who accept these decisions. They keep their right to protest and vote, however, they accept and tacitly support the right of the US government to wage war in Muslim countries.
The Question is, is the western muslim not responsible for that war/murder if he accepts the system? By accepting the system he participates and legitimizes in what he himself believes to be war/murder of muslims.
Bottom line, in a democratic system, the minority accepts and supports the right of the government to make decisions which it may be vehemently against. However, this acceptance is also responsibility by being a willing part of the system and by choice giving up the right to counter the decision by any means larger than protests, voting and lobbying/campaigning. Any step less than rejection of the system is complicity with the system and such decision.
Muslims in the west and Muslim American should wake up and accept their part in killing Muslim across the Globe.
