Anything but ‘honourable’
IHOPE in my column last week I managed to convince you of the obligation we all have to building this country. If you are still one of those who is convinced that the nation’s politicians are the panacea for all our problems then I suggest you too log onto Youtube and view the clips of South African parliamentarians that are now trending.
Sadly, they are trending for all the wrong reasons. Our parliamentarians have taken pettiness to a new low and see nothing untoward about devoting copious amounts of time to debating items such as whether the word “nonsense” is fit for parliament.
Parliament is indeed about words and verbal exchanges, but it seems that the esteemed members, strangely, do not use words in the same way as mere mortals such as you and I.
Take for instance the favoured term “honourable member”. The dictionary defines “honourable” as referring to a person characterised by honesty and integrity, ergo, they are worthy to be honoured.
But for many of us, there is no missing the irony when a presiding officer screams “order, honourable members” at dishonourable individuals who clearly take pleasure in behaving in a completely disorderly manner.
Then, when the members of our fifth democratic parliament discuss integrity or ending graft, I see the process as nothing but a charade. They are like the Pharisees of old whose personal behaviour contradicted what they preached.
This reminds me of Ndaweni Mahlangu, the former Mpumalanga premier who caused a storm with his statement, “it is acceptable for politicians to lie”. Mahlangu was castigated, not so much for what he said, but for having the temerity to say it.
Judging from current behaviour it would seem many other politicians think in a similar vein but opt not to admit to that.
In an article titled “Why All Politicians Lie”, Ronald Railey suggests for politicians, lying is simply a job description.
In other words an accomplished politician is an accomplished liar.
I admit the article might be a bit generalised but it is true that telling untruths or half truths and obfuscation is part of the game. Politics is about winning the minds of people and to that end many politicians will tell followers whatever they want to hear.
Psychology Today observes politicians know their followers will believe them, even in the face of irrefutable evidence to the contrary. It further suggests politicians and their adherents live in echo chambers with impermeable membranes that prevent conflicting information from entering.
This means astute politicians are not concerned about the opinions of everyone, only those of their core constituency.
Going back to the word “honourable”, it also refers to reputation or how a person is viewed by others. But when I watch the Youtube clips and see the nation’s leaders referring to each other as liars, thieves, drunkards and drug users, I am uncertain as to how they can expect citizens to hold them in any regard, let alone high regard.
Surely the truism “respect is earned” applies to politicians? But many of ours seem to delude themselves with an artificial sense of importance as they glide along with their entourages in a bubble of officialdom.
It leaves me to conclude that on the project of nation building, you and I are the right candidates for the job.
Our politicians will only join us after they become tired of their narcissistic games and outgrow their pettiness. Meanwhile we are left at home alone, because partisanship has been elevated above patriotism.
As acutely embarrassing as the behaviour in parliament is, I am now an avid fan of these Youtube clips.
If nothing else, they reinforce the notion the shenanigans in parliament have nothing to do with nation building.
Rather, we are in the hands of people with oversized egos who seem incapable of making the pressing issues facing the nation their chief priority.