"We lied morning, noon and night" - these golden words were uttered by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. The Prime Minister was caught on tape admitting that he lied and concealed the fact that Hungary's state budget was on the verge of collapse to win a second term in office. The tape was done at a meeting of his close associates and it was leaked to the press.
The effect? Two nights of rioting and burning in the capital Budapest, and several hundreds injured. Then you wonder what's all the fuzz? Isn't lying the language of Politicians? It is an essential qualification without which politics is a difficult or tedious job. Think about it - there would have been world chaos if people reacted all over the world when their politicians lied.
But then, look at South Asia, if politicians admitted to lying - probably they would be felicitated and given an award of honesty and truth. They would also be relected with a high margin. Is it because we all lie and relate with them to vote them back into power always? With our cellphones and chat facilities - we spin a world of white lies to evade, ignore and to cover up our follies.
People especially from the Asian Subcontinent would just shrug their shoulders and empathize with the people of Hungary. "Nothing new for us, all our politicians of them lie." Sorry! They "promise" reforms, developement, jobs and welfare schemes which are yet to see the light of day.
However, like a true South Asian politician, Mr. Gyurcsany, appeared on two live television shows Sunday night, trying to turn the focus of the debate away from his government and into a wider discussion about the failings of Hungary's political elite since the 1990 end of communism. A trait of all good South Asian politician - their persuasive statements urging the public to think about the future and not the past. "The real issue in Hungarian politics today is not who lied and when, but who is able to put an end to this ... who can face up to the lies and half-truths of the past 16 years," Gyurcsany wrote.
Ah well, the people of Hungary do have our empathy! But they have hope too! Mr. Gyurcsany said "I almost died when for a year and a half we had to pretend we were governing. Instead, we lied morning, evening and night. I don't want to do this anymore." Atleast he got fed up and wanted to stop his lies, unlike many us.
The effect? Two nights of rioting and burning in the capital Budapest, and several hundreds injured. Then you wonder what's all the fuzz? Isn't lying the language of Politicians? It is an essential qualification without which politics is a difficult or tedious job. Think about it - there would have been world chaos if people reacted all over the world when their politicians lied.
But then, look at South Asia, if politicians admitted to lying - probably they would be felicitated and given an award of honesty and truth. They would also be relected with a high margin. Is it because we all lie and relate with them to vote them back into power always? With our cellphones and chat facilities - we spin a world of white lies to evade, ignore and to cover up our follies.
People especially from the Asian Subcontinent would just shrug their shoulders and empathize with the people of Hungary. "Nothing new for us, all our politicians of them lie." Sorry! They "promise" reforms, developement, jobs and welfare schemes which are yet to see the light of day.
However, like a true South Asian politician, Mr. Gyurcsany, appeared on two live television shows Sunday night, trying to turn the focus of the debate away from his government and into a wider discussion about the failings of Hungary's political elite since the 1990 end of communism. A trait of all good South Asian politician - their persuasive statements urging the public to think about the future and not the past. "The real issue in Hungarian politics today is not who lied and when, but who is able to put an end to this ... who can face up to the lies and half-truths of the past 16 years," Gyurcsany wrote.
Ah well, the people of Hungary do have our empathy! But they have hope too! Mr. Gyurcsany said "I almost died when for a year and a half we had to pretend we were governing. Instead, we lied morning, evening and night. I don't want to do this anymore." Atleast he got fed up and wanted to stop his lies, unlike many us.
"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."
H. L. Mencken, Journalist, satirist, and social critic
H. L. Mencken, Journalist, satirist, and social critic
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