Tuesday, March 29, 2011
States without Nation-States
In his The Next Decade, George Friedman (2011), in characteristic thematic stance of many western commentators, derides Africa as of little importance to the US vital interests in the next ten years. The spread of terrorism via East African countries can be easily contained. Oil interests and other minor economic interests can be taken care of by the operating companies themselves. What the US can do is only to lend support to humanitarian activities to the tune of the niggardly twenty billion dollars in aid—enough to assuage the Africans and upkeep the contrived image of the generous Uncle Sam. The Chinese overture in Africa does not pose such a threat as compared to the imperialistic Soviet Union of the 60s. Moreover, the Chinese, despite perceptions, have vast challenges and will be preoccupied with uplifting the standard of living of millions of agrarian rural population. Besides, they will not carry the African mines to Beijing. The bottom line: “Africa: Leave it alone.”
Friedman’s opinion is hardly new. If one watches talking heads on television discussing world affairs, Africa is always rarely mentioned. The indelible image of Africa is that of hunger, dirty children enamored by the white man’s camera, and badly managed countries with fierce dictators lording it over the population. Perception is reality here. Why is that?
Friedman brings up the notion that “… there may be African states… [but]…few nation-states.” For example, Nigeria “…is a state without a nation,”—meaning it is a state “…presiding over multiple hostile nations.” African states have not grown organically out of nations—they are patchwork creations of Europeans and Arabs. There in lies the genesis of the perpetual problems of governance in Africa.
So, then, what is the way out? Maybe Museveni is showing the way because “…the only way out of chaos is power. Nations are built out of blood…Community is built on war.” By this calculation Museveni worships on the Machiavelli’s altar “…that good comes out of ruthless pursuit of power, not out of trying to do good.” He seems to adroitly balance the “…conflict between the limits of good intentions and the necessity of power” that characterizes the practice of politics.
In Uganda we have various nations that often have different and competing world-views. If Internet ranting are any indication, we actually talk pass one another like ships in the night. Often those of us with a modicum of national and liberal outlook come out depressed from such chat-rooms, or just stay away. Thus unsettled issues fester on and, at times, become gangrenous.
Will Museveni’s unreserved use of power finally build one nation? Winning elections in Buganda in spite of the frosty relationship with the Kingdom of Buganda is a telling sign. Election success in the Acoli sub-region, considering recent brutal abuse, speaks of short memory and a willingness to bend to the wishes of credible power. The Uganda population did not see power in the splintered opposition. Whether by design or unconscious sloppiness, the various opposition groups were about energizing the moribund self-lives of their respective political parties and ended up at the throats of one another, thereby weakening their collective power. It was an amazing sight to see. Rather than waste their votes on confusion, the voters decided to go with the devil they knew: a he-man who is not shy to crack some ribs. And, as it is, it seems Museveni and his clique’s hold on power is unlikely to be broken in the next ten years by conventional means. Hopefully, by breaking some necks along the way, a nation will be built, and being a Ugandan can begin to carry valence in meaning and emotion.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Three Musketeers and the Naked Emperor
Hugadia is a magic kingdom where anything and everything is possible. When the original Hugadia masters of the universe wanted protection from the furious people from the desert, they asked the powerful kingdom across the seas, and, viola!—they got protection. Soon the protectors became the masters and imposed their will and culture on the Hugadia people. Hugadians quickly caught on, and prided themselves in how well they spoke, dressed and behaved in the mannerisms of the protector. The natives began to bear exotic names, such as Morris, Yoweri, Elvis, Grace, Lucy, Marjorie, etc. Those who did not quickly catch were deemed uncouth and primitive. Decades later the power of the protector kingdom began to wane across the globe. The natives called their bluff to take the concepts of their religion and liberal democracy to their logical conclusions. Hugadians were caught up in the global spirits of the day, made some noise, and the protector walked away—as simple as that—no shots, no nothing.
The exit of the protector was greeted with fanfare, pomp and circumstances, excitement and enthusiasm. Sooner than later, however, the new native masters of Hugadia resorted to rule by magic as of old. This turn of event brought confusion, dissent, civil wars and sufferings as rulers came and went.
Of all the rulers of Hugadia, King Mesmer Musava stands out. His brand of magic basically goes like this: What you see should be what he says it is. In fact, his name has its origin from the German physician Anton Mesmer from which the word “mesmerize” is derived, but more particularly because a Mesmer is a master of illusion, misdirection, and control. The Mesmer subverts the damage-dealing capabilities of others, manipulating their perceptions to achieve personal goals.
( http://wiki.guildwars.com).
King Musava is fond of prancing around the kingdom naked and telling his hapless people that, in fact, he is dressed in fine linen attire from the House of Dior, and only those who are “unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent” are unable to see. Woe unto a Hugadian who dares to say the king is, in fact, without clothes on. Soon magical things will happen to the culprit, as the three musketeers—Athos Bagasa, Aramis Anyaga, and Porthos Atanna—were to learn.
Medicine man, Athos Bagasa had fought alongside Masava in the heady days of the chaos that engulfed Hugadia. He is said to have sneaked into a Hugadia hospital and pilfered some penicillin to treat Masava for a case of the clap that he contracted in a rare moment of weakness. When Mesmer Masava and his gang were victorious, Bagasa was one of the Chief Knights of the Round Table. A few years later, however, there was a fall-out between Bagasa and the King. Bagasa declared publicly—deemed the “wrong forum” per Hugadia’s standard—that he could not see the fine clothes the King was bragging about. In his own words: “The Emperor is Naked.” This, of course, was treason and high crime in Hugadia. The King was swift. He disowned Bagasa, smeared him with nasty calumnies, and even talked of putting Bagasa six feet below terra firma.
We will never know why Bagasa took on his fearsome boss. Various theories have been floated—some not so charitable. One thing is certain: Bagasa is determined to free Hugadians from the magic spell of King Mesmer Masava.
The venerable story teller, Aramis Anyaga has had his run-in with the masters of the magic kingdom. While Anyaga’s theories behind some of his stories are some time prosaic and unbelievably fantastic, he is known for telling it like it is. On several occasions he has told the world that things in Hugadia are just smokes and mirrors. These, of course, brought the wraths of Hugadia power to lean hard on him. The next time we hear from him, he is shunted to a neighboring country and given some bizarre title. Anyaga still has his forum to tell his stories, but King Masava’s henchmen had the “honor” of cackling they showed the man who was the Cock in town.
The third Musketeer is the learned Porthos Atanna. Atanna has seen the great halls of learning of the world. His admirers call him the Grand Master. While he is a Johnnie-come-lately in New Hugadia, nevertheless, he has had a long history with King Masava—way back when. In the dark days, which many would prefer to put behind them, Grand Master Atanna had to negotiate a truce with the then bandit Musava. Various theories are afloat as to what really transpired in the infamous peace charade. The fact is Atanna and his gang lost to the man who would be king. Atanna and his group have been ticked ever since. Decades later the Grand Master has returned to stake his claim in the history of Hugadia. But then again opportunity, like a shot of an arrow or a slip of the tongue, once lost is rarely recaptured. In the meantime the Grand Master has blurted out, to the chagrin of King Masava and his posse, that the king is, in fact, a naked night dancer covered with ashes instead of fine linen attire.
Even as we speak the sagas of The Three Musketeers and the Naked Emperor continue to unfold. King Mesmer Masava continues to mesmerize the population. Aramis Anyaga tells stories of the kingdom from outside the kingdom. Medicine man, Athos Basaga and Grand Master Porthos Atanna are pressing on with convincing the population of the naked untruth of the emperor. And so, the tale of the Magic Kingdom of Hugadia continues to unravel.
The exit of the protector was greeted with fanfare, pomp and circumstances, excitement and enthusiasm. Sooner than later, however, the new native masters of Hugadia resorted to rule by magic as of old. This turn of event brought confusion, dissent, civil wars and sufferings as rulers came and went.
Of all the rulers of Hugadia, King Mesmer Musava stands out. His brand of magic basically goes like this: What you see should be what he says it is. In fact, his name has its origin from the German physician Anton Mesmer from which the word “mesmerize” is derived, but more particularly because a Mesmer is a master of illusion, misdirection, and control. The Mesmer subverts the damage-dealing capabilities of others, manipulating their perceptions to achieve personal goals.
( http://wiki.guildwars.com).
King Musava is fond of prancing around the kingdom naked and telling his hapless people that, in fact, he is dressed in fine linen attire from the House of Dior, and only those who are “unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent” are unable to see. Woe unto a Hugadian who dares to say the king is, in fact, without clothes on. Soon magical things will happen to the culprit, as the three musketeers—Athos Bagasa, Aramis Anyaga, and Porthos Atanna—were to learn.
Medicine man, Athos Bagasa had fought alongside Masava in the heady days of the chaos that engulfed Hugadia. He is said to have sneaked into a Hugadia hospital and pilfered some penicillin to treat Masava for a case of the clap that he contracted in a rare moment of weakness. When Mesmer Masava and his gang were victorious, Bagasa was one of the Chief Knights of the Round Table. A few years later, however, there was a fall-out between Bagasa and the King. Bagasa declared publicly—deemed the “wrong forum” per Hugadia’s standard—that he could not see the fine clothes the King was bragging about. In his own words: “The Emperor is Naked.” This, of course, was treason and high crime in Hugadia. The King was swift. He disowned Bagasa, smeared him with nasty calumnies, and even talked of putting Bagasa six feet below terra firma.
We will never know why Bagasa took on his fearsome boss. Various theories have been floated—some not so charitable. One thing is certain: Bagasa is determined to free Hugadians from the magic spell of King Mesmer Masava.
The venerable story teller, Aramis Anyaga has had his run-in with the masters of the magic kingdom. While Anyaga’s theories behind some of his stories are some time prosaic and unbelievably fantastic, he is known for telling it like it is. On several occasions he has told the world that things in Hugadia are just smokes and mirrors. These, of course, brought the wraths of Hugadia power to lean hard on him. The next time we hear from him, he is shunted to a neighboring country and given some bizarre title. Anyaga still has his forum to tell his stories, but King Masava’s henchmen had the “honor” of cackling they showed the man who was the Cock in town.
The third Musketeer is the learned Porthos Atanna. Atanna has seen the great halls of learning of the world. His admirers call him the Grand Master. While he is a Johnnie-come-lately in New Hugadia, nevertheless, he has had a long history with King Masava—way back when. In the dark days, which many would prefer to put behind them, Grand Master Atanna had to negotiate a truce with the then bandit Musava. Various theories are afloat as to what really transpired in the infamous peace charade. The fact is Atanna and his gang lost to the man who would be king. Atanna and his group have been ticked ever since. Decades later the Grand Master has returned to stake his claim in the history of Hugadia. But then again opportunity, like a shot of an arrow or a slip of the tongue, once lost is rarely recaptured. In the meantime the Grand Master has blurted out, to the chagrin of King Masava and his posse, that the king is, in fact, a naked night dancer covered with ashes instead of fine linen attire.
Even as we speak the sagas of The Three Musketeers and the Naked Emperor continue to unfold. King Mesmer Masava continues to mesmerize the population. Aramis Anyaga tells stories of the kingdom from outside the kingdom. Medicine man, Athos Basaga and Grand Master Porthos Atanna are pressing on with convincing the population of the naked untruth of the emperor. And so, the tale of the Magic Kingdom of Hugadia continues to unravel.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The President-for-Life Phenomenon
Ecclesiastes 5: 8-9: In some countries you will see poor people treated badly. They are not treated fairly or given their rights. Don’t be surprised! One officer is cheated by a higher officer. They in turn are cheated by even higher officers. The wealth of the country is divided up among them all. Even the king makes sure he gets his share of the profits.
---------------------------
As Reagan neared the end of his second-term, his aficionados were whispering about changing the constitution to allow him a run for a third term. This, of course, was a non-starter as changing the US constitution is as difficult as kollo man gwok. In Russia Putin has circumvented the term-limit constitution and made himself prime minister, and he is the real power behind the boy-president. In the US, again some have broached at a Clinton (the man) re-run. In the UK, Margaret Thatcher had to be dragged screaming out of No. 10 Downing Street—very unlady-like of the Iron Lady. Need we say more about Africa, and Uganda, in particular?
Obote I was on the verge of a one-party state system that would have guaranteed Apollo Milton Obote a life presidency. Idi Amin Dada cut his dream short and, in short order, declared himself president-for-life and Conqueror of the British Empire. The second time around, Obote was damaged goods with time ticking. Minor players in-between would have followed the script if they had staying-power gumption. One such minor joker opined that “the chair was sweet,” betraying a wishful thinking.
It used to be that kings and queens were the ones who stayed in power “until death do us part.” We still have such antiquated remnants across the globe. In the UK, for example, while their powers have diminished, they still live on taxpayers’ dole until they croak. In the Arab world some still wield fourteen century autocratic powers unto death.
Just who are these people? Do these seekers of absolute powers over others just want it for the sake of it? But before answering these questions, let us look at what is happening today.
Thanks to open global communication systems that connect people, the Arab world is saying enough is enough. Something fundamental is at play here. It is granular and organic at the core: individuals are seeing themselves as worthy of respect and nobody who feeds, pees, shits, and does all the basic processes of living like them should abuse them simply because he chanced to have gained more coercive powers. When this attitude reaches a critical mass, change happens.
As for Africa, there is still much work to be done. The power of incumbency still trips individual empowerment. In the “right” hand of a cynical maniacal operator, incumbency means presidency-for-life. None has played and will continue to play this game more than Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The self-proclaimed revolutionary once derided African presidents who stayed too long at the helm. But as they say: Power corrupts absolutely (and, also, per Amin Dada). Now, he is effectively President for Life, and all leading indicators point to succession within his family. And we have a population willing to give him his wish until it decides that it feeds, pees, and defecates not unlike the rest of them. Till then, hail King Yoweri Museveni of Uganda!
So, just what is with these people? My hypothesis is that the culprit is: Attachment. Buddhism says attachment is one of the principle causes of suffering if not handled well.
First, we desire something badly. Once we get it, we assign to it various attributes, and somehow become one with it. Should loss occurs, it causes us so much pain: a fortune lost wills someone to jump from a bridge.
Look at how a mother and child bond, and it is the same process of two lovers bonding. Something is happening inside. Experts cite a chemical called oxytocin.
So, Museveni had been bathing for the last twenty five years in this addictive chemical. Look at yourselves with your possessions and you will have an inkling of where the man is coming from. Directly from the horse's mouth: I killed the game; how am I going to let someone take away the carcass?
This is the reason the concept of term limits has come into human consciousness because of an understanding of how this phenomenon can be destructive to oneself and humanity. Otherwise you virtually have to ply somebody out of that “sweet chair.” And for change to occur three steps are necessary:
1. People must become sick of having the problem that they really want to change
2. They have to somehow see their problem from a new perspective or a new light
3. New and appealing options must be found or created and pursued
(Bandler, ’08)
---------------------------
As Reagan neared the end of his second-term, his aficionados were whispering about changing the constitution to allow him a run for a third term. This, of course, was a non-starter as changing the US constitution is as difficult as kollo man gwok. In Russia Putin has circumvented the term-limit constitution and made himself prime minister, and he is the real power behind the boy-president. In the US, again some have broached at a Clinton (the man) re-run. In the UK, Margaret Thatcher had to be dragged screaming out of No. 10 Downing Street—very unlady-like of the Iron Lady. Need we say more about Africa, and Uganda, in particular?
Obote I was on the verge of a one-party state system that would have guaranteed Apollo Milton Obote a life presidency. Idi Amin Dada cut his dream short and, in short order, declared himself president-for-life and Conqueror of the British Empire. The second time around, Obote was damaged goods with time ticking. Minor players in-between would have followed the script if they had staying-power gumption. One such minor joker opined that “the chair was sweet,” betraying a wishful thinking.
It used to be that kings and queens were the ones who stayed in power “until death do us part.” We still have such antiquated remnants across the globe. In the UK, for example, while their powers have diminished, they still live on taxpayers’ dole until they croak. In the Arab world some still wield fourteen century autocratic powers unto death.
Just who are these people? Do these seekers of absolute powers over others just want it for the sake of it? But before answering these questions, let us look at what is happening today.
Thanks to open global communication systems that connect people, the Arab world is saying enough is enough. Something fundamental is at play here. It is granular and organic at the core: individuals are seeing themselves as worthy of respect and nobody who feeds, pees, shits, and does all the basic processes of living like them should abuse them simply because he chanced to have gained more coercive powers. When this attitude reaches a critical mass, change happens.
As for Africa, there is still much work to be done. The power of incumbency still trips individual empowerment. In the “right” hand of a cynical maniacal operator, incumbency means presidency-for-life. None has played and will continue to play this game more than Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The self-proclaimed revolutionary once derided African presidents who stayed too long at the helm. But as they say: Power corrupts absolutely (and, also, per Amin Dada). Now, he is effectively President for Life, and all leading indicators point to succession within his family. And we have a population willing to give him his wish until it decides that it feeds, pees, and defecates not unlike the rest of them. Till then, hail King Yoweri Museveni of Uganda!
So, just what is with these people? My hypothesis is that the culprit is: Attachment. Buddhism says attachment is one of the principle causes of suffering if not handled well.
First, we desire something badly. Once we get it, we assign to it various attributes, and somehow become one with it. Should loss occurs, it causes us so much pain: a fortune lost wills someone to jump from a bridge.
Look at how a mother and child bond, and it is the same process of two lovers bonding. Something is happening inside. Experts cite a chemical called oxytocin.
So, Museveni had been bathing for the last twenty five years in this addictive chemical. Look at yourselves with your possessions and you will have an inkling of where the man is coming from. Directly from the horse's mouth: I killed the game; how am I going to let someone take away the carcass?
This is the reason the concept of term limits has come into human consciousness because of an understanding of how this phenomenon can be destructive to oneself and humanity. Otherwise you virtually have to ply somebody out of that “sweet chair.” And for change to occur three steps are necessary:
1. People must become sick of having the problem that they really want to change
2. They have to somehow see their problem from a new perspective or a new light
3. New and appealing options must be found or created and pursued
(Bandler, ’08)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Marriage or Bachelorhood
Proverbs: 21: 9—It is better to live in the attic than inside the house with a quarreling wife 21: 19—It is better to live alone in the desert than with a quarreling and complaining wife
24: 3-4—It takes wisdom to have a good family. It takes understanding to make it strong. It takes knowledge to fill a home with rare and beautiful treasures
27:15-16—A quarreling wife is as bothersome as a continual dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her is like stopping the wind. It is like trying to grab oil in your hand
Ecclesiastes: 7: 26—I found that some women are worse than death. They are as dangerous as traps. Their love is like a net. Their arms hold men like chains. …
------------
Apollo Milton Obote was a confirmed bachelor until he ascended the Uganda thrown as prime minister. A head of state of an African nation is another long-term bachelor. For most of his autocratic presidency, Moi never had a helpmate besides him. A recent presidential candidate in Uganda is an unabashed bachelor, and drew a lot of rumors and innuendos about his sexuality.
Marriage and Bachelorhood are very interesting phenomena, especially in the African context where tradition, while still entrenched, is also in a state of confused flux.
To many African communities marriage is one of the prerequisite of reaching adulthood. It signals responsibility and a chance to breed those who will help one in old age as well as continue the bloodline. Woe to the woman who is not married at an advanced age, or worse, is barren. It shows up in bitterness, sadness and anger. She is the evil aunt without a husband, who now comes back to the father’s homestead to sow seeds of discords and bad blood. Many would prefer the shanty towns and slums than face humiliation back in the village.
An unmarried man is not taken seriously either, and can be the butt of jokes. Jokesters coin lyrics of folks songs of lamentations on the fates and circumstances of the tottering codger.
So, pressured by nature, tradition and culture, many people plunge into marriage unions before they know: who they are, how the world works or what is “real.” In this milieu few escape the sense of self that is ill-defined, confused, if not corrupted to face the rapidly changing society.
Marriage is now generally and universally accepted as a precursor to starting a family. And the family forms the basic unit of a society. It is in the family that we are supposed to obtain our nurturing—that is, help nature in shaping who we are. But, what is the state of marriage today? If marriage is so important, why don’t we prepare for it like we prepare for law or any other trade?
Like other human concepts, marriage did not just fall from the sky. It probably came in the process of formation of bands of hominids and the emergence of language. The female hominid that was knocked off had to stick to the scorer lest life would become difficult to negotiate for years. In essence marriage is a female conspiracy to tie down the promiscuous male to help take care of the product of fornication—the child. Encumbered with nine-month odyssey of carrying a baby in her belly and several years of the child’s brain development and acquisition of survival skills, the female had to do something. If he wanted exclusive use of her pleasure, the male had to hang around the cave. In time, nature helped her: neural path of attachment, like a footpath in the grass, was ingrained and took hold in the male’s nature. She became like from his “rib.” He would kill if another dipped his manhood in her even as his loin has not yielded to the urge to throw his own seeds far and wide. Today only the Masai can lend his wife to a visitor—even then, it is for the sake of getting more children (should any occur from the encounter) to help take care of his first love--cattle.
The female, on the other hand, has become quite complex in her manipulation of the male species. Hence, such a saying as “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is not without truth. The male who tears up like her would be laughed out of the village. Not her—she gets her way.
It is true: Men are from mars women are from hell [Venus] (The “…hell” is a title to a song: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/four_year_strong/mens_are_from_mars_women_are_from_hell.html>)
40,000 years of hominid evolution has wired us differently for DNA survival—and that has not changed much. The recent executive brain development that produced civilization often operates unsynchronized with the primitive lower section. As we fail to negotiate the two, we cause problems to ourselves and seeds of our loins. The result is wars that begin at home and engulfs the whole world. So, we have a Hitler, a Mobutu, or another who sticks to power like a tick on his second love--his cow.
24: 3-4—It takes wisdom to have a good family. It takes understanding to make it strong. It takes knowledge to fill a home with rare and beautiful treasures
27:15-16—A quarreling wife is as bothersome as a continual dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her is like stopping the wind. It is like trying to grab oil in your hand
Ecclesiastes: 7: 26—I found that some women are worse than death. They are as dangerous as traps. Their love is like a net. Their arms hold men like chains. …
------------
Apollo Milton Obote was a confirmed bachelor until he ascended the Uganda thrown as prime minister. A head of state of an African nation is another long-term bachelor. For most of his autocratic presidency, Moi never had a helpmate besides him. A recent presidential candidate in Uganda is an unabashed bachelor, and drew a lot of rumors and innuendos about his sexuality.
Marriage and Bachelorhood are very interesting phenomena, especially in the African context where tradition, while still entrenched, is also in a state of confused flux.
To many African communities marriage is one of the prerequisite of reaching adulthood. It signals responsibility and a chance to breed those who will help one in old age as well as continue the bloodline. Woe to the woman who is not married at an advanced age, or worse, is barren. It shows up in bitterness, sadness and anger. She is the evil aunt without a husband, who now comes back to the father’s homestead to sow seeds of discords and bad blood. Many would prefer the shanty towns and slums than face humiliation back in the village.
An unmarried man is not taken seriously either, and can be the butt of jokes. Jokesters coin lyrics of folks songs of lamentations on the fates and circumstances of the tottering codger.
So, pressured by nature, tradition and culture, many people plunge into marriage unions before they know: who they are, how the world works or what is “real.” In this milieu few escape the sense of self that is ill-defined, confused, if not corrupted to face the rapidly changing society.
Marriage is now generally and universally accepted as a precursor to starting a family. And the family forms the basic unit of a society. It is in the family that we are supposed to obtain our nurturing—that is, help nature in shaping who we are. But, what is the state of marriage today? If marriage is so important, why don’t we prepare for it like we prepare for law or any other trade?
Like other human concepts, marriage did not just fall from the sky. It probably came in the process of formation of bands of hominids and the emergence of language. The female hominid that was knocked off had to stick to the scorer lest life would become difficult to negotiate for years. In essence marriage is a female conspiracy to tie down the promiscuous male to help take care of the product of fornication—the child. Encumbered with nine-month odyssey of carrying a baby in her belly and several years of the child’s brain development and acquisition of survival skills, the female had to do something. If he wanted exclusive use of her pleasure, the male had to hang around the cave. In time, nature helped her: neural path of attachment, like a footpath in the grass, was ingrained and took hold in the male’s nature. She became like from his “rib.” He would kill if another dipped his manhood in her even as his loin has not yielded to the urge to throw his own seeds far and wide. Today only the Masai can lend his wife to a visitor—even then, it is for the sake of getting more children (should any occur from the encounter) to help take care of his first love--cattle.
The female, on the other hand, has become quite complex in her manipulation of the male species. Hence, such a saying as “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is not without truth. The male who tears up like her would be laughed out of the village. Not her—she gets her way.
It is true: Men are from mars women are from hell [Venus] (The “…hell” is a title to a song: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/four_year_strong/mens_are_from_mars_women_are_from_hell.html>)
40,000 years of hominid evolution has wired us differently for DNA survival—and that has not changed much. The recent executive brain development that produced civilization often operates unsynchronized with the primitive lower section. As we fail to negotiate the two, we cause problems to ourselves and seeds of our loins. The result is wars that begin at home and engulfs the whole world. So, we have a Hitler, a Mobutu, or another who sticks to power like a tick on his second love--his cow.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
To Persuade or Not to Persuade
Courting a mate is probably one of the most intense and focused exercise sentient beings, including humans, do. Take a look at what some male birds go through (Birds of the Gods on the blog) for a chance at copulation. A male bird meticulously cleans a ground arena. Then he makes some mating calls—invitations for females to come and watch him dance. When a female comes by and perches on a tree branch, the male bird then goes into dance frenzy. This is bird-speak for persuasion. Sometime a female is not impressed and flies away.
In our own human interactions, in one form or another, we want to influence people to do something: agree with us, or give us something—votes, money, sex, join a demonstration, etc. We have to persuade if we are to succeed. But, often than not, we go by random chance hits and misses. We succumb to the Rolling Stone’s proclamation of “You can’t always get what you want” when we could have done better.
Persuasion is a proven science that has been tested. The great advertising houses know the science. Deep-pocketed politicians employ experts to design their messages for desired effects. The rascal who used to get all the hot girls had what it took—probably instinctively.
In his book, Cialdini lists six universal principles of social influence as: Reciprocation, Authority, Commitment/Consistency, Scarcity, Liking and Social Proof.
In the recently concluded Uganda elections, if you looked closely, the ones who were endowed with or used some of the six principles fared better than they would have otherwise.
Museveni shamelessly used the principle of reciprocation to the nth degree. The Museveni Project is awash with cash. The national coffer and Museveni campaign financing are one and the same. To change the constitution to allow him effective life presidency MPs pocketed $5,000 apiece, and they reciprocated. It is said that, in taw of his campaign rallies, was a cash vault full of cash-stashed brown envelops to dish out to key local players. In the same vein, a gift of a necklace could get you the goods! Scratch my back and I scratch your back. It is very powerful.
Authority can be the one who is an expert. S/he is more likely to persuade us than the ordinary Joe. Twenty five years at the helm meant Museveni knew what he was talking about in the minds of many. Besides, he flooded the country with armed military personnel to show might and back his assertion that Uganda was no Kenya or Côte d'Ivoire.
No Uganda politician has worked so hard to be liked (and hated). People do business with those they like.
Remember the rascal who got the hottest chicks? He started from the top with Miss Hot. Others wanted what Miss Hot had. That is social proof at work. So, while the polls showed that Besigye and Mao and others were cooked, they insisted that they were going to win and the wavering should join their bandwagons. Besigye could have done even better if, instead of the vague “Change is coming,” he used something like: Join the Millions Fellow Ugandans for Change. That is social proof—you want to do what others are doing.
Olara Otunnu sold commitment consistent with values in his harping on genocide and other past atrocious shenanigans. He addressed scarcity of services to the wanainchi. In the former, a large part of the population had moved on, and he sounded like a trouble-maker. The message was a dud. Scarcity is real, but his nemesis had already shown that he was working on the issue in real terms as in the nationwide pre- campaign start-off “Let them Get Rich” trip funded by taxpayers.
In our own human interactions, in one form or another, we want to influence people to do something: agree with us, or give us something—votes, money, sex, join a demonstration, etc. We have to persuade if we are to succeed. But, often than not, we go by random chance hits and misses. We succumb to the Rolling Stone’s proclamation of “You can’t always get what you want” when we could have done better.
Persuasion is a proven science that has been tested. The great advertising houses know the science. Deep-pocketed politicians employ experts to design their messages for desired effects. The rascal who used to get all the hot girls had what it took—probably instinctively.
In his book, Cialdini lists six universal principles of social influence as: Reciprocation, Authority, Commitment/Consistency, Scarcity, Liking and Social Proof.
In the recently concluded Uganda elections, if you looked closely, the ones who were endowed with or used some of the six principles fared better than they would have otherwise.
Museveni shamelessly used the principle of reciprocation to the nth degree. The Museveni Project is awash with cash. The national coffer and Museveni campaign financing are one and the same. To change the constitution to allow him effective life presidency MPs pocketed $5,000 apiece, and they reciprocated. It is said that, in taw of his campaign rallies, was a cash vault full of cash-stashed brown envelops to dish out to key local players. In the same vein, a gift of a necklace could get you the goods! Scratch my back and I scratch your back. It is very powerful.
Authority can be the one who is an expert. S/he is more likely to persuade us than the ordinary Joe. Twenty five years at the helm meant Museveni knew what he was talking about in the minds of many. Besides, he flooded the country with armed military personnel to show might and back his assertion that Uganda was no Kenya or Côte d'Ivoire.
No Uganda politician has worked so hard to be liked (and hated). People do business with those they like.
Remember the rascal who got the hottest chicks? He started from the top with Miss Hot. Others wanted what Miss Hot had. That is social proof at work. So, while the polls showed that Besigye and Mao and others were cooked, they insisted that they were going to win and the wavering should join their bandwagons. Besigye could have done even better if, instead of the vague “Change is coming,” he used something like: Join the Millions Fellow Ugandans for Change. That is social proof—you want to do what others are doing.
Olara Otunnu sold commitment consistent with values in his harping on genocide and other past atrocious shenanigans. He addressed scarcity of services to the wanainchi. In the former, a large part of the population had moved on, and he sounded like a trouble-maker. The message was a dud. Scarcity is real, but his nemesis had already shown that he was working on the issue in real terms as in the nationwide pre- campaign start-off “Let them Get Rich” trip funded by taxpayers.
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