If the last general elections campaign here in Anguilla was any indication of what our political discourse has become, in this country, one would have to say that it was the greatest display of immoral and abusive conduct in our 50 – year political history. Never before had I witnessed such a deep disdain between political rivals, both at the party and politician levels. The political chasm in Anguilla widened immeasurably, with many families remaining divided and our communities still fractured. For those reasons, we should all be concerned about how quickly our disagreements descend into disrespectful and vicious behaviour.
It has always been my goal to rise above the unmannerly and indecent political discourse in Anguilla – to focus on policy, not personalities, and to represent the people’s interest above any other influential force or special interests groups. Public figures entrusted with the responsibility of parliamentary representation must set the example, set the proper tone, and be ever mindful of the words that they choose to speak. In order to do this they must be able to quiet the self – putting aside selfish ambitions and pride and recognise that the opportunity granted to them to serve is only for a time, and the people are the ones with the real power and should be respected at all times. These are important lessons that will serve each of us well, particularly those who currently serve as elected representatives – as well as those who seek high office in our nation.
This excerpt of an article entitled: “The Temperament of a Great Leader” by Otis White, President of Civic Strategies Inc. and published on November 11th 2015, is a perfect antidote for the self-righteous individuals who quickly forget that there are personal boundaries that should never be crossed:
But there’s one quality that the best leaders possess that I don’t think can be learned easily, and that is temperament. It’s an old-fashioned word that refers to a person’s nature or disposition, especially as it affects his or her behaviour. And the temperament that the best leaders possess allows them to “quiet the self.”
The leadership trait is further described by David Brooks, the New York Times columnist. He says it is the ability to “step out of the game” when criticized or insulted. “Enmity is a nasty frame of mind,” Brooks wrote not long ago. “Pride is painful. The person who can quiet the self can see the world clearly, can learn the subject and master the situation.”
Most of us can’t do this. If attacked, we inflate with anger. Our impulse is to strike back quickly with a cutting remark. What we learn is that, rather than ending the attack, it only escalates the conflict.
Or maybe we don’t strike back but seek revenge, using our positions to get even. A former president once went down that road. And, well, we know what happened to Richard Nixon, a former President of the United States.”
In Anguilla, we are being bombarded by too many political actors who are often incapable of dealing with public scrutiny and regular criticism. This comes with the territory of public office and is something we must be prepared to face. The people of Anguilla will always speak their minds without fear or favour. Whether the criticisms are justified or not is less important; how we choose to respond to that critique is what makes all the difference. We need to bring back decency and civility in our political discourse in this country. The process must first begin with those at the top who must set the example. If we want to do something about the strong political divide in Anguilla, and our pained families, then we must refrain from using divisive language. Words have meaning and are powerful. Let us, therefore, use our words more wisely and follow the words of our Heavenly Father in Proverbs 15:2 – “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
