In some ways, democracy is an ideological prism through which the bright lights of aspiration, experience and history pass and are refracted into forms as varied as the people of Earth.

This point is richly illustrated in America.gov’s Democracy Video Challenge, which invites the world to complete the phrase “Democracy is ….” From the entries submitted thus far, it’s clear the word evokes a lot of different interpretations. The submissions also underscore that, for many, regardless of the name applied to their current form of government, democracy is more a goal than a fact of daily life.

Some of the entries I found interesting (and I haven’t yet viewed them all) are those submitted from nations furthest removed from democratic government. Take a look at life in Burma presented by the videographer as the antithesis of democracy, or share the Chinese Dream, as it looks back at the events decades ago in Tiananmen Square and ahead to a future in which freedom of expression is the norm.

Some interesting submissions also have come from Iran: Find out what Honey has to do with democracy, or see it boiled down to its most basic element in ER.

More than 100 videos have been submitted to this contest and more are arriving every day. Does one capture your vision of democracy? Take a look and let me hear from you.