Commentary
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DEMOCRACY in St. Kitts and Nevis may have passed the stage of bottles and stones and attempted coups, but the wounds inflicted today are no less damaging when they consist of insults, lies, victimisation, disrespect and malfeasance. On the emotional level, democracy has remained a blood sport.
"Democracy does not have to be a blood sport,” said former President Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina this week. “It can be an honourable enterprise that advances public interest.”
This statement should make all countries including our Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis sit up and take stock for while democracy was intended to be inclusive of all points of view, to be a system of the people by the people and for the people, too often it has resulted in political tribalism, intolerance and behaviour that was individualistic rather than patriotic.
‘Advancing the public interest’ has been interpreted to mean ‘advancing party members’ interest’ to the exclusion of any non party members who are seen as enemies and suitable targets for venom-laced verbal darts.
Will this ever change? Will being in the Opposition always mean that everything proposed by the Party in power should be opposed, and will the Party in power ever understand what it is to “agree to disagree” without thinking that the opposer is a potential saboteur ready to destabilise the country?
We can begin to change our mindset by seeing the Opposition as ‘the Alternative’ – brothers and sisters also created in the image of the Creator and having a passionate love for country that equals that of ruling Party members. The ‘Alternative’ must respond maturely by bringing alternative solutions to the country’s problems and not just react by blaming.
“No party has a monopoly on wisdom.”
“No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise.” said Barack Obama at the DNC Convention 2012 this week. He stressed the need for cooperation if the country is to be built and renewed.
It is only when leaders in a democracy understand this that we can say they are politically mature. It is only when they understand this that they can move their country forward.
Can we call our leaders mature when they perpetually rake over the past again and again, not to learn from the experience of the past, but simply to attribute blame and to declare they are better?
If anyone thought that our leaders were mature, let June 10th come around next year and the events that allegedly occurred 45 years ago, when the majority of the population was not even born, will be used to convince present-day voters that for this reason they should not vote for present-day members of a Party.
“Being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are,"
So often we hear people say of a leader, “Look at how politics has changed him!” But Michelle Obama said of her husband, “Being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are," she said. "As president, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision and the life experiences that make you who you are."
As we go through this frustrating period of electoral petitions and court pronouncements, we will look to see what values guide our politicians and what aspect of their character will be revealed in these trying circumstances.
The path ahead seems so foggy as mixed messages emerge and our leaders seem to be at loggerheads with the law, declaring persons innocent when the Courts say they are not. What values will they wish to instil in the youth over this Independence period?
What price are our present leaders prepared to pay for success? Does success to them only mean victory at the polls? And will it be a victory for themselves or are they striving for a victory for a better life for their entire electorate?
Again, we can draw further wisdom from words uttered again at the Democratic National Convention this week and use them to guide our thinking:
“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” Michelle Obama 2012 DNC
