One of the great theological Christian reformers of the sixteenth century, Martin Luther, a professor at the University of Wittenberg, Germany, shook up the citadel and bastion of the Papacy and fractured historic European Christendom. Luther, armed with the Holy Scriptures, made the solemn declaration to the Papacy, in the famous words still echoed today: "Here I stand, I can do no other." Luther along with other reformers like John Calvin, John Knox, John Huss and Jerome adopted positions on the Holy Scriptures that led not only to a split in Christendom, but had wide ranging repercussions not only in the religious fortress of Europe, but tremendous implications in the political, financial, economic and social world.
In the case of religious reformer Luther, he had observed the complex myriad of spiritual matters of the Catholic church as it related to human salvation and rituals. In comparison with the Holy Scriptures, Luther's spirit filled conscience and understanding led him to proclaim otherwise. Another famed individual, Ambedkar Rao, the father of the modern Indian constitution, came from the lowest caste in India, the Dalits, studied in the UK and USA, and not only recognised the great chasm in Indian life of equality, discrimination and class structure, but worked towards that end. Another Martin Luther, but with the King as his surname, was a "king" in his own right.
King had a dream that one day, both the black and white Americans could play, go to church, attend the same schools and colleges, eat at the same restaurants, get the same loans, equality of treatment for jobs and also promotion, based not on the colour of their skins, but on merit. As the renowned leader of the American Civil Rights movement in the USA in the 1960s, King's position on equality of treatment and non-discrimination emerged as a legal trumpet in the human rights movement in the USA, advocating that Afro-Americans be treated as equals with human dignity and respect.
King's advocacy was in total contrast to Justice Richard Taney's statement's in the early nineteenth century. It was reported in the Dred Scott decision: "That the Black man has no rights that the White man should respect. King's cherished dream was that the virus of inequality of treatment, discrimination, covert and overt display of preferential treatment should not be left to germinate.
PP's platform for change
How has it been with the holy alliance of the People's Partnership, and their mandate for changes since May 24, 2010, as it relates to transparency, accountability, integrity and ethics in public life, and equality of treatment? Has this union of amalgamated political parties provided the platform for needful societal changes and arrested the attention of the national conscience? Has the PP's holy alliance inspired national, regional and international confidence thus far in their vaunted quest to demonstrate what constitutes meaningful and effective governance, and has this level of governance brought about some needful changes during the past 16 months? What has really changed? Has the PP Government or the holy alliance learnt anything from these two Luthers and Rao?
Generally great nations achieving developed status do have some sort of tremendous respect for treasured moral and spiritual values. Are we as a nation reaching to the apex of wanton liberality that we no longer recognise what constitutes sound moral and spiritual values? Have we abandoned our collective spiritual consciousness that have given rise to this developing nation? And have we examined some of the reasons for the outbreak of the French Revolution? Have we not observed a similar trend developing in this nation, especially in the realms of lawlessness, violence, lack of respect for law and order, exploitation of the poor at the hands of the wealthy, continued manifestation of corruption in all spheres in national life?
Can we progress to developed nation status and civility, when we do not know how to speak to each other in the public service and in the private sectors, where a quantum of "innovative foreign and abusive languages" are used daily? Are our political administrators leading by example in all aspects of the Government's operations?
Challenge for change
Many nationals residing abroad and willing to respond to the PP Government's call to return home to contribute to national development are finding great difficulty in the readjustment process, especially when they are not familiar with the political players of the day. They, too, have a dream of returning home to integrate successfully. They expect to see gradual and positive changes in all aspects of the PP's political administration as it relates to transparency and accountability. Whether the PP Government of the day has instituted transparent and meaningful changes that can stand the rigorous scrutiny of full disclosure in all their contracts, appointments, and deal with the challenges of selective discrimination and non-favouritism is another matter. Will the PP's dream of change be a reality or just a dream.
Are there factors impeding that dream? Another matter that is engaging controversial public attention and appears to have religious and societal and political consequences is that of family life and same sex relationships. Many arguments are being advocated in the name of human rights, perhaps without a proper understanding of the full societal implications where this may actually lead. It may be one thing to follow a partial European and North American approach, but divinely ordained institutions for the well-being of society, family life and the stability and progress of nations by the Great Almighty should not be tampered with in the name of human rights.
It may be prudent to observe that whereas some nations have facilitated same sex relationships and marriages in the name of equality, our constitution and international treaties do not sanction that aspect of family life, neither do the vast religious entities existing in the world.