Written by F. Shelton Gonkerwon Cell: 0886526186 email: sgonkerwon.inprofile @gmail.Com
Wednesday, 06 June 2012 02:56
The game of politics is the mother of all the games that are allied with the sphere of life. It is a game upon which life is fundamentally cradled and which requires levelheadedness as it relates to its traditional practices in order to safeguard the prevalence of discord and societal turmoil. Like any God-given day that is normally led by the sun, the substantial components of politics are justice, unity and equitable distribution of national wealth without which there can never be peaceful coexistence in any given place.
Indeed, the firmness of the game obviously leads to the growth and development of all other activities of a given people and society. On the other hand, its feebleness leads to conflict and chaos in society as peace is often undermined and subsequently plunge a given people into dungeon.
Political and social upheavals that usually undercut the existence of people are the result of a horrific political climate often given rise as a result of deviation from the standard rules of the game. War and devastation are also the result of poor political arrangement and practices which we, as Liberians are living testimonies having gone through sadistic 14 years of war. This is obviously the reason why philosophers from Socrates kingdom had advised men long ago to adopt and practice the policy of electing leaders against the background of being wise and mature if harmony and stability are to remain as hallmark of society.
This had been confirmed by the student of Socrates, Plato, when he said the problems of the world would not cease to persist alongside men’s existence if philosopher kings are not made rulers of the world. Plato’s warning must have certainly come against the backdrop that politics is not a child’s play; it is not based on mere physical strength; but requires the application of wisdom which is the breeding ground of justice. Yes, Plato was correct to bring forth this early warning because the game of politics is played between two valleys and as such it requires astuteness and maximum skill and experience.
Indeed, the game of politics requires holistic thinking and planning if growth and development of a given place are to come to practical reality. It requires living in the minds of the subjects and doing those things that suit their expectations and aspirations culturally and socially.
Based on its complexity, the foremost requirement in the game of politics is wisdom. As a matter of fact, wisdom regulates one’s judgments and conscience and leads a person to being morally skillful as it relates to interacting with other partners along the path of coexistence.
Wisdom provides the requisite vision that potentially brews the steps towards stability because it is through which one becomes judgmental in all that he/she does.
In short, to be a politician you must possess these fundamental virtues in order to able to make timely decisions that suit the appreciation of the people.
In the absence of these attributes one’s political sojourn is but useless since his thoughts would not be potentially meaningful enough to alter the society and yield desired change socially, politically and culturally. Bereft of these qualities, one’s attempts to becoming a politician are hardly achievable in practical terms.
But the opposite is what prevails in our society. For instance, the political corridor of our society is often crowded with people most of who are led by their own fumbling ambition for power and titles but who lack the skill required for leadership.
Most of these people are not processed; do not have the experience, the required education yet they allow their own selfish desires and ambitions to make them think and dream about being president, lawmakers, etc.
And because the society in which we live remains dragging in the dark, not seeing reality, these people are often preferred and followed. As a matter of fact, the society is moved by triviality as opposed to what is substantial. Not taking into historical accounts, most people in the society conclude on the newness of things as being the answer to a long running problem, especially as it relates to the selection of leaders. In Liberia, it appears that politically, we are yet far away from where we are going. Political decisions as it relates to the election of leaders are left to splash disorderly. Most often people base their choice on how financially potent a candidate may and not the natural qualities of a leader. As a result those who the money thereby being in the position to buy votes usually carry the day. The question of one’s experience, education, patriotism and other important attributes are usually not considered when political judgments are being made by the average Liberians. Resultantly the wrong people see themselves occupying positions of trust. For example, war lords who had money and stood in the 2005 elections carried the day.
What Liberians need to know is that politics, unlike football game that requires physical strength, the game of politics requires the strength in wisdom. In the absence of wisdom based on experience the political vehicle for that matter risks being driven in the valley.
