Surge in vulgar political repartee reflects our overall intolerance and bloated self-importance
Gigantic egos and self-righteous bigotry are hardly likeable traits, but combined they add up to a combustible fanatical or fascist mix that can explode into hysterical verbal hate. These dubious qualities are better suited to brutal dictatorships and their swaggering Fuhrers, Duce’s and Generalissimos. Someone rightly wrote of an outpouring of Adolf Hitler that, ‘it contained every cliché in the repertoire except God is Love and Please Adjust your Dress before Leaving’! In a democratic setup, even an ersatz one, the normal tone with one’s political rivals or opponents (definitely not ‘enemies’ to be badmouthed, tortured or even physically eliminated) is, or ought to be, a sober , subdued and civilised one, for the most part. After all, political parties exist to settle the contradictions and fault-lines within their society in an amicable and peaceful manner. That is their real raison d’être.
The odd splurge into hype by an excited publicity seeker, when tempers and emotions are frayed, can be overlooked, and officially expunged, but when senior party leaders across the political divide habitually heap calumny and verbal garbage on each other, it really calls for a moment of pause and serious reflection on their part. Unfettered personal abuse to the extent of questioning one’s ancestry and parentage or leveling unsubstantiated slanderous allegations are the very opposite of the pre-requisites needed in a democracy, namely, good working relations among the party leaders, a spirit of camaraderie in working for a common higher purpose, a willingness to compromise and a mutual spirit of give and take. That is what makes a democratic system work, and also ensures that grave national issues are not overlooked amid the petty personal squabbles.
Wit, humour and sarcasm are powerful weapons in the orator’s armoury and can bite and discomfort more than any vulgar abuse, and our politicians can always employ these to their heart’s content. But they must love democracy more than they might hate each other. And also consider that abuse is highly infectious.
