He was a big believer in the cause of democracy, in public participation,

Ultimately in a democracy you cannot have both participation in elected office and participation in armed militia. They are simply incompatible.

A robust democracy requires active participation.

There's great participation, there's great enthusiasm and there's a great calm in the country... It will strengthen our democracy, and that will allow the country to continue forward.

It is a mistake to tell students that their classroom is a democracy- it cannot and never will be. But children need to learn how to participate in a community and to prepare themselves for democratic citizenship.

As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State "What does it matter to me?" the State may be given up for lost.