THE RIGHT OF CHOICE AND A VOTE:

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:36:54 +0100

Every citizen in Kenya has the legal RIGHT OF CHOICE and that of A VOTE.

What does this mean?

It simply means that, as per the current Constitution of the Republic of Kenya (http://kenya.rcbowen.com/constitution/chap6.html), any person/individual who is of the age of 18 yrs and above, is constitutionally and legally recognized as an adult who is eligible and entitled to citizenship nationalization, a National Identity card and a National Voter’s Card, among other documents that are legally binding. This does not mean that those under 18 yrs of age have no legality, right of choice and a vote. They do have on other matters that have no legal individual contractual sensitiveness and necessities.

Who is an adult?

A person/individual who by virtue of attaining the age of eighteen years, is regarded in the eyes of the law as being able to manage his or her own affairs. The age specified by law, called the legal age of majority, indicates that a person acquires full legal capacity to be bound by various documents, such as contracts and deeds, that he or she makes with others and to commit other democratically legal acts such as VOTING IN ELECTIONS and independently making their OWN FREE CHOICES. Anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years is legally considered a minor.

There are some VERY IMPORTANT QUALITIES that symbolize ADULTNESS AND MATURITY. There is not always a correlation between the qualities and the physical size or age of the person.

The adult character comprises:

Self-control - restraint, emotional control.
Stability - stable personality, strength.
Independence - ability to self-regulate.
Seriousness - ability to deal with life in a serious manner.
Responsibility - accountability, commitment and reliability.
Method/Tact - ability to think ahead and plan for the future, patience.
Endurance - ability and willingness to cope with difficulties that present themselves in a totally sober and humane manner.
Experience - breadth of mind, understanding and maturity.
Objectivity - perspective and realism.
Decision making capability - as all of the above correspond to making proper decisions.
Priorities - Ability to determine what is necessary at that place and time.

THE CORE OF THE MATTER:

In any Self Acclaimed Democratic individual/group/party/society/community/nation, every individual has the RIGHT OF CHOICE in regard to any aspect of life or situation, and whose outcome/consequences the individual must and is prepared to face. This includes even the very young that are commonly regarded to as minors/indecisive (http://kenya.rcbowen.com/constitution/chap5.html).

At this age of civilization/modernization, many nations today (21^st Century) seem to have retarded backwards to beyond the stone age, where the superiority & inferiority complexes were the order of the day, where paranoir encompassed the so called ruling elite to an extent that they would even order the execution of their own very kin on the slightest suspicion or even disagreement under the pretex of so called “national security.”

That is precisely where our so called leaders of today have ditched our communities, societies, our very own self individuals, our countries and indeed our world.

We, especially WE the YOUTHS, have allowed ourselves to be the objects of manipulation and ridicule from very few individuals whom WE have given all our RIGHTS and now run our lives according and based to their selfish whims.

Yet what are we doing about it? We just sit back and start whimping and begging as though we have no minds of our own, to stand up and bring this culture of impunity to a total end and in its place usher in a;

NEW WORLD ORDER:

Youths of this country and indeed of the whole world, its time that we brought in a NEW WORLD ORDER. An order where WE THE YOUTHS have all the say and control over our very own lives AND FUTURE.

BUT:

This new world order comes with A VERY STRICT CONDITION!!!!

NO VIOLENCE, NO CRIME, NO INTIMIDATION, NO DISCRIMINATION, NO SEGREGATION, NO DEMACATION, NO INCITEMENT, NO AFFILIATION.

ONLY.

l THE CONSISTENT USE OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPALS AND LOGICAL IDEALS.

l THE RESPECT, OBSERVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SELF AND OTHERS' RIGHTS OF BEING AND EXISTENCE

l THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF FREE CHOICE AND A VOTE ONLY ON MATTERS OF IMPLEMENTABLE PRINCIPALS AND IDEALS AND NOT ON SELFISH AMBITIOUS INDIVIDUALS.

AN EMULATABLE EXAMPLE:

YOUTHS, Ladies and gentlemen of this country, Kenya and indeed the world, I would like to draw back your attention to Tuesday November 4th 2008, that shall remain to be a PINNACLE and HISTORIC day not only for the people of America but for the whole world and the universe. Why am I repeating what has already been termed by almost each and every other person in the world? This is simply because there is a very big lesson here to be learnt from that event that we as YOUTHS might just pass it off as normal.

1. The people of the United States of America and in this regard especially the YOUTHS, proved to the world yet again of the high level of democracy, maturity and civilization that they have attained, far beyond any other nation in the world, by the way they conducted themselves during the whole process that took almost two years to complete.

2. All along I had been following the campaigns and not at any one place, town, hall, stadium or street did I see a single policeman standing guard in riot gear, in the name of anticipating this or that because of the campaigns.

3. Not a single policeman or policewoman did I see at the polling stations either to control the crowds or in anticipation of anything outside the normal process of queuing, voting and people going home.

4. Though the two top candidates did have some differences in the manner of their presentations of their policies and aspirations, not at any single moment did I see or notice nor hear of supporters clashing, fighting, displacing or killing one another. The disagreements remained verbally with the two candidates on matters of principal and the public, especially the youths totally declined to be woed in and that was that.

5. Take a look at the level of maturity and discipline that both camps displayed during the live debates.

6. Most Important of all was the level of humility that both candidates displayed immediately after the results were decided and announced. There was no chest thumping or grandiose standing nor destructive finger pointing at any camp. It was all humbleness and gratitude from the two senators to their supporters, whom themselves displayed the same qualities as the contestants and the whole country at large.

When we, the rest of the world talk about democracy, can we measure even for the next 100 years with the current crop of so called politicians that we have in our respective governments? Do they even really know the definition of the term democracy and the respect of law of their respective lands and people?

I will repeat here again in this particular blog, because it is really a VERY BIG SHAME.

Take an example once again of what happened in Kenya during the December 2007 elections. A so called politician on live national television declares that they shall never accept defeat whether fairly or unfairly and that they shall demand to "rule" even if it means for them to shed peoples' blood. They ended up causing death and bloodshed that was totally uncalled for. Today the same people now claim that they should be forgiven for having caused all those deaths and displacements and that those that were affected and indeed infected directly should forget yesterday and support them to meet their intentions.

And yet they have no shame claiming that what they forced to happen was democracy. A commission is set up by the country's coalition government with the same people endorsing it and giving it a deadline to deliver. When the report is finally handed over, they are the loudest in disclaiming it as unnecessary, incomprehensible and unimplementable.

Does this world have some above every law and moral and others far below the bounds of laws of the land such that they do not even need to be heard but are already condemned?

What about all those YOUTHS right now (one year later) rotting in the country's prisons that were claimed to have "participated/perpetrated" the violence? Are they the actual criminals or they have just once again been used as scape-goats by others who are right now roaming free and eating and dining out of the sweat of the innocent and the dead? Is there any moral or humane conscience that is left in the human race any more?

No wonder America shall remain to be the land of opportunity and freedom as the rest of the world rots away.

Youth & Democracy

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:00:27 +0100

What do the youth actually understand as the meaning of Democracy? Do they really know exactly what their role is as far as enhancing democracy is concerned?

I wish to start by adding my own definition of the term democracy in relation to governance.

Democracy is the governance of a jurisdiction by the majority, who are the people of that particular jurisdiction.
Democracy is a system of governance run by the people, for the people.
Democracy is a system of equity among all.
Democracy is a system of servantship by representatives of the people and not ruling nor directorship neither dictatorship.
Democracy is a system of dialogue, consultation and total consideration of all stakeholders regardless.
Democracy is the freedom for expression and movement, creating room for agreements and disagreements and providing an environment of progress, peace, stability and tranquility.

The youths have the largest stake in ensuring that democracy is upheld and maintained, as its through their generations that its effectiveness shall be gauged.

Taking Kenya as a case study platform, the so called democracy in the country has been a total mockery of all its virtuals and policies governing its sourcing and implementation. The political class has taken advantage of the ignorance of the populace in defining the actual meaning of democracy and turned it around to suit their own ambitions, ambitions that led to the post-election violence and criminal activities and deaths that characterized the announcement of the December 2007 general elections.

During the whole campaign period and even immediately after the announcement of the results, youths were taken advantage of and used to ensure that self centered interests and goals were achieved, regardless of the consequences of such an action. The aftermath was unnecessary and uncalled for deaths, destruction of property, deterioration of morals and human rights and escalation of crime and lawlessness.

Why?

Because of twisted definitions of the term democracy that end up confusing the electorate to the advantage of those seeking employment from the same electorate. This is in turn turned around to their advantage by pretending to act to salvage the situation that they themselves have created.

youth-and-democracy

THE RIGHT OF CHOICE AND A VOTE:

Youth & Democracy