Hypocrisy is an art form that some of us seem to have a greater propensity to gravitate towards more than others – especially politicians and people in representative offices (which will include faith leaders). The recent revelations of apparently dubious use of large sums of money in the supposed line of duty, yet more for the benefit of family and friends have been making headlines over the last few weeks. If you are unaware, I am not referring here to politicians from countries in the developing world, as this is what seems to be usually associated with corruption as if the rest of human beings in the world are immune to greed. I am referring to politicians in Britain and Europe.
Why would these public figures get involved in such practices when they are aware that they hold offices that have been entrusted to them, are accountable to the tax payer and that they will come under the scrutiny of the public? And why do they insist, when caught that they are innocent and cannot see what wrong they have done – not even the conflict of interest and the fact that they pay their own companies or employ their own families to offices – however qualified they may be and that to the ordinary viewer this would raise many questions including whether anyone else was ever given the opportunity to apply for the job, or how one’s secretary can double up as a Nanny or what is going one when one is paying a company of which one is directly involved in.
Is it that what we have here are arrogant people who believe that they can do what please them? Is there something about being a politician that operates on a self-righteous premise that will seek to condemn and clean up the corruption of others, and in the process can hardly think of putting the mirror before their own selves or setting their own house in order? Or is it just a human trait?
It is not insignificant that there is a striking similarity between such a behaviour and that of some Christians who operate on the premise that theirs is a guaranteed salvation in contrast of the sinfulness of the rest of humanity around them who have got it all wrong. Most of the times they end up committing the very “sins” they vehemently oppose and are outwardly hostile towards. Just like these self-righteous politicians who are committed to cleaning up corruption – except their own. There is no better example of hypocrisy, and one can hear Jesus ranting over “white-washed tombs”...
Hypocrisy is more about us - that is the lies we embody, tell and live by so that we can crawl through our self-made inconsistencies and contradictions. Hence, it is always a good lesson to remember that one’s first fight ought to always be with oneself. That is a good starting point and the rest will follow with continued vigilance – lest we re-inscribe the very thing we are against.
© copyright Jagessar June 11, 2008
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