Feature Article of Monday, 20 July 2015
Columnist: Akwah, Nana
Most citizens think that democracy can change a lot of things; on the contrary we’re being fooled, because democracy is not the election.
Democracy is about consensus, social equality, and classlessness. Election or elections concern choice making, determination or selection.
We have been made been made to understand or taught, that democracy is having elections. And it is not.
Elections are the most repulsive aspect of democracy. It is very routine, superficial, disappointing, above all the dirty aspect of democracy. Example is Talensi.
All well meaning citizens must be condemning the shooting incidents and injuring of people at the Talensi by-election as senseless and an “unspeakable act of barbarism.”
Every reasonable person or rational person should point the finger at the remarks from Minister of Interior, Mr. Mark Woyongo. I mean everyone irrespective of his social inclination or political, more so about the muggers of the violence.
At times the incessant cacophony of stupidity that pours from some of the so-called elites shows how fraudulent they are. The utterances that most ooze from their mouths are unquestionably soul-crushing.
It doesn’t matter how politely we ask them to practice they are incapable of comprehending that their actions affect other people. They have a complete lack of consideration for anyone else, and an overly developed sense of entitlement.
They have no decency, no concern, no shame – I think before anyone make declaration or accuses like that about other people, it will be advisable the person take a long hard look at oneself.
Schooling or education is something that everyone has to go through to stop feeling so sorry for self and allows not to be manipulated, then only will everyone else manage.
Most of our public figures show they lack composure of statesmanship. They are quick to disrespect, very arrogant and lacking in humility whenever they cross the baseline of morality and way of thinking.
One won’t be wrong to say, most of these elites and politicians hate or show no empathy to their neighbors. They do not care about whatever anguish people suffer from the effects of their tactlessness and indifference due to their irresponsible comments. They do not care that we all have to go to work because of mother Ghana.
Mark Woyongo should realize that he has a charge to keep. He has a duty to himself and the rest of peace loving citizens of the country and not to the NDC and their muggers. Or that they want to kill us all.
I know it is not normal to want to kill. But critical appreciation of the recent activities from Talensi, coupled with Police acquiescence to political pressures, I think it is gradually shaping peoples’ thoughts; and believe me people are no longer ready to accept intimidation.
There is very nearly a universal awareness, perhaps an inborn jaundiced eye, to suspect the good faith of a person who holds opinions that differ from our own opinions.
Many a time such suspicion obviously endangers the freedom and the objectivity of any discussion if we attack a person instead of attacking an opinion or, more precisely, the scene or the experience.
When I speak of reasonable, all I have in mind is the trust and the levelheadedness, that we can learn through criticism of our mistakes and slip-ups especially through criticism by others, and eventually also through self-criticism. In the same frame of mind, when I speak about rational is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others — not by simply taking over another’s opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others. These factors were absent in the Minister’s submission during his interview with reporter.
The emphasis here is on the idea of criticism or, to be more precise about critical discussion. The genuine rationalist does not think that he or anyone else is in possession of the truth; nor does he think that mere criticism as such helps us achieve new ideas. But he does think that, in the sphere of ideas, only critical discussion can help us sort out the wheat from the chaff.
The rationalist or the free-thinker is well aware that acceptance or rejection of an idea is never a purely rational matter; but he thinks that only critical discussion can give us the maturity to see an idea from more and more sides and to make a correct judgment of it.
Why would people want to take advantage of or resort to double-dealing? Is it for expediency, cronyism, sycophancy or for what specific purpose?
I listened to the recorded interview the Interior Minister had with the Ultimate reporter. The premise from which he develops the argument is corrupted truth with nothing to win over any reasonable or rational person than himself and those of his kind.
In one breathe he defends legitimizing of violence and in another he states that is not the import of his statement. I do not think the Minister suffer schizophrenic amnesia.
Does his assertion that “violence beget violence” bring to the fore the uproar that engulf the nation when a similar comment made by an opposition aspirant was construed as a fertile ground to ignite social disorder?
Where are the creators and executors of the Peace Industry? Does the Peace Council exist?
The hypocrisy of perceived neutrals usually undermines credibility of their status when they fail to act when required of them. The Golden Rule should not escape or be glossed over.
It is very worrisome when genuine legal concerns are swept under carpet to appease and very irksome when natural justice is compromised.
The Interior Minister’s claim that every person has the right to defend self is very on point. The Minister is definitely right and must be given a pat on the back for stating the obvious.
I’m repeating my earlier inquiry; does the Peace Council and the Peace Industrialists exist? If yes, why are they voiceless regarding over Woyongo’s “violence begets violence”. The Peace Council and its collaborators were very upset when a Leader asked his supporters to defend themselves, they concluded that hell broke loose for stating the very premise Mark Woyongo has also articulated.
Did Peace Council empathize with those injured at Atiwa? I think those who castigated the opposition asking its supporters to stand up to anyone must be ashamed of themselves. The Peace Council has lost its relevance. There is the need for the Peace and its collaborators demonstrate a degree of guilt complex for the cantankerous nature it went about in dealing with the opposition, especially its Leader.
Many are watching to see how the Peace Council and those who created the “Peace Industry” prior 2012 elections with its attendant “Kumasi Protocol” respond to “violence begets violence”.
Amazing phenomenon during the period February 2011 to December 2012 was that, the Peace Council and Peace Industry were convinced that such utterance could bring about civil unrest or disorder. However, they seem not to be aware of what the Interior Minister, Woyongo has stated.
Hypocrites why not remove the plank that obscured truth and realities from eyes and do same to the Minister’s “violence begets violence” statement.
The simplicity of his statement is that it can cause the deaths of hundreds or thousands; and will cause more in tragedy seem to have escaped the Peace Council and the Peace Industrialists attention.
“It’s a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church must unmask evil, rendering present the goodness of God, rendering present his truth, the truly infinite for which we are thirsty”, Pope Benedict XVI.
I do think that something that man has invested his power in, should be fitting for him to remember the words always that, “With great power comes great responsibility”.
The Very Reverend Asante’s Peace Council and its collaborators were willing to create a “monstrous wicked person” out of a similar statement “all die be die”.
The Peace Council has no decency, no concern, and no shame they should prove all critical minds wrong.
It must be told in no uncertain terms, for what is good for the goose is also good for gander.
Yes greed can exist without money. Craving for possession is greed and doing anything to get it is really bad. I have to go now.