‘Hubris’ and arrogant politicians
Hubris, from ancient Greek history, describes some of our super-confident senators today.
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Daily TribuneHubris, from ancient Greek history, describes some of our super-confident senators today.
“Hubris refers to extreme or excessive pride, arrogance and dangerous overconfidence. It often describes a state where an individual’s belief in (his/her) own invincibility or importance leads (him/her) to disregard risks, dismiss warnings and overstep normal human limitations.” (Source: Google)
Hubris, from ancient Greek history, describes some of our super-confident senators today. Here are some true stories, the names have been changed.
Senator Jack
Let us call the first Senator Jack. He is voted to the Senate for the first time. So he feels completely oozing with power and fame, having been voted by the people. The first time he speaks out, he confronts the great Miriam, the feisty so-called “Iron Lady.” Very casually, without mentioning her name, he blurts out the magic word, “Brenda,” which just popped out of his mouth.
As a background, Google says, “During her 1992 presidential campaign, political opponents mocked Miriam Defensor Santiago with the derogatory nickname ‘Brenda’ — a malicious portmanteau for “brain-damaged,” meant to weaponize rumors about her mental stability.
“Defensor Santiago dismissed these attacks as gutter politics, famously turning public attention away from the mudslinging by focusing instead on her stellar academic credentials and policy platforms through her People’s Reform Party.” (Source: Google)
Of course, Miriam, instead of lashing back at her detractor, simply stated her impeccable credentials, as described above, the best boomerang against the accuser, who was never heard from again.
Before I say “end of story,” let me point out that Senator Jack and people who feel power for the first time are so drunk from the smoothness of its velvety texture that they often say ridiculous things and make fools of themselves. End of story.
Congressman James
Just like Senator Jack, newly elected Congressman James, completely irritated by a rising star not from Metro Manila, in a blind tirade, curses him to the high heavens with words that are normally censored even in social media. Many agreed with Congressman James, but there were comments that he had crossed the red line and that he was just KSP (kulang sa pansin or starved for attention) when he started to use cuss words. Perhaps it was both.
Completely angered by the KSP guy, the rising star sued him black and blue, which led him to raise money for his legal defense. Today, it is possible the court case has been forgotten, as its purpose of harassment has been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the rising star.
‘Power Corrupts’
Lord John Acton, an English Catholic historian, liberal politician and writer, uttered the now famous saying: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It was popularized by Malcolm X, civil rights activist and Muslim minister.
Lord Acton’s point was the ability of power to destroy the most honest of politicians. This is true not only in the realm of politics, but in almost all institutions, even the Church and the Vatican.
Human frailty is king. Rebel movements which cry out against corruption, when they get power, become the corrupt. Virtue is anathema.
