“The Bible really didn’t tell us the whole truth. It said blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth, when it should have said blessed are the rich, for they actually OWN the earth. Blessed are the meek, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Well, maybe. But blessed are the bold, for theirs is the kingdom of RICHES.  Dishonesty began with the Bible.

“If there is one thing you will learn in politics, it is that honesty is usually the worst policy. Honest politicians are politicians who are out of office, and out of office politicians are failures.” (Hyde, 2018)

These words were first published in Evan X Hyde’s FEELINGS of 1975, but I came across them for the first time in my regular perusal of the Amandala earlier this year. On my visit to 3304 Partridge Street to the Library of African and Indian Studies, a book named “X Communication,” published in 1995, was proudly displayed on the center table. I opened it and began to read and again these words struck me as if it was the first time my eyes and mind had gazed at them.

A nostalgic visit I must say. I remember going up and down those stairs in my St. Martin De Porres uniform, but back to the reflection. Those words of “Honesty is usually the worst policy” stuck with me because it is often a consideration of mine as I try to understand political science within the Belizean landscape and my own ambitions.

I have living examples of these political ambitions to look to. In Major Lloyd Jones’ recent reflection on his pursuit of representation he mentioned, “When I entered politics in May of 2015 I promised myself three things (1) that I would not win by any means necessary, (2) I would not lie to the Belizean people and (3) I will not allow politics to change me.” (Jones, 2018)  He, down to Election Day, stayed true and held firm to those self-promises and for that I salute him although he admitted that maybe that second promise might have led to his loss in Belize Rural North.

My question then would be, what kind of men and very few women do we have sitting in those wooden chambers on Independence Hill? Does the marriage to political life mean a marriage to skullduggery? What sort of prophylaxis would I need to gain access to if I decide to brave political life? With all this, I do know that I don’t want to compromise my integrity and I despise that everything in Belize is done “at the discretion of the Minister.”  I don’t want to lie to get ahead, to be on top, to be the omnipotent royal in any constituency.

I also subscribe to Kenny Imafidon’s message to the 2018 One Young World fellows that, “if you don’t do politics, politics will do you.” Often times, we complain that we have crap leaders but don’t offer ourselves for office and end up for another three, five, or 10 years with crap leaders. Then too there’s the consideration of being rejected by the standing major parties to even run at convention level to be made standard bearer, as we see happening quite a bit as we move toward the 2020 general elections. Create your own political party maybe?

I think it all comes down to what you as a person, as a unit of the societal institution, are willing to compromise. How much do you know yourself and what are you willing to sacrifice? How much of the system’s operations are you truly CONSCIOUS of and what acreage of its status quo do you accept as really making a positive change? Maybe my name gets printed on a ballot soon.

Stay Curious.