Morales’ election, and of saviours in general

So new Bolivian president Evo Morales is visiting a number of countries – Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, Spain, others in Europe. And, interestingly, South Africa.

My first reaction to Morale’s election is highly positive. How can it not be? He’s the first indigenous head of state, an achievement that for the majority of Bolivians must rank up there with South Africa’s first black president. Bolivia has been a mess, massive privatisation gone wrong, a so-called ambassador from the US who actively campaigned against Morales, and with the US having pumped billions into attempting to eradicate an ancient, traditional crop in a misguided attempt to stop Americans snorting themselves silly (a habit even their leader once indulged in). Although not quite the same, can you imagine a US ambassador here telling South Africans to vote for Tony Leon, and insisting the country eradicate a traditional crop such as imphepo?

Morales has already promised to ensure 50% of the oil revenues stays in Bolivia, a wholly sensible option with the petroleum multinationals making massive profits everywhere, usually leaving behind untold environmental damage (which of course doesn’t get included in their balance sheets, at least not until long afterwards). Oil is running out, and for once the nation states are in a powerful position. Too many governments have felt they must pussy-foot around global capital in case the multinationals get annoyed and go elsewhere (and the SA government is amongst these I’m afraid). With vast profits thanks to the high oil price, oil in demand, and running out, oil companies will be more keen to stay, and nations that have oil can more easily ensure that something goes back to their people.

And of course, sabre-rattling talk against the war-mongering US is easy to applaud. With Castro, Chavez and Morales, and perhaps to a lesser degree Lula and Zapatero, those identifying themselves as leftists may feel they’re on the march, and US conservatives that they should bunker down and pray that the end times will be over soon.

And that’s exactly what’s human society today needs to grow beyond. The tendency of people to identify with a saviour, to choose a side, and support them to the end, overlooking their weaknesses, and overstating their strengths. Uniting against their enemies, and blindly supporting their friends.

To some, the tendency is to believe Bush can do no wrong, the slaughter of thousands of Iraqi civilians is for a good cause, the spying he’s authorised on the US people will of course only be used against the baddies. At the same time, Chavez, Castro and now Morales are all evil, achievements such as Cuba’s fantastic healthcare and education systems to be ignored.

To others, the tendency is for Castro to do no wrong. His restriction of political opposition and imprisonment of his enemies, all for the greater good of ensuring the revolution survives US aggression. Morales’ violent tendencies in organising the cocaleros can be ignored as long as he stands up to the beast of the north. And I must confess I can’t quite complete my construct by finding anything positive to say about Bush’s leadership. But insert anything good you think he’s done here, and bemoan the lack of appreciation.

So much of the communication in the world today fits neatly into the above styles.

But what nonsense! Life is not a sports game, where you choose sides, and follow them come what may. It’s complex, it ebbs and flows, making progress in some areas, falling behind in others. As long as we believe others will lead us to salvation, we are stuck. The responsibility lies with ourselves. To acknowledge the goodness in all, even those we struggle to identify with. And at the same time, to acknowedge the failures in those we naturally love and support. Even such seeming opposites, the so-called pro-life and pro-choice camps, share at their heart the love in essence we all share, whether its directed at an unborn child, or a woman.

Let’s watch the tides of life, endless actions followed by reactions. Applaud leaders whose intentions are noble, and applaud them even more when their actions result in what they intended. Water for one family, or the right of a person to stand on a box and freely and safely speak their truth. But our leaders will fail us, make mistakes, become misguided. And when they try to take away what they think they own, remind them that they do not own us. Our freedom, our health, our wellbeing, our liberty. All words that have been abused, but in their essence they still hold a truth. We are free, to love, to create, to be healthy. To hold onto these traits in spite of all obstacles, and to share them as widely as only each of us can. And even to recognise the bogeymen we construct as we look in the mirror.