Political tolerance, a mark of mature democracy
ONE significant thing that caught my attention while in the US to cover their presidential primaries in the Indiana State, was the high level of political tolerance among politicians and political parties.
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I saw real freedom of unimpeded speech at its highest as politicians and their supporters could say anything anywhere without looking over their shoulders as to who would be listening or eavesdropping.
It was a common sight at political rallies to see opposing supporters within the same premises carrying damning placards about the politician organising the rally, while his or her supporters looked on.
Political leaders and protestors
I was surprised at a highly tight security environment where former President Bill Clinton addressed a rally to canvass for votes for his wife, Hillary Clinton, and protestors against Hillary’s candidature carrying placards within the same environ, some of which read, “Hillary for prison not president”, “Hillary is a criminal”, “Hillary is a murderer.”
The protestors defied the downpour and the chilly weather. Carrying umbrellas, they walked up and down along the long winding queue of Hillary’s supporters, waiting for their turn to enter the rally ground.
Similarly, at one of Mr Donald Trump’s rally grounds, while Mr Trump was re-emphasising his Mexican wall and anti-immigrant message, some protestors, who lined up across the street with anti-Trump placards chanted, shouted and sang anti-Trump messages.
Knowing some of his supporters who are noted for their rowdy behaviour, before Mr Trump delivered his message to his typically all-white supporters, he issued a stern warning, “Nobody is to disturb some few demonstrators outside. It is their right. What you can do is to continue to shout Trump! Trump! Trump! until no one can hear them any longer.”
At Marion, Mr Ted Cruz, a contender for the ticket to lead the Republican Party, walked up to demonstrators against his candidature and spoke to them, explaining why they should stop being used by his opponents.
The demonstrators were in front of where Mr Cruz was interacting with his enthusiastic supporters to register their dislike for him by carrying the posters of Mr Trump and as Mr Cruz was explaining, they were challenging him, while his personal assistants looked on.
Political tolerance
To me, and indeed, to most of the foreign journalists covering the campaign leading to the primaries, all the instances cited were amazing to us and beautiful to behold. I could not help, but to remark to my American colleagues, “This is a mark of a mature democracy.” Indeed, it was amazing because that could not be common in some of the countries, where we were coming from.
The fact that the protestors could walk freely among supporters of their opponent by carrying placards, sometimes very critical ones was what was most revealing.
What was more intriguing in all that I saw was where Mr Cruz was personally explaining his position to supporters of his opponent, Mr Trump, and was virtually exchanging words with them, while his well-built personal assistants and other big- wigs of his supporters in the party stood close by and listened.
For the electorate as we saw them, they were more interested in what the candidate had to tell them and not because the candidate was for their preferred political party. That explains why a staunch democrat or republican can come out openly to say that he or she does not support a candidate, even if the candidate is for his or her political party.
Any lessons for Ghana?
While there, I began to think of my country Ghana. A number of questions ran through my mind. For instance, when will we get to this level of political tolerance? When can we respect the freedom of those we do not share the same beliefs with? When will supporters of political parties co-exist even at a political rally ground?
I tried to sum up all my questions into one: Any lessons for Ghana as we zoom into mainstream electioneering season? It is a fact that in Ghana, marriages and relations are falling apart because of political differences. Some people have stopped attending their church because their pastor or priests said something critical about either their political party or political leader. Husband and wife are on each other’s throat because of party affiliation. At best, no politicking at home. Petty! Isn’t it?
Beacon of democracy
As we pride ourselves as a beacon of democracy in the sub-region, our ability to tolerate opposing views and accepting others into our fold even when we know that they are in another camp, will confirm or otherwise that accolade.
Admittedly, the US has been in the business of democracy over a century and counting and some of the things they are practising might have evolved over a period of time, but still, they remain the yardstick for measuring how democratic a country is and so, until we are able to measure up appreciably, we cannot continue to pride ourselves as a beacon.
In Ghana, our level of political intolerance is unacceptably too high for comfort and that explains why an election year is always full of tension, fear and uncertainty, with the air filled with animosity and threat of violence and mayhem.
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