Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Politicking Process
This post is probably too little too late, considering that i haven't heard Raj or Des or someone or rather talk politics in a while. I suppose it's cos the elections/general populace have correctly reflected their sentiments about our sometimes unjust government. Or maybe i've been napping during sermons again. No matter - i'm not voicing an opinion on the causes they've chosen to champion. But i was inspired after reading about an indie film-maker's experience of the politicking process. Which, you could perhaps consider as the other side of the coin.
See, while Raj or Des or someone or rather take it as their personal mission to educate us, admittedly feckless individuals about our responsibilities as Christian voters, this guy took another route - he got himself beaten to a pulp and then thrown into jail for casting his lot with some unlucky street protesters.
He was scared shitless of course. Then he saw another of his friends being dragged into a cell, styling the same color t-shirt he was - bloodied red. Then more of his friends start showing up in similar fashion. Those whose lips were not split open by batons were still chanting their chant. And the film-maker took comfort (and courage) from the fact his friends didn't leave him to rot alone.
And that got me thinking about this grand ruckus to change our nation's political climate. I wondered:
"Will my friends be there for me when i get taken away?"
"If they are free and i'm in a cell, will they still think nothing of themselves and protest for my release?"
I'm afraid i can't find it in me to imagine much less bellow a resounding yes. Of course that's an incredibly far fetched and superbly exaggerated scenario. And i'm certainly not suggesting that Raj or Des or someone or rather would behave cowardly or that they should be on the streets protesting. But it is for me the other side of the coin. Because to my narrow understanding, politics is a struggle for power. A struggle between the haves and have nots that you will truly internalize only when you put your face in the path of an on-coming baton. It's a crazy notion, but that to me is what i call putting words into action. I respect Raj or Des or someone or rather for taking the time to produce the facts and figures of the politicking process for our careful perusal. And i want to throw my lot in with them because they're fighting for legitimate causes.
But i think i'm not ready. Because i cannot bring myself to cheer for them if they were thrown into prison. Because i'm not so courageous as to rot in a hole if it comes to that. That's why i refrain from taking a stand too strong and a tongue too quick about it means to call for political awareness and justice. Not that it isn't needed, but merely because i'm not sure i'm willing to sacrifice that much. I'm Zech The Coward for this season.
So i think before i speak. Such uncharacteristic behaviour wouldn't you say? As it would seem, that's how the politicking process affects us all.
1:39 PM<3