debut: 2/16/17
36,394 runs
Admiring Sunak’s grace in defeat
It was so refreshing to see outgoing British PM Rishi Sunak, hand in hand with his wife quietly at his side, acknowledging with humility whatever he may have achieved during his tenure, but empathizing with those from his party who may have lost their seats, thanking them for their efforts; but most of all, for his commendation for his successor, Keir Starmer, wishing him all success for the future. His country is by no means perfect, still tainted with the “evils” of Empire, and with its fair share of scandals—like with Profumo of a long time ago, and recently with Boris Johnson re: Covid—but there is no missing how it still remains as the epitome, indeed, the benchmark of what is good and upright in the politics from which the world, generally, has so sadly departed.
And elsewhere in the world it is no different. Putin’s enemies continue to mysteriously catapult from high-rise buildings, and Chi has manipulated the political system to stay in power for life. Trudeau continues to be indifferent to the continuing Canadian cry against his leadership and Macron is manipulating his return after Le Pen’s initial surge. Maduro continues to maneuver the Venezuelan elections to his advantage, as this once one of the richest countries in the world, lies in ruins and its people wander to find a place to call home. And history is replete with examples—like the case with Idi Amin in Uganda or Pol Pot of Cambodia or Hitler in Germany or Mussolini in Italy—of leaders who continued to enjoy office by harnessing the psychology of what it takes to remain in that office when everything screams at their unfitness for the job. And what of us here in once-sweet T&T?
Rishi Sunak’s gesture in defeat in the British elections is like the setting sun on an evening on King’s Wharf on the jetty in San Fernando. It will soon be gone, but the memory of what can be still remains, and that is refreshing in a world where politics is all self and power.
It was so refreshing to see outgoing British PM Rishi Sunak, hand in hand with his wife quietly at his side, acknowledging with humility whatever he may have achieved during his tenure, but empathizing with those from his party who may have lost their seats, thanking them for their efforts; but most of all, for his commendation for his successor, Keir Starmer, wishing him all success for the future. His country is by no means perfect, still tainted with the “evils” of Empire, and with its fair share of scandals—like with Profumo of a long time ago, and recently with Boris Johnson re: Covid—but there is no missing how it still remains as the epitome, indeed, the benchmark of what is good and upright in the politics from which the world, generally, has so sadly departed.
And elsewhere in the world it is no different. Putin’s enemies continue to mysteriously catapult from high-rise buildings, and Chi has manipulated the political system to stay in power for life. Trudeau continues to be indifferent to the continuing Canadian cry against his leadership and Macron is manipulating his return after Le Pen’s initial surge. Maduro continues to maneuver the Venezuelan elections to his advantage, as this once one of the richest countries in the world, lies in ruins and its people wander to find a place to call home. And history is replete with examples—like the case with Idi Amin in Uganda or Pol Pot of Cambodia or Hitler in Germany or Mussolini in Italy—of leaders who continued to enjoy office by harnessing the psychology of what it takes to remain in that office when everything screams at their unfitness for the job. And what of us here in once-sweet T&T?
Rishi Sunak’s gesture in defeat in the British elections is like the setting sun on an evening on King’s Wharf on the jetty in San Fernando. It will soon be gone, but the memory of what can be still remains, and that is refreshing in a world where politics is all self and power.