An uncouth according to some, the 36th US president and a Democrat Lyndon Johnson was no fool. While signing a landmark civil rights legislation in 1964, ferociously opposed by the whites ewhich was to outlaw racial segregation, and narrow the socio-economic and political gap between the Americas whites and blacks, hence empowering the historically impoverished black community, the president allegedly uttered the following to his aide: We have lost the South for a generation.
Lo and behold, Richard Nixon, a Republican, became Johnsons immediate successor. Is there a lesson in it for present day political leaders of Pakistan? Yes, there is a loud and clear message for us.
First, for the greater good of the country, a politician must cease to be a politician and behave like a statesman, standing above his partys political interests. Second, a politician follows the public opinion; a statesman carves public opinion based on his countrys long term national interests. Third, a politician is concerned about short term political dividends, but a statesman forsakes short term interests for long term national interests. Fourth, short term losses with wise strategy and tactics could be converted into long term gains. The same southern states voted in favour of a mixed race Obama, a Democrat, in the last American presidential elections.
Pakistan which desperately needs good governance in socio-economic and political sectors badly needs statesmen, with courage and conviction to stand above their petty personal, parochial, provincial, and party interests. We need an uncouth but wise Lyndon Johnson.
TAIMOOR ASHRAF
Lahore
