Man; power-hungry and selfless.

I was flipping through Thrusday's copy of The Straits Times and thought that i would like to share my opinion regarding a certain article dated 16/4/2008 on page 17, WORLD.

Basically, it is entitled "It's PM Putin next month as he becomes party chief". Now, as the title of this entry suggests something to do with power, authority and a MAN at the top of other MEN-if you get what I mean- i cannot help but realise whether we notice that a person, given a taste of leadership with an air of authority around him, would find it difficult to let go off his power. It is as though man tend to regard this sense of authority as a magical spell, bestowed upon him.

Coming back to Putin, it surprises me how a man who has run a coutnry with the biggest land size for two terms as its head-of-state would not want to find a peaceful place in the russian countryside- or be it in Siberia itself- filling his retirement days with nights of vodka and dancing to Kalinka. Afterall, he does deserve a good enough break after all that he has been through : siege in a moscow theatre by extremist Serbs, boosting Russia's once-doomed oil industry, fighting crime and spread of HIV/AIDS as well as going to such far lengths of contributing to the environment, shaking hands with George Bush at the G8 summit meetings.

If his decision to run for party president of United Russia, securing his position as Prime Minister in the Russian Parliaments mainly for the sake of common good as shown by him in the past few years, why not- don't we need such capable and environmentally-friendly men, especially with Al Gore preaching that Global warming is a real threat- "mother earth is hyper-ventilating"- who can't remember that, honestly?

However, Mr Putin himself hasn't had a clean history for all we know. Conspiracies and cover-ups have been part of the "Russian-way-of-life" where men rarely die by accident, pretty much like how the mafias live their lives, with a firm handshake in one hand and an armed gun in the other, usually hidden under the desk while it's bearer offers a staunch smile with a decieving intent beneath it all. None of us can forget the poisoning of once-KGB agent Litvenko by uranium in 2006.Expelled from the KGB shortly after the fall of teh Soviet union for alledgedly abusing his power into the affairs of the Russian parliament, Litvenko became an outspoken opposition to Mr Putin's rule, once exiled to Britain. What compelled people was that how a man, living far from the public eye suddenly die from radioactive poisoning. Surely, somebody who have wanted him killed, but who?

The British pointed out to the Russian administration for carrying out the assasination. So did Litvenko's wife and while a bald, pale and apparently emaciated Litvenko passed away in a hospital bed, knowing that the radioactive substance that was slowly intoxicating his body through his veins and thought of who could have placed such a high price tag on his head, he pointed to the one man who had always opressed him- Putin.

If indeed it was true that Mr Putin did plan the assasination of a former political enemy, then his sly and dishonest means of achieving victory is practically and unanimously unacceptable. In a world where countries depend on each other for survival, we cannot afford to have a traitor amongst us, the one with a knife hidden behind his back with suspicious eyes lurking with every blink.

Even if it were untrue, Mr Putin himself has been shed under much controversy and flak. As former KGB agent and chief, we publicaly declared in 2004 that "The fall of the Soviet Union was the greatest mistake ever made during the 20th century". No leader, who is in the position from which he stands at due to the vote of the people, can denounce democracy in such a way. Moreover, by taking such a backward stand, he may imply to his people that Russia should go back to it's treacherous days under the hammer and sickle. Wouldn't the people want development, prosperity and freedom of speech that were once so restricted by the Politburo? Or even worst, could he, as president of Russia, be enticed by the life-long belief that Russian/soviet leaders were pampered and borguoise, taking bribes under the table; bribes that would meet his desires for more vodka, dancing and the company of women?

Russia, and in fact, any country cannot survive with a leader who is corrupted. The income disparity between the rich and the poor would be as wide as the Grand Canyon. In the case of Russia, her people have been tormented and outcasted for too long, their minds brainwashed by all the years of naivety for propoganda such that they are tuned-in to it. This makes them succpetible to manipulation by their leaders.

For Mr Putin to take on his new role as Prime Minister, it could either spell disaster or better times ahead for the Russian people. Only time will bear its outcome.

Coming back to the topic, we can therefore conclude that man find it extremely diffcult to release himself from the shackles of leadership and authority, mainly for the good of all man or for the good of one man- himself. Yes, he can be driven by greed, avarice, self-fulfilemt, addiction to power or maybe even for the sole-purpose of being a thorn to the the people around him, but be it good or bad, isn't he still rendering service to his people, isn't being a pain in the neck and pushing the people to perform to expectations selflessness for others, that he wants them to share the fruits of labour as well?

You decide.

Mark of a leader ‘not in his top grades’

Summary of Mark of a leader

‘not in
his top grades’
taken from The Straits Times Friday
April 4 2008 H11

Academic grades may be important for identifying a future political leader but would not the top criteria that we are looking out for.
Straits times interviewed 10 people with 4 As in their A levels, in response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s in looking out for a successor, the 10 traits they suggested are “competence, capability, leadership qualities, especially EQ aka Emotional quotient.
An efficient leader would display his /her intellectual as well as problem solving skills, when crisis arise.
One of the examples is the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is also a school dropouts.
“Grades are important at the entry point but over the years, they become less and less important.”
PM Lee also highlighted that local talent lost is going to pose a problem for the government to find potential leaders.
However some believe that the problems isn’t brain drain but the lack of interest in politics in our young generation.
People may also get caught up with their desires and dreams, that they do not see the point of getting involve in politics.

Personal opinion

Ohh YES we should not judge a person’s leadership potential based on his/her academic grades.

Oh yah sure, try telling your parents and they will kill you(that’s what I did. Haha).

Well, it may seem that currently, our society is seeking for non-academic qualities, but the truth is they look at your grades more than your inner qualities. Without a couple of decent certificate, you will just have to starve to death. This is the world we are living in. Most of us study (or mug???) throughout our life as students, hoping to get good certificates and eventually a job that we desire.
A small comment: I just feel that the 10 people are too naïve or proud just because of their excellent academic results.
Ohh back to the issue, it seems that the apathy for politics in the youngsters poses a greater challenge than brain drain. Taking me for example, I seriously do not like political issues and I would prefer science related stuff such as research papers and findings. Youngsters nowadays have their own dream to pursue and I trust that most of us do not like to get involved in politics, unless you really want to serve the people and the country. If not for GP I don’t think that I will get in contact with political issue.lol
In conclusion, not everyone cut out to be a leader. Being a leader requires one to meet the minimum academic level, possess the qualities required, and the passion to do politics, don’t you agree?

(@_@) EXileJoKeR