Today’s View: Showmanship or Statesmanship?

A person of political maturity should stake his (her) political career to make a stand and commitment to a higher cause than winning an electoral post.  This is the acid test of true statesmanship and political wisdom.

By DON J. PAGUSARA
Davao Today

Nothing can stop our dear politicians from proceeding with their stage acts as veritable performing artists.  Hourly, or even much more frequently, we witness their amazing performances on the television screen, inserted alternately between breaks in each teleserye, practically from morning until midnight.

And what do these performances dish out as food for thought for the people, for the electorate particularly who are their target audiences?

Nothing.  Not anything of consequence politically, morally — or whateverly — worth the consideration of the voting populace.

Oh my God, it’s all waste of time and money!

But wait.  Isn’t it Showtime?!

Oh yes, as stage acts, perhaps we can scrimp on some crumbs of entertainment value?

Certainly, we are tickled to teary laughter with the “slapstick” stunts displayed by Asiong Salonga and Dirty Harry.  We even marvel at how a senatorial bet from Mindanao can exhibit with amazing skill his terpsichorean number!  Matched only by the singing prowess of another senatoriable!

Alas, behold the extraordinary acting talent of a lady candidate in a pro-poor video clip versus the splendid “role play” of magnanimity by another lady from the opposing party.

And you cannot miss the exuberance with which all the candidates present their shallow if not off-tangent discourses on such standard issues as poverty, unemployment, high prices, criminality, etcetera, etcetera.

Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Bong Labog has challenged these senatorial bets to speak their minds on the Sabah Problem.  Not one of them, except the Independents, had spoken about an issue that has wounded our national pride and integrity with grave insult.

Is it because they belittle its significance to their election victory?  Or is it because they are too dumb to discuss something much much bigger than their self-aggrandizing interest can accommodate, not to say “can comprehend?”

They seem to be too preoccupied with their propaganda gimmickry they refuse to harness their intellect and concern for a matter of overriding importance to our national integrity and sovereignty.

They want to “play safe” by not touching on a delicate — but exceedingly significant — issue it demands nothing less than their untainted conviction as visionaries, not as political charlatans.

Mr. Escudero said it is not good for politicians to ride on the Sabah issue at this election time.  But what are politicians for, if not to put to better use and higher purpose their cerebral equipment in order to help resolve issues needing utmost attention and resolution?

A person of political maturity should stake his (her) political career to make a stand and commitment to a higher cause than winning an electoral post.  This is the acid test of true statesmanship and political wisdom.

By this, the politician passes the bar of political maturity and becomes a visionary statesman.

Don J. Pagusa is  a native of Mindanao,  a multi-awarded author and  a Palanca-awardee.