When my neighbor Licinio, a dedicated communist, invited me to come with him down to Lisbon for the 50th anniversary since the fall of Antonio Salazar’s “Estado Novo” dictatorship, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend the day with my good friend and all the Portuguese to celebrate the success of what has become a robust and healthy model for a successfully ongoing democracy. I needed something to celebrate, given only a couple of days before I watched on the news in horror as the dark forces of authoritarianism vigorously moved against university students and faculty across America to actively oppress and quash the voices of democracy, human rights, free speech, liberal thought, and academic freedom.

For Americans, it might sound like a bit of a paradox for a devoted communist to be celebrating democracy, but the ideas behind systems of government have always been rather one-dimensional for a people that are primarily managed on soundbites and marketing strategies. Here in Portugal, politics doesn’t define one’s character, nor does it divide people into fragmenting national cohesion, or vitiate the pride of just being Portuguese. People here take their politics to the ballot box on election day, then go home to peacefully live their lives among friends, neighbors, and townsfolk no matter who anyone voted for. Communists, socialists, conservatives, the religious and non-religious alike share meals, work, drinks at the bar, and conversation in the more important context of their ordinary lives. My neighbors, Licinio the communist, the more conservative Santos family, the Jehovah's Witnesses next door, and whoever else on our rural little street all enjoy each others’ company. In sad contrast, politics in America wholly defines everyone and dictates everything far beyond the results of elections. From education to healthcare to the environment, food, music, entertainment, recreation, and even bathrooms, Americans make sure they feel more righteous than the Americans just across the street depending solely on where, and how, their politics lie (pun intended).

Since Portugal’s peaceful “Carnation Revolution” finally brought democracy to its people, it’s curious to see how the United States and Portugal have gone in completely different directions with regard to how much their governance, both national and international, adheres to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, constitutional integrity, and promoting better equality and opportunities for their citizens (as well as for others around the world). While Portugal has kept to its democratic convictions that the April 25th Revolution promised, America has slowly morphed into conservative authoritarianism, not unlike that of the former Salazar dictatorship regime that the Portuguese broke free from fifty years ago.

After the events of 1974, Portugal has maintained an electoral system that’s democratically fair and balanced in conjunction with providing education, healthcare, and opportunities for its citizens as best as it can. The U.S., on the other hand, has re-engineered its electoral system in a way that ensures middle-class and low-income Americans will benefit very little, if anything at all, compromising the very notion of a representative democracy. According to two independent studies by Princeton and Northwestern Universities done in 2014, the U.S. is essentially no longer a democracy. The universities’ research found that “Citizens United” campaign finance laws have effectively made the U.S. an oligarchy. In short, the wealthy class and special interest groups can control elections and who they want to see in office. Invariably, the last thing an oligarchy wants to do is provide education, healthcare, and opportunities for citizens. That money is lost in their own pockets. This system has gone unchallenged whether a Democrat or Republican president sits in the White House, or a conservative or liberal majority dominates Congress.

Another pivotal thing that’s allowed Portugal to become more democratic than the U.S. is that, despite being part of the larger EU community, it’s maintained complete independence as a sovereign state without being unduly influenced by any foreign country that would undermine its own interests. There is no lobby group that works on behalf of an outside foreign power to control the Portuguese government’s focus which might take away needed money and resources from Portuguese citizens. In contrast, the U.S. is sadly dictated by a foreign country that has unadulterated power and influence with regard to virtually all facets of America’s governing body. Needless to say, this country is Israel. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (formerly the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs) is one of the most powerful political lobby groups in the U.S., working for pro-Israel policies, the interests of Israel and its citizens by way of directly influencing American politicians, as well as U.S. elections. It is but one of several pro-Israel lobby groups in America. The result of this is America’s unstated obligation to send billions of dollars to Israel every year, which helps support that country’s free universal healthcare system, free university education, and affordable housing for its citizens, while Americans are left to fend for themselves. Israel is also pivotal in its influence on U.S. foreign policy and decisions made at the United Nations (whether international laws are being violated or not). In addition, it can be seen from recent events in the past few weeks that Israel has a strong influence on America’s domestic affairs as well, as is apparent in the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests in universities across America. Coupled with this, virtually all of America’s media networks are owned and controlled by pro-Israel Zionist ideologues, which feed the American public what they want it to hear. By all appearances, the U.S. is very much a kept nation that has lost its ability to think, and act, for itself…. that is, until university students from the east to the west coasts decided to take matters into their own hands to try and bring America back to where it should be.

All of these troubling thoughts of America were on my mind on the train with Licinio down to Lisbon on April 25th, but they were soon washed away once we hit the streets and democracy was in full display as Portuguese from all walks of life, all political parties, all colors and ages, all perspectives were joined together to celebrate a nation that stands together in solidarity for themselves, as well as for those around the world who are not as fortunate as they. The flags of Portugal and Palestine were everywhere. The beating drums of democracy and voices against the oppressed were loud and echoed across Avenida da Liberdade and beyond. The representative red carnation of freedom’s flower-adorned the clothing of those in attendance. At one point, the entire scene brought me to tears. This is what America should be, this is what America could be: a model for the whole world to see and emulate, to live up to, and to live for. April 25th is not just a day, but a calling for a better world. Long live democracy!! Long live the Carnation Revolution!!