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Why is it Incorrect to be Politically Correct?

By William Manful

Time changes so do people. Maybe people change that’s why time changes or is it the other way round time rather changes people. Either way the world clearly isn’t the way it was.  Consciousness of cultural sensibilities and fear of distressing groups emotionally means that one couches comments or views with care and utmost discretion. Satirists are now having a nightmare, struggling to balance the politically correct with that which is considered or regarded as humorous and funny.

When and how did we become so sensitive? The even bigger question is, is it healthy for society to be so self aware? What will this all mean to freedom of expression which is a cardinal feature of democratic governance? The paradox I see is that the quest to frame society along the lines of tolerance and understanding is becoming a premise for intolerance and discrimination. Views and opinions are now suppressed and stocked underneath diplomatic vocabulary that belie how people are truly feeling. Sentiments are repressed just so that conservatives can fit in, or score political points or appear more modern, trendy, educated, erudite and civilized. Marginalizing a group makes us seem archaic accepting same group accentuates a modern mindset. Meanwhile the anonymity of the internet affords users the chance to be truthful, exhibiting mean comments that emphasize hate, racism, prejudice and ignorance. The vitriol that has been veiled by the veneer of political correctness is unleashed with limitless ferocity demonstrating a backwardness that makes the post modern man look like a caveman. If political correctness is an attempt to enhance the notion of civility amongst men then clearly it is not working.

The world now exists in two as it always has anyway. It is just that the duality has taken a new form; the extreme conservative or the ultra liberal. There is no room for a middle ground. You are one or the other as we continue to develop the penchant to demonize dissent and or disagreement. Is democracy serving us well or is democracy finally proving to be a contradiction in terms? An illusory concept that can never be what it purports to be unless it is wrapped in propaganda.

There is now the risk of building tension by fostering the tenets for freedom which increasingly show that inherent to the democratic political credo are facets of tyranny. The majority may carry the vote but what will that mean to the minority? Conversely the minority may be protected but how is it a democracy when the will of the masses is no longer sacrosanct.

The insanity of modernity is trying to please everyone at once which can only guarantee the outcome of leaving us all dissatisfied for the simple reason that political correctness is a call on humanity to go against its nature. We are better off acknowledging what we truly are by trying to find a balance between the two extremes of correctness. After all the concept of cultural acceptance and propriety are predicated on relativism. The absolute is beyond our range and will forever remain within the province of God.

 

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The New African Dilemma

William Mamful

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

 

When Denzel Washington recited these words with the gusto and the bravura of a master thespian in the movie Great Debaters one felt the conviction and triumphant spirit inherent in Mr. Langston Hughes’s rhapsody which is nothing more than a definition of oneself to the world at a time when the author and his kind were viewed as an inferior sub population not deserving of that coveted American dream.

 

The import of Mr. Hughes’ brazen and defiant projection of the self is an exaltation of the black identity in the midst of social oppression and social injustice. By assigning positive values to the lowly lot of the black man in America, the poet lived out a nietzschean  mantra as he drew strength from the white man’s abuse and condemnation of him and his fellow kind.

 

Langston Hughes in this poem not only embraced his identity in spite of the white man’s discrimination but also established himself as the proverbial field nigger fighting his oppressor by refusing to surrender to his impositions.

 

The timeless value of art accentuates its pre-eminence for the relevance of Mr. Hughes recital was felt when birthers in America wanted the sitting black President to produce his birth certificate to prove to all and sundry that he truly belonged.

 

The sorrow though lies in the dissipation or rather evaporation of the combative spirit inherent to Hughes’ immortal words. Does the black man still see himself as beautiful? When Desmond Tutu decried any religion that rejected homosexuality, was he being true to himself and the mores or values that have been identified with his kind or was it just a narcissistic attempt to fit into a liberal credo  appropriate for post modern sensibilities. A jocular lobby for another Nobel prize perhaps??The subjugation of the black man can travel beyond the shackles of the slave master and seek refuge in mental dominion. A whole hearted embrace and acceptance of western values can therefore restore the black man’s place on the racial pantheon only this time he will be too subdued to fight for a better position.

 

The global campaign for love, tolerance and acceptance is a clarion call that the civilized world must adhere to, no doubt about that so must we preserve that which is true to us guaranteeing a variety in race, ideology and values. The kaleidoscope that is mankind and his endless variations does not end with racial breed but extends to a moral creed as well.

The world indeed does not and should not encourage discrimination of any sort but the western refusal to accept the African attitude towards a lifestyle that may be alien to our culture, traditions and customs may signify some form of discrimination too. The archbishop’s comments could draw applause from the world beyond his continent but it makes one wonder whether the external acclamation inspired his declarations at the UN in the first place.

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The African Union and International Aggression

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) decision to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi with force has drawn criticism and polemics from the African Union (AU) lamenting the manner the air campaign has been carried out resulting in massive losses of civilian lives and a blatant disregard for Libya’s sovereignty. In a BBC interview Chairman of the African Union Commission, Dr Jean Ping complained that the continental body was never consulted before the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya. Even though some measure of recognition has been extended to the National Transitional Council (NTC) with the AU pledging support for the interim government during the phase of reconstruction as outlined in a statement from the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who holds the bloc’s rotating chair, the continent still appears to be conflicted about the way and manner regime change has been carried out in the oil rich North African country.

Some political pundits have called the NATO campaign illegal lambasting the conversion of the imposition of a no-fly zone into a forceful removal of a sitting President. Of course remarks have also been made about Gaddafi’s seminal role in the formation of the African Union itself after its establishment in July 2002 replacing the erstwhile Organization of African Unity. The former dictator’s financial contributions towards the creation of the union and his call for a continental government leading to a United States of Africa has been lauded by African leaders as well as scholars. It is interesting to note however, that the support for the ousted Libyan leader comes at a time when the AU is calling for the democratization of member states and the respect for Human Rights within the ranks of member countries.

The fundamental contradiction in the AU’s willingness to endorse a political despot like Gaddafi whilst calling for good governance and respect for Human Rights underscores a lack of focus in its operational mandate. Unfortunately, a lot of the continent’s rulers sympathize with the former Libyan leader because of their protracted stay in power. How can Africa really and truly adhere to the basic tenets of good governance and democratic rule when the incumbent chair of the AU has himself been blamed and criticized for failing to democratize the institutions in his country?

The continent’s drive towards economic emancipation will never be realized unless the proper measures are put in place to ensure proper political dispensation within African states. The call for responsible and sound political leadership is key to Africa’s economic growth. It therefore behooves regional organizations such as ECOWAS, SADC, EAC and COMESA in conjunction with the main continental body to engage in corrective leadership whereby African leaders who ignore democratic rule are reprimanded or isolated for their actions by other continental leaders.

To some extent the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was adopted within the framework of the African Union to harmonize the continent’s political values and urge African states to practice and respect proper methods of governance. Unfortunately, the brilliant initiative which appeared to be unique to the continent has lost steam and seems to have lost the support it once enjoyed from continental leaders such as John A. Kufuor of Ghana. The AU is therefore no longer in a good position to monitor the political practices of member states and to ensure that they conform with the continental endeavor for  proper economic and governance values as outlined in the 37th Summit of the Organization of African Unity held in July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia, adopting a document setting out a new vision for the revival and development of Africa.

Political underdevelopment therefore continues culminating in economic backwardness rendering it difficult if not outright impossible for the continent to stand up to or resist international aggression such as the NATO military action in Libya. The  time has come for the continent’s rulers to realize that in the realm of international relations, might is indeed right and until Africa becomes a major player economically and places itself in a good position to influence global trade and finance the continent’s interest will always remain secondary to the imperialistic tendencies of the West.

Unfortunately, the AU as the showpiece for the continent’s evolution is failing to engineer the needed political changes that will bring forth prosperity for Africa and its people. African states continue to perpetually rely on their colonial masters for financial sustenance due to their inability to make proper use of the bountiful resources at their disposal. Economic mismanagement, corruption, political nepotism and tribalism are still features of African politics making it increasingly difficult for the continent to become a major player when it comes to international politics.  Africa’s inability to make meaningful contributions to global economics and the lack of technological progress or proper industrialization means that the continent will continue to stay on the margins of international affairs negotiating from a position of weakness and remaining as a fertile ground for pillaging and exploitation by Western countries and other growing powers posing as new developmental partners.

If you like this article, I’d recommend my book “If I Was Famous, I’d Have a Lot to Say”

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America’s Role in the New World Order

Harvard Professor Joseph Nye argued that America’s domination of the world does not seem to be on the decline because the political will of the US continues to prevail around the globe. Now, the position of the Professor may be in diametric opposition to conventional belief but a closer analysis of world political events appears to support the notion that, US imperialism shows no signs of abating now or anytime soon.

American foreign policy continues to prevail in an international political arena where no emerging power seems to be potent enough to challenge the might of the last true superpower. Recent events around the world such as the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi or the assassination of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan as well as the unilateral declaration of war in Iraq or the US call for the replacement of hackneyed leaders such as Laurent Gbagbo of La Cote D’Ivoire showcase one country’s ability to impose its will around the world. In fact unchecked American dominance in the new world order has resulted in numerous conflicts that probably would not have been possible in a bipolar international political environment. The US led NATO bombardment of Libya for instance would not have been so straight forward if Gaddafi could call on allies in the defunct Warsaw Pact to come to his aid.

A lot has been said about a growing China but is the might of the Chinese significant enough to curtail US imperialistic domination? Not likely; a 700 billion dollar annual military budget and the continuous spread of democratic values around the world means that America’s soft power continues to grow as Washington garners more friends in former enemy territories in the Middle East and Africa.  What this also means is that US control of precious resources such as oil are going to be guaranteed for the foreseeable future because unfettered American access to petroleum resources in Iraq and Libya will  no longer be challenged thereby consolidating America’s economic dominance through political imperialism .

The cold war made it difficult for the United States to have its way around the world because of the Soviet menace. Lately however, it looks like whatever Washington wants Washington can get; resulting in a new form of international anarchy expressed in the inexorable rise of attacks from terrorist groups and organizations such as Al Qaeda desperately seeking to remove the US as an obstacle to their global theocratic aspirations. Furthermore, conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan reflect a global political system that is becoming increasingly unstable partly due to US unilateralism. Interestingly, the Trans Atlantic defense initiative was never activated during the cold war. Since the collapse of the iron curtain however, NATO has led military operations in the Balkans and now North Africa. In the absence of the Soviets therefore, there seems to be no real global power to check the excesses of Washington’s militarist policies hence the ensuing chaos which did not exist even at the peak of the cold war.

The grand recession may be a protracted one with unemployment remaining high in spite of the efforts of the Obama administration but that is hardly a threat to America’s hegemonic status. Lest we forget US might has been challenged before by the Japanese in the late 80’s and 90’s and the Soviets during the cold war. When the Russian spacecraft sputnik crossed earth’s atmosphere to venture into outer space and orbit the planet the general impression was that America had ceded its power to the Soviet Union. American superiority in space exploration was however restored with the Neil Armstrong lunar walk.

So the emergence of new powers and challenges to US global dominance is nothing new. The credibility in this challenge however must travel well beyond swellings or growths in one country’s economic indicators and must be felt in a meaningful way such as the ability to successfully impede the globalization of US political will. In the absence of such a challenge, international unipolarity will continue to be defined by the pre-eminence of US foreign policy.

If you like this article, I’d recommend my book “If I Was Famous, I’d Have a Lot to Say”

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The Gay and Lesbian Debate: A Credit to Ghana’s Democracy

The discussions surrounding the gay and lesbian situation in Ghana has received a lot of attention lately. The former President, His Excellency J.A. Kufuor as well as the current one H.E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills have joined the on-going debate by frankly and candidly expressing their views on a controversial matter that seems to be affecting the country and possibly the continent more than most people would want to admit.

The multifaceted nature of the issues has drawn comments and contributions from all and sundry including the clergy and the legal fraternity. The religious perspective has called for outright condemnation due to the Biblical position on sodomy and same sex partnership. The legal angle however appears to be admonishing caution as well as the constitutionality of illegalizing or criminalizing the gay and lesbian lifestyle. Even though existing codes in the country’s criminal legal system identifies unnatural sexual practices as acts of misdemeanor the constitution which is the supreme law of the land remains silent on the matter. Needless to say that, the constitutional debate will continue until a clearly defined legal position is adopted to guide the society’s treatment of gays and lesbians.

It must however be said that, a legal analysis of issues may not exhaust the gargantuan scope of this debate which quite frankly must be evaluated from a myriad of angles. For the ratified legal status of homosexuals in Ghana will have sociological, cultural and Continue reading “The Gay and Lesbian Debate: A Credit to Ghana’s Democracy”

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Self Discovery: The Ultimate Path to True Happiness

How do we define ourselves? The process of giving oneself some kind of identity goes beyond a name and confidential details inscribed on a card or a passport. To journey down the road of self-exegesis without oversimplifying who we truly are is a challenging exercise that bears no categorical conclusion. For seldom do we uncover the truth about ourselves buried under the deluge of wills, mores, traits, impositions coming from an over bearing world which mount on our very being turning us into products we never were.

Does the true self even exist? The Greek philosopher Socrates admonishes us to uncover our true nature. Man, know yourself as he puts it. But is the self knowable? What we think we know maybe the outcome of the layer load imposed by the world around us. The sage’s advice nonetheless is worth pursuing for self knowledge is indeed the only key to happiness. Self knowledge guides and instructs us. We conduct our lives or rather we ought to conduct our lives based on what we know about ourselves and how we perceive our true nature. The true self á la Jean Paul Sartre does not even exist. According to him, Continue reading “Self Discovery: The Ultimate Path to True Happiness”

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Importance of Electronic Media to The Democratic Development of Ghana.

The branches of government in a democracy are as follows: the Executive branch, the Legislative branch and the Judiciary. Even though the electronic media is not a direct institutional branch it forms part and parcel of any successful political set up that can be described as a good democracy. The media is the interface or the intermediary between the three main branches of the democratic system and the people or rather citizens that these branches are expected to serve. Thereby, a complex system of checks and balances and transparency is established creating an environment of government accountability to the citizens of the state. In the absence of the media therefore, democracies will not empower citizens the way they are expected to.

Over the years however, the media has taken several shapes and forms. Since Johannes Gutenberg’s 15th Century discovery of the printing machine, mankind has found new and innovative ways to disseminate information. From the talking drums of our ancestors to the World Wide Web which makes internet communication possible, the methods of spreading information have improved substantially making the electronic media a more vital feature in democracies. It is the belief of several political pundits that, the success of the National Patriotic Party in the 2000 Presidential elections was heavily influenced by the free media in Ghana.

Will the media however always play a positive role in Ghana’s democracy? How can the media which, is expected to be an instrument of freedom corrupt the country’s democratic system? It must be noted that, the positive role of a free electronic media in a vibrant and dynamic democracy such as what is currently being practised in Ghana can be abused. So instead of the media playing a positive role in the organization of general elections for instance it could even destabilize the social as well as political harmony prevailing in the country at the moment. This usually happens, when politicians are able to infiltrate the ranks of media practitioners in the country. So political reportage can become propaganda machinery designed to endorse government policy and advance the agenda of political parties. The media’s role can also be undermined by the commercialization of news agencies in Ghana whereby reporters seek or endeavour to sensationalise stories and events for popularity and ratings.

The war in Iraq spearheaded by the Bush administration enjoyed public support in America but it is believed that the majority of the supporters of the war which was described as illegal by the then Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr Kofi Annan, were convinced that Iraq and its former leader the late Saddam Hussein were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York city and Washington DC. The war at one point was termed as a “Rush Limbaugh/Fox News War — based on the premise that in our current media environment if you tell a lie forcefully and frequently enough, the lie will triumph”. The Fox news network was therefore used as an outlet for misinformation and misdirection thereby securing support for an illegitimate war that threatened international peace and stability and cost billions of dollars that contributed to a decline in the US economy. A free media can therefore be an instrument of deception if not utilised properly.

It is also widely believed that radio stations were used to incite the very tragic genocide of Rwanda in 1994. Radio presenters and journalists analyzed normal political and social events in a tribal context creating the impression that social chaos was imminent unless certain members of the society were eliminated. The outcome was the massacre of nearly one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Most of the killings were carried out by civilian Hutus against their Tutsi neighbours and has been described as one of the worst tragedies in the history of mankind.

These are a few examples of how the wrong use of a liberalized electronic media system can ultimately destroy or defeat the essence of democracies and engineer a national atmosphere of deceit, hostility and mayhem.

A free media must therefore have its limits, if it is going to be constructive in Ghana. Even though, the criminal libel law has been repealed the ambience of free expression that has been created must not be exploited to print false articles and publications about politicians and public figures.

In 1973 two prominent American journalists namely, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein exposed a political scandal that came to be known as the Watergate scandal. They successfully exposed campaign malpractices in the Presidential campaign of Richard Nixon resulting in the resignation of the former American President after he had been successfully inaugurated.  The actions of the two journalists significantly changed the political landscape of America and has garnered exemplary behaviour from Presidential aspirants in the US ever since. The landmark case of Watergate therefore, marked a triumph in American political history and showcased the very important role that the media generally plays in democracies.

Prospective journalists training at schools of journalism in Ghana must familiarise themselves with cases such as the Watergate scandal so that they can be conversant with the merits or relevance of political neutralism to a free national media. Outfits such as the National Media Commission (NMC) must ensure that there is integrity among Ghanaian journalists and regulate their activities in such a way that political reportage in the country will be fair, accurate and balanced.

The electronic media therefore has a very important role to play in Ghana’s democracy. If properly practised and executed, the liberalised press can guarantee the freedoms of Ghanaians by ensuring that politicians or elected officials account to the people of Ghana. If the tenets of good governance such as transparency and the implementation of good Human Rights policy are going to be realised the electronic media must be perceived as the fourth and arguably the most important branch of government.

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Why Are Democracies Contagious?

‘……man is created free but everywhere he goes he lives in chains….’ Rousseau’s remark about the pitfalls of modernization also serves as an adequate basis for extolling democracy as the best system of governance known to man. The inexorable spread of democratic practice can be attributed to many things such as the economic dominance of democratic states around the world. After all the US and its political allies in Europe, Asia, Latin America and even Africa have managed to take up the reins of economic power on the planet.

Every continent is economically dominated by democracies. Western European states such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and many more are relatively better off than their eastern counterparts who are still recovering from the doldrums of communist rule and domination. The Bulgarias, Latvias, Moldovas are struggling to catch up and lest we forget only really started prospering after incorporating democratic practice into the political fabric of their changing societies.

Africa may be known for hardship and general social unrest but the emergence of democracies on the continent has proven to be a continental sedative. Nations such as Ghana, Cape Verde, Mali, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and the Mauritius who are beneficiaries of democratic political practice are economically better off than the non-democratic ones who continue to struggle with hybrid political systems that are mostly defined by political autocracy and military dictatorships. These methods of governance carry in their wake a massive abuse of human rights resulting in general economic despair and massive social unrest.

Everywhere in the world democracies generally flourish but does it explain the mass appeal of democratic governance around the globe? It could be argued that, China the world’s second largest economy is also not a democracy so surely alternative systems of governance can bring about national prosperity. The paroxysmal rise of democracies around the world however cannot be overlooked especially with recent events in North Africa. All across the Arab world monarchs and political leaders are beginning to worry as they marvel at extraordinary events in sister countries such as Tunisia where the erstwhile political autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was successfully overthrown by popular uprising.

The on-going effort by the people of Egypt to forcefully remove Hosni Mubarak is a continuation of what happened in Tunisia and the ripples may go even further in the Arab world. Former US President George W. Bush’s prediction that democratic forces will sweep across the Arab world with the right push is finally coming to fruition. Some have attributed this new political osmosis across the Arab world to the internet and online innovations such as twitter and facebook but the cause may go a lot further than that.

The call for political reform in Tunisia and now Egypt merely illustrates the philosophical adage that preceded this article. The intrinsic human will to be free is now being overtly expressed in nations that were hitherto immune to the spread of democratic governance. Democratic appeal lies not in its ability to generate income to its practitioners but rather in its ability to tap into the fundamental nature of man. The human desire to be free as expressed by Rousseau is instinctive so any political practice that fails to take this into consideration is bound to fail. The recent occurrences in the Northern part of Africa are a testament to this belief.

The Jasmine Revolution which started in Tunisia is expected or may inspire similar revolutions in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Yemen and even Saudi Arabia. The French writer Albert Camus in one of his philosophical undertakings attributed the metaphysical revolt against God to the intrinsic human desire for freedom. In ‘L’homme Revolté’ (The Rebel), the famed author identifies two types of Revolutions. The one orchestrated by man against his maker and the type organised to oust earthly rulers such as monarchs and political despots. Both the metaphysical and physical revolutions are in consonance with the human call for freedom.

It must however be noted that, the metaphysical revolt against God resulted in the physical overthrow of monarchs in Europe for instance because political rule as a divine right seized to make sense leading to the outbreak of revolutions in countries such as France where monarchs ruled as a divine right. Liberté, égalité, fraternité, these words must resonate in every political system around the world for they are part and parcel of the human character which is why the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations identified democratic governance as a fundamental human right. States which therefore fail to subscribe to the basic tenets of democratic political systems are bound to experience some form of social unrest.

The call for freedom may not be immediate in non-democratic states but it can foment with time and explode with younger generations who feel disconnected from tradition and societal norms. This is so simply because in order to govern the modern man the nature of the ancient man needs to be respected and so far democracies have proven to be the only system of governance that empowers the citizenry to have a say in how they are going to be governed restoring in the process the natural human longing for freedom.

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