Words for a New Day in
Kyrgyzstan
How do we arrive at a workable government whose purpose is to serve the
people who have no greater desire than to be able to arise each day with an
opportunity to care for self, family and community in safety? Yet man qua man
is conflicted.
Reinhold Niebur suggested that it is, "man’s capacity for justice that
makes democracy possible.” And it is, "man’s inclination to injustice that
makes democracy necessary.”
John Adams, a framer of the American Constitution said, "
Self-interest, private avidity, ambition and avarice will exist in every state
of society and under every form of government.” We are helpless to totally
eliminate those characteristics of man from any society. Thus as we form an
organization to provide leadership for our beloved country we must find a way
to control man’s selfishness.
The only method of which I am aware is to use the selfishness of one
group to offset the selfishness of another group. The soviets had an idea this
was necessary and the mixing of ethnic groups was forced on the people.
Recently we have seen the devastating impact of that decision. We will long
debate whether ethnic conflict was at the base of the recent violence in the
southern portion of Kyrgyzstan. It is clear ethnic tensions were successfully
exploited by special interests seeking private gain.
In forming a government there are two principles that must be
advocated: the ‘separation of powers’ and the ‘rule of law.’ If we are unable
to perfect man we must perfect the arena in which man labors. We must divide
power so that no group whether it is minority or
majority will gain sufficient power to tyrannize the remainder. ‘Separation of
powers’ applies checks and balances in an attempt to create a division of
power. These divisions may occur geographically, within branches of government
and/or levels of government. We all must strive to diffuse power.
In reality government exists for only one reason – to promote justice.
Through the promotion of justice John Adams would say, "We are compelled to
respect the common right, the public good, the universal law and have respect
for private considerations.”
Are we guilty naivety if we think we are to totally overcome the base
nature of man? However, if we fail to recognize the capacity of man to rise to
a level of goodness toward his family and community then we have lost all
credibility in our ability to form a government created to serve all the
people.
Where do we begin? Initially it is necessary to change the mind set to
be able to accept that those who serve in government recognize they are there only for the people whom they serve. To
hold the obverse is to hold a false premise. Next we must bring the ‘rule of
law’ to bear on all those guilty of corruption. The message must be delivered
that service at any level of government will not be an open invitation to
extort funds for service over and above the amount proscribed by law. Nor can
the people tolerate the condition where public funds are diverted from their
public purpose(s) to private accounts. The public treasury is not to be seen as
a private ‘mattress’ into which public officials stuff public money until they
are deposed.
What overarches all of these considerations? It is to be recognized
that all governments are a gift from God and in that process God wants
something in return. God asks all governments and all people to act with mercy
and justice. In the Old Testament God gave Adam the gift of free will before
God created Eve. The gift of free will is a powerful gift providing man with
the ability to make choices. Without free will love of God is meaningless. That
means man is to be free from the coercion of any injustice. It also means that
God wants man qua man to have a choice in all we do including forming
government. God’s gift of choice transcends all else to reside within our
everyday lives and since it is God’s gift then government is to be only
minimally intrusive in our lives. Government should interfere in the choices we
have only to the extent that we create and maintain a merciful and just
society.
What else does God expect from man? We are taught that we are to know,
to love and to serve God. That is simple to say, but difficult to execute
because of the nature of choice and free will. Thus, our eternal conflict was
actually given to us by God, but He shows us the face of goodness and He shows
us the way. Are we up to the challenge? What we are being challenged to do is
to develop the capacity to be good stewards of gifts from God. Will we be seen
as the good stewards of the land and government created by God and will we be
seen as persons who know, love, and serve our fellow man? The absolute truth is
when we know, love and serve our fellow man we begin in that process to know,
love and serve God.
Those are God’s gifts to us and He shows no favorites.
To Be Continued …
Hank Hohenstein
02/07/10
SOC New Day for KG