--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For about ten years now, the struggle for…" description: "\"For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political gro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg" --- # For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and… ![“For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.” quote by Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg) > “For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.” [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democratic movements often become tools for political power rather than genuine rights pursuits. **In simple terms:** Politics can co‑opt democracy for its own ends. Key Takeaway Guard democratic ideals from exploitation. Themes politics human rights democracy Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - activist campaigns - policy reforms - international aid Key Concepts political theory power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Can democracy stay pure in power struggles? - How to ensure human rights remain central? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook pragmatic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commodity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodity/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-respect-821857/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Groups Aiming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups-aiming-3555915/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-groups/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-focus-3555914/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-democracy-2539925/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Ten years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Americans are a very backward people, with all the real virtues of a backward people; the patriarchal simplicity and human dignity of a democracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/americans-are-a-very-backward-people-with-all-the-real-virtues-of-a/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The fact that the majority wants something good does not give them the right to use force on the minority that don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-fact-that-the-majority-wants-something-good-does-not-give-them/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It's healthy to have differing opinions in a democracy, but we have to respect each other and challenge ourselves to do better - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/it-s-healthy-to-have-differing-opinions-in-a-democracy-but-we-have-to/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The struggle for democracy has to be maintained on as many fronts as culture has aspects: political, economic, international, educational, scientific and artistic, religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-struggle-for-democracy-has-to-be-maintained-on-as-many-fronts-as/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Children aren't born with the techniques of democratic problem solving, but they are born with one of its key components - the desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-watson/children-aren-t-born-with-the-techniques-of-democratic-problem/) [Patrick Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-watson/) > [I am not against identity politics or single based issues; at the same time, we need to find ways to connect these singular modes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/i-am-not-against-identity-politics-or-single-based-issues-at-the-same/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [I think Hong Kong people's struggle for democracy is similar to David versus Goliath. But this struggle is not just about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-hong-kong-people-s-struggle-for-democracy-is-similar-to-david/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [I think it is very important for any U.S. administration to be clear that America stands on the side of freedom and democracy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hadley/i-think-it-is-very-important-for-any-u-s-administration-to-be-clear/) [Stephen Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hadley/) > [Aguilar Zinser played a crucial role in the struggle for democracy in Mexico. He was on the right side of that battle, however strident,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/aguilar-zinser-played-a-crucial-role-in-the-struggle-for-democracy-in/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [America must begin the struggle for democracy at home. The advocacy of free elections in Europe by American officials is hypocrisy when free elections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/america-must-begin-the-struggle-for-democracy-at-home-the-advocacy-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Democracy without respect for individual rights sucks. It's just ganging up against the weird kid, and I'm always the weird kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/democracy-without-respect-for-individual-rights-sucks-it-s-just/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [We should seek international support for our mutual objectives abroad, in promoting freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and also the elimination of weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/we-should-seek-international-support-for-our-mutual-objectives-abroad/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [Israel's democracy is the bedrock on which our relationship stands. It's a shining example for people around the world who are on the frontline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/israel-s-democracy-is-the-bedrock-on-which-our-relationship-stands-it/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma is a struggle for life and dignity. It is a struggle that encompasses our political,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-struggle-for-democracy-and-human-rights-in-burma-is-a-struggle/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [This must be a world of democracy and respect for human rights, a world freed from the horrors of poverty, hunger, deprivation and ignorance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/this-must-be-a-world-of-democracy-and-respect-for-human-rights-a/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Omar Bongo > [The resources of our continent attract, more than ever, the interests of rich countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-resources-of-our-continent-attract-more-than-ever-the-interests/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-birth-of-the-african-union-should-encourage-us-to-reexamine/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools, in particular the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/i-am-in-favor-of-complete-freedom-of-information-and-of-free-access/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [Certainly, Africa accounts for only l % of world trade, and we cannot assure our development on our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/certainly-africa-accounts-for-only-l-of-world-trade-and-we-cannot/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [The world is now aware that the most unavoidable and most dangerous weapon that exists is the blind decisiveness of a man ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-world-is-now-aware-that-the-most-unavoidable-and-most-dangerous/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-principle-of-responsibility-and-collective-sanctions-is/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [The African Union has to act in order to put an end to armed conflicts that undermine the continent, to fight against the devastation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-african-union-has-to-act-in-order-to-put-an-end-to-armed/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [But since independence, Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/but-since-independence-gabon-is-one-of-the-few-countries-in-central/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/it-is-up-to-african-leaders-to-show-their-will-and-political-courage/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [If the Soviet Union and the United States have not experienced direct military confrontations, on the other hand, they supported, armed and trained Africans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/if-the-soviet-union-and-the-united-states-have-not-experienced-direct/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/when-they-favor-the-access-of-other-people-to-education-and-health/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [But the Western countries that link their partnership with the poorest countries with respect for democracy also have to consider that they have obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/but-the-western-countries-that-link-their-partnership-with-the/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [I'm not aiming for the Nobel Peace Prize!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/i-m-not-aiming-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [From the time of independences until the end of the Cold War, in spite of the participation of a considerable number of African states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/from-the-time-of-independences-until-the-end-of-the-cold-war-in-spite/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [Economic sanctions rarely achieve the desired results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/economic-sanctions-rarely-achieve-the-desired-results/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) [Explore all 35 Omar Bongo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) ## More Commodity quotes > [We do not claim that punning is legitimate wit. Wit consists in combination of ideas, punning in combination of words only. We wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hosmer/we-do-not-claim-that-punning-is-legitimate-wit-wit-consists-in/) [Harriet Hosmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-hosmer/) > [“Truth is commodity in political consumption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/truth-is-commodity-in-political-consumption/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I eventually found that the soul is more than an immortal commodity to win and save. It is the repository of the inner divine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-eventually-found-that-the-soul-is-more-than-an-immortal-commodity/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [It is an anomaly that information, the one thing most necessary to our survival as choosers of our own way, should be a commodity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/it-is-an-anomaly-that-information-the-one-thing-most-necessary-to-our/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [Petrol price is a deregulated commodity, price of which is decided by our oil marketing companies based on input cost and other parameters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veerappa-moily/petrol-price-is-a-deregulated-commodity-price-of-which-is-decided-by/) [Veerappa Moily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veerappa-moily/) > [Oil painting did to appearances what capital did to social relations. It reduced everything to the equality of objects. Everything became exchangeable because everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/oil-painting-did-to-appearances-what-capital-did-to-social-relations/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [The great lesson in microeconomics is to discriminate between when technology is going to help you and when it's going to kill you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-great-lesson-in-microeconomics-is-to-discriminate-between-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [It were good to know how much hay an acre of every sort will bear; how many cattle the same weight of each sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-petty/it-were-good-to-know-how-much-hay-an-acre-of-every-sort-will-bear-how/) [William Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-petty/) > [Barge traffic on the Mississippi River represents the most efficient, most cost-effective, most environmentally sound means of transporting commodity goods from this region of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/barge-traffic-on-the-mississippi-river-represents-the-most-efficient/) [Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/) > [Regardless of the importance of known evidence to the contrary, the arts are generally regarded as being so much entertaining fluff, a commodity that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-danby/regardless-of-the-importance-of-known-evidence-to-the-contrary-the/) [Ken Danby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-danby/) > [The proposition of Mr. Ricardo, which states that a rise in the price of labour lowers the price of a large class of commodities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/the-proposition-of-mr-ricardo-which-states-that-a-rise-in-the-price/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [To be happy you have to know what you really want. After all, you can never have enough of what you didn't want in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/to-be-happy-you-have-to-know-what-you-really-want-after-all-you-can/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) [Browse all 673 Commodity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omar Bongo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for-democracy-and-the-respect-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commodity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for-democracy-and-the-respect-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/omar-bongo-18323_commodity_for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for_2006041.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus…” — Omar Bongo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Omar Bongo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For about ten years now, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for-democracy-and-the-respect-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/for-about-ten-years-now-the-struggle-for-democracy-and-the-respect-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```