Junkie Bro, I did say don't read too literally on the example of US. I was tired (hence my name) of people saying we are too uneducated, we are too backwards for democracy. It was just supposed to be a counterexample to that line of thought, that's all. I hate Bush, but I still take Fahrenheit 911 with a grain of salt. Why should I believe all that M. Moore has to say if I don't believe all that Bush has to say? Ani you say, Bush is corrupt. Ok, so doesn't that just go on to show that corruption is NOT the worst problem we have. That we have worse problems? There is no question about WAITING to see if democracy works. It is a proactive, interactive process. It is a PROCESS not an ENTITY. And we have to keep working on it till we satisfy people enough to not take up arms in frustration. Waiting is a passive approach, but democracy is forum where we can be active. In the prevailing situation, someone had todo something, something had to be done and the king took the opportunity to consolidate his power. Yes, he has his survival in stake. But we, the people, also have everything on stake. He gambles with not just all he has, he gambles with all that we, the people, have. Now, tell me what right does he have to do that? My view on what the king should do is clear. He should step down, or risk being swept away. After the October 2002 move, who was the main obstacle to progress in talks with the Maobaadi? Who was not willing to go to constituent assembly? The king should be ready to go constituent assembly and test his belief that the people want him, that the people support him. Grabbing power and declaring a law that whoever speaks against him does not prove that he is popular. Besides, what means does he have on his disposal to solve Nepal's problems? Will he solve it by military mobilization? Is that a solution to the Maobaadi problem? How can he establish an equal society when his own existence, by definition, is built upon the very inequalities that plague our nation? And definitely, there is no need to be scared of anybody if we unite. I agree completely. But why should we unite for the good of one person? Let's unite for the good of all of us. And you don't want no civil war? Are you kidding? You already have one! We already have one. Are we, as one people, one Nepali people willing to listen to the oppressed voices? Do we have the courage to accept these voices as Nepali voices and are we ready to deal with their problems? If not, we won't have peace. IMHO. I pray for peace too. And I pray for my country.