I’m a child of the 90s, the halcyon years of ideological centrism. My political awakening occurred amid the stability and prosperity that the likes of Clinton, the Bushes and Blair brought to their polities.
Locally, there is no question that observing the steady hands of Mandela and Mbeki, steering the country through its critical and turbulent formative years, left an indelible mark on me.
So, I respect those who play that role as competently, and ethically as they did, their flaws notwithstanding.
I understand that many wise leaders may not be centrists, but they may embrace the mantle of centrism, as a tactical response to situations where the balance of power is tenuous, the risk/return equation to radical moves is unfavourable or the collateral damage is indefensible. This may lead them to compromise or bide, their time as their judgement dictates is the most reasonable course of action.
Far from this being weakness, as populist sentiment would have it, it is profound strength, and it is among the hallmarks of wisdom.
Yet centrism, as an ideology, has always troubled me.
To locate one’s entire political philosophy around a triangulation of opposing ideologies is hardly compelling, let alone inspiring to me. Surely, one must stand for something!
In this regard, I resonate with the words of the Lord Jesus to the Laodicean church who said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!”
Yet, more than once, I have found myself having to defend my non-centrist credentials to my more radical interlocutors. So, what is new?
You can be sure that I subscribe to neither tribal nor ideological parochialism.
To the charge of biblical parochialism, however, I am guilty as charged.
I do stand for something. I stand for “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy.”
This why it is as easy as it is for me to reject the singing of songs about killing people, with the contempt it deserves.
There are cases that may test one’s powers of judgement. This is not one of them. Even children can handle this one with ease.
I am not claiming to possess special knowledge of the truth, apart from the conscience given to all people. Neither I am I claiming to be always right. I believe the truth exists, that it matters profoundly and is worthy of pursuing above all other interests, under the canopy of love. Even if I see it through a glass, darkly.
To the ideologue, ideology is truth. It is beyond critique because it is the very lens through which he processes reality. I subscribe to the idea of an objective truth that interrogates all ideologies.
The tribalist must genuflect at the feet of the tribe. Its norms, aspirations, grievances, perspectives, and interest are his loadstar. They trump all. He must sacrifice everything for its approval, because for all intents and purposes, to him the tribe is the truth.
I speak of the tribe in broad terms here, as any group that provides an essential sense of belonging and purpose.
I live within groups, of course. Like all of us. But you can be sure that I guard my prerogative to keep in step with the group, only within the umbrella of truth and no further, with my very life.
I have accepted ostracism from the group as sometimes a necessary price to pay if needs be. I have the scars to prove it.
Of course, this also applies to the tribe, literally. I love who I am. I am a black Xhosa man, and my identity is deeply steeped in my biological and cultural moorings. I identify with it profoundly and I am deeply affected by the story of my people, their sufferings, failures, and triumphs. How can I deny myself!
I know what it feels like to experience racism, both the subtle and overt variety. I am old and well-travelled enough to know the false stigma of being a black man in the world.
I have wept many tears about our plight in the world.
If you have followed my writings over the years, you will know that I have never taken racism with equanimity and neither have I shied from condemning it, at great cost sometimes.
Importantly, I hate racism not just because it is an affront to my sense of tribal solidarity. I hate it firstly because it is wrong.
In this sense, it is by an “accident” of history that I have personal and intimate identification with its injustice as it relates to anti-black racism.
That means I hate it just as much even when my “tribe” is not its victim. Even when my tribe happens to be the perpetrator.
Yet my people and their culture are not the truth. I happily diverge and converge with tribal sensibilities according to the testimony of my conscience.
All cultures together, like a multicoloured tapestry, are a taste of the multifaceted glory of the God and I am grateful for the ray that my heritage shines in this spectacular kaleidoscope.
I am not ashamed to say that I love all ethnicities of the world. None excluded.
I love the Afrikaners, the English, the Zulus, the Sotho, the Shona, the Ibo, the Palestinians and the Jews. I wish peace, safety and prosperity for all of them. May they all thrive!
Love compels me to try and understand the world from their perspective as well. Within the parameter of truth, of course.
In this regard I am guided by the golden rule, which says, “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
So, if you see me taking a stand for or against something dear to you, consider that I may be taking a stand not based on the way the wind happens to be blowing, but on principles and convictions you may not share with me.
Understand that my allegiance is to the truth first, and not to your tribe, or even mine for that matter.
When you see me as an appeaser, a radical or troublemaker (believe me, I have adorned all these epithets at sundry times), as much I respect your prerogative to have an opinion about me, I would also implore you to make sure that it is not informed by a mirror of values, assumptions, and standards that you have superimposed upon me.
And rest assured that I will not be deterred.
