Democracy is a social order that reflects and realizes citizens` intentions by various ways such as election or plebiscite that are opened to majority of people who have citizenship.Compared with aristocracy and dictatorship, the word `democracy` is derived from a Greek word `demokratia`. It is consist of word `demo(nation)` and `kratos(domination)`, and it means `domination of the nation`. `Democracy of the people, by the people, for the people` which Lincoln said at the Gettysburg Address is the most famous ideology that represents democracy.
In Korea, there are many kinds of holidays such as Valentines’ day, and Pepero day. What do you think about them? Do you think it is just commercial trick to get people to spend their money? Or do you think it is a good medium to connect people?Before talking about necessity of celebrating holidays, it is important to know the origin and the meaning of holidays. If holidays have their stories and meanings, it becomes culture. When the public start regarding some event valuable to celebrate, that event becomes a part of culture represented as holiday. For example, Valentines’ day has a sad story. In Roman age, without permission of the emperor, lovers could not marry. Valentine died as a martyr since he rejected this principle. Descendants decided to celebrate February, 14th, the day of Valentine’s death. However, Pepero day has a different story. November, 11th was determined and spread by a snack company which commercially used the similar shape of snack with the shape of number (11. 11). Therefore two holidays should be treated differently.Despite of above the difference of the origin and meaning, young people celebrate these days by giving chocolates and Peperos to their friends and family members. As far as people have a power to know the ideology of commercials, I think it is a good way to connect people.For students, in Korea, they do not have enough parties and festivals to enjoy. Students’ daily lives consist of going to school and doing extra-curricular learning, and preparing tests. They do not have much time to express their feelings to others and make a deep and close relationship with friends, brothers and sisters, or sometimes teachers. In Valentines’ day or Pepero day, they can express their feelings by giving something sweet to others. Regardless of the origin of each day, it is true that both receivers and givers enjoy these days.For some people who fall in love, these holidays can be a good chance to show their love and emotion to others. For example, if you could not find right time to propose, or you are very shay, in these days, you can naturally express you emotion by presenting candies to someone you like.In spite of good functions of these holidays, I think it important to know how much money chocolate companies earn by using these holidays. As conscious consumers, we should be careful not to be controlled by chocolate producers’ ideology. As far as we are wise consumers and owners of these holidays, a box of chocolate will play a wonderful role to keep good relationship with others.
