In a general Yahoo opinion survey on Political Wisdom, the best answer was regarded as the one which stated that Political Wisdom was "hypocricy - by not being blunt and taking sides"! Interestingly, during the Islamabad Dharna episode, statements from some prominent personalities were projected by electronic and print media which accused a certain individual politician of being naïve on political wisdom. Interpreting it on face value, such statements communicated a perception that the concerned individual was not politically savvy and was not in possession of qualities which would categorize him as a wise, mature and successful politician.
However, considering the politically manipulating situation and peculiar circumstances surrounding the Dharna event, such statements were actually conveying an altogether different message. The statements' real intent was to warn that any foolish bluntness in making truthful revelations in public had a potential to jeopardise the interests of the whole political industry! In other words, the person was not following the norms where one is supposed to lie and use deceit to fool the public at large not just specifically for his own advantage but also for the larger interests of his fellow politicians and that of the fraternity.
The above would generate the equation that a politician cannot be blunt and frank; he has to be a diplomat and a diplomat needs to lie. Thus; Political Wisdom = Diplomacy = Lying. This is not just a rhetoric. Even otherwise, no longer is lying a sin in our society anymore; no longer it is something to despise. Lying is now an acceptable tool for conducting our daily business.
Just to digress a little bit for the cause of good; those among us who may have ceased to attach significance to what lying actually means should carefully consider the following: The Holy Quran says "Truly Allah guides not one who transgresses and lies". Allah is saying that such person will lose his path as a human being in this world. In one of the Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says "Beware of lie and falsehood because it leads to immorality and, immorality leads to Hell." The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is emphasising and highlighting that lying and dishonesty are the greatest sins because they lead to all other vices in society. Prayers and rituals are not a safeguard in such a situation as lying puts worms in a man's character.
In "Brothers Karamazov", Fyodor Dostoyevsky states "Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others.
And having no respect he ceases to love." And, to the person who offends others, Thomas Paine says "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." However, let us for a moment consider that we are actually already living in a society where speaking truth is the law. Let us take some practical examples of what would be the gain to our society in such a scenario. Since people would not be in the habit to lie and deceit, they will be declaring their incomes, assets and sources correctly and would pay taxes accordingly; no business person, no government official and no common man will be able to put up a file with wrong figures or incorrect data to get the work done in their favor; nobody would make false statements in courts of law; no one would be able to wrongly accuse another person of false doing. These are just some of the examples. By simply speaking the truth, the society would get rid of injustice and corruption and inequity which are plaguing our society and are preventing a common man from prospering and living happily or, otherwise, vice versa.
Let us now revert back to the real topic of what does Political Wisdom means. To take an extract from Walter G Moss, what virtues and values does a wise leader possess? The Greek Philosopher, Aristotle believed that political wisdom was one type of practical wisdom or prudence and that the goal of politics should be the happiness or wellbeing of society, what we might label the common good. He thought that "the true student of politics...is thought to have studied virtue above all things." Among the virtues he identifies or suggests are "moral virtues" such as courage, truthfulness, humour and honesty. However, to exercise them properly he thought that "intellectual virtue" of practical wisdom was necessary. "The work of man is achieved only in accordance with practical wisdom as well as with moral virtue; for virtue makes us aim at the right mark, and, practical wisdom makes us take the right means". Many later theorists agreed with Aristotle. George Washington expressed the belief that it was "substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government" and hoped that future government actions "be stamped with wisdom and virtue". Thomas Jefferson stated that "happiness is the aim of life. Virtue is the foundation of happiness." The twentieth century French philosopher Jacques Maritain wrote: "According to the nature of things, the end of politics is the common good of a united people...This common good consists of the good life- that is, a life comfortable to the essential exigencies and the essential dignity of human nature, a life both morally straight and happy" How many of our political leaders can today claim that they have these virtues and therefore the POLITICAL WISDOM?
(The writer is COO&CFO Saif Group)
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