DIV4/6: POLITICS AS A DIRTY GAME

POLITICS AS A DIRTY GAME

• It involves telling of lies.
• There is misuse and abuse of authority while in politics. For example using of the army to intimidate the masses.  For example Kakooza Mutale with Kalangala action plan.
• Within politics, there is corruption. For example Kutesa and Muhwezi who misused public funds for which they were censored by the 5^th
• It may easily lead to murder especially inn situations where there is stiff competition.
• Politics breeds hatred, enmity and envy.
• It may cause family disruption because of the difference in political ideologies. For example Njuba and his wife, Winnie Mandela and her husband all divorced because of divergent political ideologies.
• Politics encourage irreligion and paganism in that people develop no fear of god at all.
• It may lead to under development due to wrong political ideologies. For example communism in Tanzania under president Julius Nyerere, Cuban under communism and many others
• Politics breeds insecurity. For example Kony in Northern Uganda has fought for over 15 years against NRM government.
• Politics is associated with acts of dictatorship, oppression. For example the regime of Idi Amin 1971-79 which so many people suffer unabated.
• Politics leads to death and assassination of leaders for example Kabira Joseph.
• Politics generally undermines the validity of law and order in the society.

GOOD ASPECTS OF POLITICS (POLITICS AS A GOOD GAME)

• It is a special gift in which all Christians must participate.
• It is the heart of governances and leadership of the society hence necessary to organize mankind. For example after the death of Moses and Joshua the people of Israel yarned for a leader to get more organized.
• Even in the bible God raised leaders to serve as political servants. For example king David, Solomon.
• Leadership itself is God given and whatever God gives is perfectly good. (Rom 13:1-7)
• Its through politics that Christians can participate to point out the evils of the society.
• Jesus himself never condemned politics because of the evils attached to it.
• Jesus even corrected the laws of the time so as to create a good political atmosphere. For example he castigated mob justice by calling for forgiveness.
• Through politics Christians are in position to fight injustice in society. That is to say, corruption, dictatorship and others. For example Archbishop Janan Luwum opposed the dictatorship of Idi Amin.
• Politics spearheads the development of the society through provision of social services and infrastructures. That is to say, hospitals, schools and many others
• Politics ensures security and stability. For example Solomon and David in the bible provided strong security to the people of Israel.
• It also promotes democracy hence peace and stability or harmony.
• Politics helps to safe guard the lives of individuals.
• Politics ensures proper utilization and exploitation of the country’s resources.

HOW JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS POWERS

• He taught his disciples that having authority means serving others.
• He said the greatest must be like the younger.
• Jesus showed this by washing the feet of his disciples.
• Jesus never resisted authority in that he remained humble and meek. For example he stopped Peter from using the sword when he was being arrested.
• He sacrifices himself and died for many.
• He used his powers to establish the kingdom of God.
• He taught with great authority so as to bring about a positive change in society.
• Jesus came that people have life and have it to the full.
• Jesus treated all people as equal and reconciled people to his father.
• He performed miracles to portray his authority. For example the feeding of 5,000 people.
• To fulfill his authority he referred to himself as the truth, the way and the life. (John 14:6)
• He exorcised people. For example when he drove the demons into the pigs which later drowned into water

ARMED CONFLICT

 Causes

• Armed conflicts may be within countries, between countries. And below are some of the causes;
• Variations in political ideologies. For example single party verses multiparty.
• The nature of the economy. For example capitalism verses socialism.
• Economic oppression and exploitation of the masses through acts like over taxation, low development and many others
• Dictatorship and autocracy. For example during the reign of Idi Amin where Obote through the help of Tanzania fought the liberation war.
• Social economic discrimination in term of jobs, tribe, sectarianism.
• Unjustified political victimization of the masses. For example detention without trial.
• Power struggle; For example Lord’s resistance movement struggle for power.
• Corruption and instability to provide the masses with the basic needs can easily prompt armed conflict.
• For example in 1994, the Hutu and the Tutsi of Rwanda were at each other’s neck.
• Rigging of elections by ruling government. For example Museveni decided to go the bush after the 1980 rigged elections by UPC.
• Production and availability of firearms and weapons.
• Nursing of ambitious programs. For example Gadhafi who intends to create a United States of Africa against the wishes of some nations.
• Mistreatment, mistrust and fear between countries. For example Congo verses Uganda, Rwanda verses Uganda, and Sudan verses Uganda.
• Unfair distribution of national cake.
• Lust for greed and wealth.
• Unemployment which in most cases provides a recruitment ground.

CAUSES/ FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUGEES

Refugees are persons or people outside area of origin as a result of fear of persecution, natural disasters, epidemic outbreak      and war. Below are some of the factors that may cause it;

• Political victimization by those in power. For example during the regime of Idi Amin, many people were exiled.
• Civil wars forcing people to seek for safety. For example during the Rwanda Genocide, many ran to Uganda.
• Religious persecution. For example in Sudan because of the enforcement of Islam many have come to Uganda as refugees.
• Racial discrimination. For example the apartheid policy in South Africa that led to many of the couth African to flee their country.
• Economic discrimination creating the emergence of classes. That is to say, the nobles, middle class and the class of peasants.
• Tribalism and tribalism clashes. For example the one in Rwanda. That is to say, Hutu and Tutsi.
• Sexual discrimination. For example Afghanistan incidence on women.
• Professional discrimination. That is to say, where people are denied jobs without any serious cause.
• Discrimination on the basis of culture, nationality, religion and many others
• Dictatorial and undemocratic governance leading to excessive exploitation and oppression of the masses.

PROBLEMS LIKELY TO BE FACED BY CHRISTIANS AS A RESULT OF THE WAR/ REBELLION

• May encourage the element of revenge and harassment of the innocent, which is unchristian.
• May encourage some selfish interest thereby self defeating the purpose of love and sharing.
• May lead to persecution of Christians. For example Kabaka Mwanga persecuted the Ugandan martyrs because their act of rebellion against his policies.
• Christians may suffer isolation as a result of the war. That is to say, they may be marginalized.
• Murder, torture may become inevitable. For example the Israelites who were greatly tortured by Pharaoh, because of their rebellion.
• May easily lead to full blown out war with its negative consequences.
• May destroy, blackmail the image of Christianity.
• Enmity may develop between the church and the state leading to discrimination hatred all of which are un Christian.
• May force people not to practice their faith openly for fear of persecution.
• May lead to acts of imprisonment thereby going against the act of reconciliation and forgiveness.

HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD HANDLE UNJUST TREATMENT

• Christians should always advocate for peaceful means of solving problems.
• Christians are supposed to be peacemakers and as such, they should always maintain peace in the world.
• They should follow the example of Jesus who accepted to suffer for the good of mankind.
• Christians should sacrifice their lives for the sake of attaining peace.
• Christians should endure, persevere and tolerate suffering as taught by St. James and Peter.
• They should develop the spirit of patience and obedience to the earthly government.
• They should advocate for a dialogue. That is to say, round table talks with the unjust authority. For example the elders who went to talk peace with the Rehoboam.
• Christians should pray for the unjust state to change for the better.
• They should practice love of their neighbours and enemies and of those who persecute them.
• They should advice the dictators that they are God’s representatives on earth.
• Christians should remain humble, exemplary even in their suffering like prophet Jeremiah was humble in his state of suffering.

Note: However, its right of the Christians to voice out their dissatisfaction and as such they can always rebel and oppose as   the last resort.

DISADVANTAGES OF WAR

• Murder of the innocent. For example during the Rwanda Genocide of 1994 where many people lost their lives.
• Famine and poor standards of living because of lack of concentration in that people lack basic necessities during war.
• It leads to untold suffering of the innocent. For example the Aboke girls who got abducted by Joseph Kony rebels
• It may bring about immorality of the people. That is to say, people are usually concentrated in camps and movement is restricted this makes life unbearable.
• Destruction of property. For example in Afghanistan where most of the infrastructure were destroyed by US bombers.
• It breeds gross violation if human rights. For example raping, stealing, looting and many others
• Unemployment becomes rampant because of the closure, destruction of industries and factories.
• War brings about dictators. For example Idi Amin, Joseph Kabira who all came to power through war.
• In war there is bond to be anarchy. That is to say, the state of lawlessness hence a state of no peace and harmony.
• Permissiveness becomes rampant leading people to do as they please.

Other factors that may disrupt peace than war

• Lack of freedom of worship, expression and association.
• Poverty
• The AIDS scourge, resulting into cases of orphans, widows and many others
• Discrimination and tribalism. For example the Hutu and the Tutsi.
• Drug abuse and addiction.
• Quarrels fights and divorce in families. For example former Vice president of Uganda doctor Specioza Kazibwe.
• Loss of dear ones
• Famine and hunger.
• Unemployment
• Ethnic diseases. For example Karamajong raids and cattle rustling which has kept the Iteso in a state of restlessness?
• Inequality and permissiveness of the society.
• Illiteracy and ignorance.

THE BIBLE TEACHING ON WAR AND PEACE

• Christianity advocates for peace and harmony at all times.
• The bible teaches that peace is God’s will for mankind.
• Through Jesus, peace and reconciliation came into the world.
• Christians are called upon to work positively for peace for happy are the peacemakers.
• Real peace means justice.
• Jesus excluded war and the use of violence as a means of establishing his heavenly kingdom.
• Jesus is a messiah for peace as prophesized by prophets.
• Christians should work for peace all the time for the entire world.
• 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul emphasizes unselfish love agape thereby creating peace.
• When Jesus was leaving his disciples, he left them with the gift of peace.
• Jesus gave his disciples the commandments to love their enemies as they love themselves.
• All the prophets. That is to say, Jeremiah and others prophesized the perfect peace that was to come in the person of Jesus.

THE COMPONENTS OF A PEACEFUL SOCIETY

• When there is freedom from war and civil disorder hence a moment of calmness.
• Peace is fully achieved if the 3 aspects of the person the soul, mind and body are all in harmony.
• If there is abundance or plenty of food. That is to say, absence of hunger and famine.
• When people live without fear or intimidation.
• When there is no repression of people’s freedom of press and association.
• A situation where most people are literate.
• Availability of employment opportunities such that people who qualify are readily absorbed.