Respect for the people

Respect for the people
By The Post
Mon 27 June 2011, 04:00 CAT

The enjoyment of peace in a nation requires a political life that is governed, not by lies and deception, but by ethics and morality. It must be anchored on truth and honesty.

It is regrettable to note that the leadership of our country is characterised by lies, cheating, hypocrisy, double standards and injustice. And Kafula Mwila, chairperson of the Citizens Forum, is right when he says that peace in the country will only be sustained if people are valued and respected by our political leaders.

Good political leaders respect and protect the dignity of the people they are elected to lead or represent; good leaders are interested in the welfare of those they lead and feel their distress.

It is one thing to have democracy, theoretically, in the constitution; its practical implementation is quite another.

It may happen that the system of government is controlled and manipulated by a small group of top politicians who are not interested in the common good but in their own enrichment and prestige but who always claim to act in the name of the people.

We should never encourage the existence of politicians who do not respect and value the people. We shouldn’t vote for leaders who usurp the powers of the state for individual interests. Authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person.

A real democracy has to be built on the basis of justice and moral values and has to look to the common good. And this common good ultimately demands a correct understanding of the dignity and rights of a person.

There is no perfect form of human government. Abuses can take place in every system, but the fundamental value of democracy is to allow the participation of citizens in the government of their country. In this regard, democracy as a system of government is consonant with human rights and the respect of human dignity and freedom.

A just society can exist only when it respects the dignity of the human person. The social order and its development must invariably work for the benefit of the human person.

There is need for all our people to realise that by virtue of their human dignity, they have the right to participate in the political processes of our country, especially in elections.

Leaders who respect human dignity guarantee basic rights to the people they govern and create opportunities for citizens to exercise their responsibilities.

A person chosen for political responsibility as a leader must remember that he is simply a servant or steward entrusted to offer humble service to others as opposed to owning power or the people he is serving.

Therefore, the greatest challenge for bringing about justice and peace in our country consists in respect for the citizen and in good administration of public affairs in politics and the economy. And we should realise that we have the moral responsibility, as citizens, to vote for candidates who want to serve and not to be served, who want to be our servants and not our masters, who give us respect and not those who demand respect from us.

Above all, we should realise that we have the moral responsibility to vote for candidates who follow the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and who emptied Himself for the good of everyone.

We are reminded in John 13:14: “I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another’s feet.” We need saintly politicians who profoundly love their own people and wish to serve rather than to be served.

Leaders should exercise stewardship and uphold the common good. Politics should be honest and responsible. It is an effective way of serving others and working for the integral development of one’s country.

This is why when the time to vote comes, we must vote wisely and only for people known for their honesty, ability and concern for the welfare of all. Election time is a time to vote for honest and selfless people. “…if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach…” (Romans 12:8).

In a democracy where leaders are chosen by the people and for the people, such leaders should view themselves as being representatives of the people at all levels.

These leaders should listen to the people, respect the people, and work for the welfare of all the people. People’s representatives should fight against injustice and abuse; should devote themselves to the welfare of all. Political power must have as its aim the achievement of the common good.

The common good is the reason for the existence of political, social and economic institutions. It enables people to express commitment and concern for each other as well as attain the fullness of love. Common good calls upon all persons to contribute and commit themselves responsibly to building a peaceful and just society for all.

And as always, it is important for those in the political leadership of our country to realise that the exercise of power must be a constant practice of self-limitation and modesty. Every political leader should be a friend of the masses of our people and not a boss over them.

And at no time and in no circumstances should they place personal interests first; they should instead subordinate them to the interests of the nation and the masses.

They should be more concerned about the masses than about any individual. They should also be ready at all times to stand up for the truth, because the truth is in the interest of the people. They should serve the people wholeheartedly and never for a moment divorce themselves from the masses.

And in all cases, they should proceed from the interests of the people and not from their personal or self-interest or from the interests of a small group. Whatever their rank, they are all servants of the people.

Their duty should always be to hold themselves responsible to the people. Every word, every act and every policy of theirs must conform to the people’s interests. This is what respect for the people entails. This is what sustains peace in a country – respect for the people, love for the people.