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What Is Politics?
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A dirty game? Backstabbing, favoritism, power play? Alas, politics is no longer just the art and science of Government
says NARENDER REDDY.
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Narender Reddy is the founder/chairman of the Georgia Indian American Republican Council
(GIARC). He is also State Vice-Chairman for the Georgia Bush-Cheney-04 campaign committee, and a Presidential Elector for the Republican Presidential candidate in the State of Georgia. Reddy was recently elected as delegate to the Republican National Convention.
He has served as president of the India American Cultural Association,
(IACA), the Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA) and the Indian American Forum for Political Education
(IAFPE) Georgia Chapter. Reddy is also a trustee of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale, Georgia and takes an active role in its’ activities.
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our daily lives, not a single day goes by with out one
hearing the word 'Politics' time and again. What is this
'Politics’ any way? Is it a commodity that we all could
consume? Is it some thing we all strive to achieve? Is it
some thing we all crave for? Hmm....it is none of these.
The word ‘Politics’ has its
roots, in a Greek word 'politica'. The Merriam-Webster
dictionary defines ‘politics’ as a. the art or science
of government b: the art or science concerned with guiding
or influencing governmental policy c: the art or science
concerned with winning and holding control over a
government. But, over the years, the word 'politics' has
changed dramatically in its usage. Now, we even hear the
words 'political games', ‘dirty politics’ and
‘poli-tricks’ when some one stabs the other in the
back to grab power. If the original meaning of word
'politics' is about the art or science of Government, how
come we use this word in diverse contexts?
My daughters, when they fight, which is very often, they
warn each other, “be honest - don't play politics".
So, is politics is all about dishonesty?
At work places when one gets promoted, the injured party
always blames it on ‘politics’ played by the one with
power. In this case, apparently ‘politics’ symbolizes
‘favoritism’.
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"Indian-Americans have
given the word 'politics’, an altogether different
definition."
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It
has become a common practice for parents to visit their
daughters/sons in this country. Then comes their
interference in their children's lives. They start playing
'politics', as they call it, with their own children's
lives. Each one playing their son/daughter against their
spouse so that they can control their own, even at the
cost of disrupting children’s marriages. But, do they
ever consider that the ultimate result could only hurt
their own? For them the word ‘politics' apparently
denotes 'control'. But, control for what? To ruin their
children's lives? By no means, I am suggesting that all
parents are like above. So, hold on to your bricks and
don’t throw them at me… yet.
Among all the people in this world, it is to the
Indian-Americans that the credit for giving 'politics’,
altogether a different definition goes. They form various
organizations in the name of preserving our Indian
cultural heritage in this 'foreign' land. To prove their
point, they even name these associations as...so and so
'cultural association'. Then comes the hunger for holding
on to their positions in these associations. They blame
each other for 'playing ‘politics'. They blame each
other for clinging on to power. They blame each other for
trying to grab power. 'Power'??? Really???
What power? These are supposed to be volunteer
organizations to promote and preserve our culture. The
people who hold positions at these organizations are
supposed to be volunteering their valuable time. Where is
the place for ‘politics’ - which is supposed to be the
art or science of Government?
For us, even the holiest shrines that we built in this
country at the cost of millions of dollars, again with the
noble intention of preserving our culture and religion,
are no exception to play ‘politics’. It is very common
to see in many of our temple organizations in this
country, groupism, and spreading rumors about opponents
during organizational elections, as also law suits and
even fist fights in some instances. All this in the name
of serving the 'Lord' and protecting our religion. The
common word one can hear in these religious organizations
is, that the other side is playing ‘politics’. Once
again, what does a temple organization have to do with the
art or science of Government? 'God' should be grateful
that these people don't play ‘politics’ with him...but
again, I am not really sure of that either.
Enough of my rambling.... People, the real political power
is in playing a role that decides yours and your
children's destiny, day to day lives, which is vested with
the legislatures of City, County, State and Congress in
this country. Where do you begin? Take U.S. Citizenship,
register to vote, participate in election campaigns, and
make financial contributions to a candidate of your
choice. When legislation, damaging to your interests, is
passed, raise your voice and let your dissent be known. If
you want real political power, run for an office and
WIN...and be a role model to other Indian-Americans.
Remember, politics is not dirty. It is your intentions in
playing those politics that could make it dirty. So, keep
your intentions clean, ‘politics’ clean and make this
world a beautiful place as God intended it to be.
What is politics? Don’t ask me… how do I know? I just
happen to be a Republican…
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