Kudos to our political leaders

HELLO MI neighbour! I have never met a mother who is ever thrilled with the prospect of her child entering representational politics. She agrees that someone must do the job, yes, but not her child.

One mother said if after carrying a child for nine months, feeding, clothing and putting him or her through school, if he or she ever decides to enter politics, she would disown the child. That's harsh! Why would a mother take such drastic action against her offspring because he or she decides to serve through the political process? Insanity? Well ...

Marjorie believes that if anyone is insane, it is the person who leaves a life of freedom - freedom of speech, movement and space to take on people's problems only to have those same people hurl insults at them. She may have a point, but it is not true that people who enter politics knowing the abuse they are exposed to, are not thinking straight - well, maybe a few are not. Disagree if you may, but people who offer themselves to serve their country through the political processes are extraordinary people. The motivation has got to be more than power and popularity.

Extraordinary not perfection

Who would commit themselves to serve those, often ungrateful, human beings without an insatiable desire to see to their welfare? I believe that God must have made some people specially for this kind of occupation. And that is what makes them extraordinary. However, being extraordinary should not be mistaken for perfection. And that is where all are guilty. Had it not been for these people what would become of governance? You and I might have desired the office of a politician no matter the enticement or the excitement.

Kim thinks that it must be the grace of God that keeps them going. It is certainly not a pretty sight to stand on the sideline observing what is happening to them on the firing line. They are insulted and called all kinds of derogatory names by all kinds of people and they are expected to swallow their spittle and pretend not to hear. What a life! Their best is never good enough. If they should ever slip and behave like ordinary human beings - losing their cool, etc., - they are not forgiven. A friend once said, to appreciate the job of politicians we should all walk in their shoes even once. According to Dawn, "Mi woulda preffa walk barefoot!"

As much as we disdain politicians and think that they are the worst people in the world, if we are honest, they display a greater spirit of neighbourliness than anyone else. I believe that they must be people of integrity, and that they must be held accountable for their actions. I also believe that we should not expect less of one another. If there is anything that we can take from these politicians it is their 'selfgivingness' for the benefit of others. For me that is the spirit of neighbourliness that we all need to embrace as we reach out to a neighbour from the list below.