DEAR EDITOR—I read a book over the weekend and I was shocked by what was in there. I will not attempt to do a book review here, but will highlight some of the key points because I feel that those points will help shape our society, especially at this trying time in the history of our country.
We have recently seen a growth of so-called ‘political analysts’ on internet-based publications and a new breed of politicians have emerged in Zimbabwe: a product of the University of Zimbabwe and various other international institutions.
The book which I will give the title of only to those people who bother writing to me at the email below is a repository of ideas. I will not attempt to sell the book here because that will cloud my intended point.
In the book, the author argues that an ‘uncivil war’ is being waged by a group of people whom he calls the New Elite. He defines them as being self-identified people who are 'interested in ideas,' but only their ideas They are often college educated people who consider themselves smarter than every one else. But are so in a shallow or unsophisticated way.
He says this breed of people have no sense of community, are at loggerheads with current governments and populations (because of their Mr Know-it-all attitude) and often stand in the way of discussion of ideas—although they feel like they are discussing them. The new elites push the old guard to the limits. They put them on the defensive by overstatement of their ideas and their positions. A more experienced old guard fears the return to the old situation. They can see through this New Elite and its overzealousness which presents a danger to society; for it is radical, undiploamtic and impatient. The New Elite wants things to happen overnight.
The author argues that this New Elite has a twisted sense of morality and civility—only identifiable and definable through their view of a perfect world. He argues that morality and civility should be taught and advocates a return to 'traditional values.'
The author also argues that the New Elite fails to respect the traditional values, but that it should do so. To the extent the author is referring to the virtues political scientists like Hume advocate or the ones advocated by Aristotle, I think he is completely correct. The New Elite will benefit greatly by adopting these virtues.
Without doing a book review, I think the book hits the nail on the head when you look at Zimbabwe. We have a new breed of politicians and political scientists and commentators who do not want to share ideas; but who want people to take their ideas almost religiously. They have the ‘I know it all,’ attitude—a dangerous place to be.
I will not go into examples here. We all know them. They are not necessarily young, but they think in certain definable ways which are dangerous in our society. They think that only their ideas should be respected and that they know everything—simply because they are college graduates; are from University of Zimbabwe, Harvard, LSE, Cambridge, etc.
The author makes an overarching argument that technocrats should not be the ones responsible for making law. This is an interesting argument.
Certainly it is true that when a person runs for political office he should be able to clearly articulate political ideals and philosophies. And he should temper his practice as a legislator or executive according to those ideals and philosophies.
A political process that gets us back into the practice of doing this, is something I wish for as much as the author. I am skeptical that bashing technocrats or even banishing them from office would be enough to bring about this end.
However, I am a great believer in the fact that perhaps our country will be better if it drives itself into a brick wall at 160 mph than it would be if someone else were to take the wheel.
Perhaps we stand in Ghandi's shoes saying "it is better for us to rule ourselves badly than to be ruled well by someone else."
Perhaps this is the only way we shall internalize the lessons of history and use that history to develop our country for the future.
Perhaps the minority who has read a little bit of history and has concerns for the future of the country should sit silently on their hands while everyone else learns by experience—but this could have disastrous consequences and repair, remember, is not always possible.
Leo • Lt07@msn.com Subject: Sihle Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:07 • All I can say is you are dangerously misinformed my friend. You sound more like the Neo-Political elite that you are eluding to in your scripture above. Most probably that imaginery book of yours is a propaganda scripture of the old gaurd. Life is about the future not history; also remember life is about keeping your eyes open. Don't be fooled by those fairy tales of tsuro naGudo.
BODIDILEE, BULAWAYO • na.byo.com Subject: KETCHUP DUDES Tue, 06 May 2008 09:27:55 • our country will be better if it drives itself into a brick wall at 160 mph than it would be if someone else were to take the wheel.
iznit this is happening now, xsey?
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