. of course, i was not suggesting that it would/should/could take us 700 years as well. i was just trying to extol the virtues of patience. and learning. if you remember, there were protests in Feb 2 as and has continued since. it's just a function of where and how you choose to look at things. of course, the current protests are a result of the building frustration but that is exactly my point. we didn't wait 20 years like we did after satra saal to put up a significant fight against totalirianism. i would definitely look at it as being better versed in democratic norms. at the same time, i am not claiming that we are completely and utterly versed in democrative norms - it is question of degree not fixed absolutes. perhaps, you tend to put a greater emphasis on knowing - knowing how to act, knowing the responsibility, etc. and knowledge is a function of education - to some degree. i don't necessarily disagree with that, but i think learning is more important. and learning is more a function of living and life itself than of education. afterall, hardly any of us bring any "endowment" of knowledge when we are born.