We are all born politicians?

Thursday, 5 March 2009

We are all born politicians?

It is the anniversary of the most notable historical fact on 8th March 2009. From that day till now, a year later, there has been many events of despair and jubilation. One thing remains. We are all politicians.
This is what I said to a group of friends whilst eating in our favourite “lepak” place the other day. Most of them looked at me blankly and the few asked, “What do you mean?”
I chuckled and gave them a little brief which actually surprised me too. I said that we are all born politicians. We started to play politics the moment we were conceived. Even the manner of conception can be political.
When we were born, we would have our ways in getting attention. Getting what we want. It may be difficult to remember how it was when we were a baby, but just look at a baby when you have the chance.
The baby would cry when the baby wants attention. Just remove the little pacifier or the bottle or even a blanket, the fellow will wail. Give it back, and there is an automatic stop. Sounds like bribery is it not? Or those want to be diplomatically correct, that is just an attention seeking baby…it is normal. Me, I say, that is politics. You do what you have to do to get what you want.
Then you grow up. If you have siblings, the game will get better. Those with a political bravado will outwill the lesser politician. Does “If you do not do that, I will not friend you!” or better still… “When mummy and daddy come back…you make a sad face lah….say you need to have that new pencil box…and when they say ok…. ask for me also ok? Then I will lend you my toy”

That is politics. We dwell in them with our families, friends and relatives. I am sure all of us here reading this would agree that we may and may not like certain people and “advise” like “If you invite so and so, I would not come” It happens.
Sports are political too. Malaysian sports are helmed by politicians because we are all politicians. In England, the English Premier League’s clubs are also playing politics. Sulking players who say “I do not like the coach…. He does not understand me”… or “I am played out of position” Coaches have been sacked because players are more important.
I played football too. I saw this as well. I even had a captain before that asked us to play dirty to win. Those who did not heed will be removed from the team.
I was also replaced in my school’s debating team because of political play I did not want to play and our team lost because the replacement failed. If I stuck to my guns and played, I would have a gold medal.
In my time at work, I have met singers who request the most mundane of things to perform at a venue. They issue veiled threats that they will not perform if their entourage do not have the same class rooms.
I have met friends and you would agree that even in work, political play is also at work. We form our own perceptions and thoughts based on selective inputs. Careers can boom with the correct play.
Threats do not mean politicking but it is a way to play politics. The other way is to be nice and please everyone yet get all the goods to oneself.
I think that we are all born politicians. It is just we are all in denial. I think perhaps if all of us admit that we are politicians just as we are all hypocrites, the difference being in the quantum, life would be so much better.
Life is like a game. We seek refuge with religion when we are down but seldom when we are up. We seek refuge behind a stone wall and status when the people down below suffer.
I was listening to Linkin Park’s song “Hands Held High”. In its lyrics lie a section which mentioned that while the rich fight, the poor suffers. While the rich tell you to save yet spend, the poor suffers. While the powerful sit in their jets , the people go hungry.
We read blogs. Blogs of opinions. The people like them as they have better reads and they choose what they want to read. A choice made by a person is always good as the choice remains the person’s choice. A choice made by the majority of the people is good as whatever happens, good or bad, is the people’s doing.
This is the world we live in. This is a political play. Unless we wake up to this reality, we will never ever get fair play. Unless we stand up and also start playing, we will never win. Time to ponder a start? Remember, we are all born politicians. We can never change. So why suppress? Just play.