What is wrong with the Left? For Americans, the politics of the left is something way too radical. Because that means you are in favor of shaking the established order. For the French, it is just a part of life. Why should you not question what is being prescribed by those who are giving the orders? And for the rest of the world, it is to become a revolutionary. Either you are battling your former colonists, or following an international movement. So, are you a mover and a shaker or are you OK with the status quo? Which stance do you belong?
When the radical Jacobins or Montagnard (French revolutionary radicals) deputies decided to physically sit in the upper left benches of the Assemblée nationale in Paris back in 1789, the symbolism was established. They huffed and puffed over the current order vindicating how everyone should get a fair share of the pie and rid the republic of the monopoly of the monarchy. And across the hall, seated the Legitimists (also known as the Royalists), they felt compelled that upon entering the auditorium, they were befitting and had bona fide claim of the right section. A proper man in society at that time carried himself with grace and tact. He spoke the proper lingua and held himself well. His noble ranks always bought his ticket in the right place of the room.
Who would have ever thought seating arrangement would change the rest of the world’s political psyche? Is it human nature or is this just binary semantics? Et voila, left wing versus right wing political spectrum was born- another contribution from the rubbles of the French revolution.
For the first time in history, the American President is labeled from the left and the French President is from the right. Sarkozy and Obama campaigned with the slogan that ‘change’ is on the way. From national security, international terrorism, cyber security, a weakening currency, and worsening economy- all the maladies of an ailing state were present. As difficult as it was to inherit all the maladies, their prescription was always not well supported by their legislative houses. Being an agent of change is not easy- wherever you are coming from. In 2012, both will run for their second term hoping to be reelected. And both are also in trouble of being beaten. But each one of their current opponents simply lack the substance nor a solid blue print on how to make things better.
To be a leftist in the other parts of the world has a frightening connotation to it - fortunately and/or unfortunately. Being a leftist can mean being unfairly branded as a terrorist who can wreak havoc in society. The Cold War and leftist terrorism eclipsed the religiously-coded revolutionary movement such as the Khomeini-led Iran upheaval in 1979. And today, either one is a Communist simpatico and a dreamer demagogue such as President Chavez of Venezuela, a separatist movement such as the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka that use illegal means to stage their agenda, your platform upsets the social order. And worse, you can be part of a religious fervor such as the Taliban which uses a holy doctrine in a distorted way to fight off modernization. Overtime, being on the left went hand-in-hand with terror- a destroyer of peace and order.
Following the right or left has a different connotation across the world. So, back to the question, do we always have to be Right? Or do you want to be left behind? I guess choosing which way to go is not that easy. From a revolutionary or a terrorist, from a demagogue follower or a Commander in Chief, left or right, you are always in the hot seat.
No comments:
Post a Comment