Tolerance - A Means To Achieving Political Excellence

Look at the rainbow, the coat of Joseph in the Bible which won him the envy of his brothers and eventually got sold into slavery, a garden of multi-coloured flowers, etc BEAUTY is the obvious you cannot resist. Our differences can make us beautiful and richer than destroy us. Politics comes with a lot of diversity. Different people with different thoughts and different ideas make up the beautiful blend that makes unity in diversity an unbeatable strength. Politics in real terms is about the expression of varied opinions in addressing common issues. We therefore hold different political opinions or ideologies because of our belief in them as the right approaches to addressing those difficulties that affect us all.

Political opinions may differ but the issues and problems that confront us daily remain the same. Once there are differences in the expression of solutions to the problems we face, there is the need to patiently listen and weigh each idea and pick on the very best for application. The first step for each of us is to appreciate these reality device strategies to deal with it.

Tolerance, what is it and how is it truly applied? Tolerance is the art of appreciating or observing dissent especially the most sharp and striking opposing views to our ‘conservative’ positions. If we will be able to recognize that differences do exist and would be expressed anyways, we shall be readying ourselves to live with them and move on.

Intolerance has led to chaos and anarchy around the globe which could have been prevented anyway. Many lives have been lost and lots of property destroyed. If we are to move forward as a nation our biggest ally should be Tolerance. This is the foundation on which any further feature can be enhanced toward the consolidation of our democracy.

Tolerance is an attitude that cannot be expressed secretly. It must be open and consistent. To be tolerant is to be ready to be abused and insulted yet respond with dialogue and word of mouth. We all can be tolerant but many find it difficult because we fail to appreciate the reality of life that even twins have different genetic features on the whole. How much more people who are born of different parentage?

One of the surest ways to work towards and achieve tolerance is bringing together people or members of the different political parties on common platforms to share and discuss the problems we face and suggest ways to deal with them. I must therefore congratulate the FES for this initiative to bring the youth wings of the various political parties for workshops such as this. It is sad that on our own in Ghana, we could not initiate these meetings.

We need to also learn to be sincere with ourselves in discussing both problems and solutions. If allow the very personal concerns to shroud our intent for the collective good, we shall all suffer the consequences thereof. There is the need to however agree on a national interest from which we shall all draw alternative approaches and inspiration in providing solutions. That way, the appraisal of performance of political parties when they get to power become easier since there is an agreed standard for measurement.

Joint political activities such as fun games, debates etc are all ways by which we can work towards the deepening of tolerance.

We need to identify at this point some of the issues that discourage tolerance. Supremacy is a perfect example. When in a political debate for example, one assumes the posture of superiority and the opponent being inferior; there definitely would be difficulty in appreciating one another. Again, to consistently disregard and denigrate the political views of opposing political lines is to block the avenues of opening up for sincere dialoguing. Insincere and Fake dialogue do not encourage Tolerance. We often betray our intolerance by heckling and interrupting unnecessarily when an opponent is addressing the same audience.

Perhaps I must note here that as young people we need to learn to operate with the philosophy of non-violence and dialogue as prescribed by Mahatma Gandhi. In the political history of our country, intolerance was so pronounced at the early and mid stages. It led to some many deaths and bitterness that continue to rise from time to time. Today, we should however be motivated by the kind environment within which we live. It’s an achievement we must share in celebrating.

Yet this year confronts us with another challenge. We must go through this year’s elections and come out in December in united and focused but not in pieces. Standing side by side will show us stronger and purposeful than singling out and flexing our muscles. Let’s encourage these discussions and meetings among the youth and take it up with our elders too and insist on TOLERANCE as the surest way forward for us. Together we shall sail from glory to glory.

God bless our homeland Ghana and Make is great and strong. God be with us all.

Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr,

National Youth Organizer

Conventio Peoples' Party, CPP.

Email: [email protected]