Even Ducks Don’t Discriminate: A Surreal Lesson For Politicians To Learn

At times our tanks run out. Yes, we find our energies sapped. And we wonder what to do, where to go get it and how to do it even when we chanced upon it. The lead gets twisted and the body doesn’t seem to be in proper alignment. Bottom line, they zag they don’t zig as expected.

It takes time, it takes energy, and it takes resources.

But you know very well that even before we get there---thus the finish line we get confronted yet with these questions:

Question as to whether it would come out in good or great shape?

Whether our audience would like it or not?
And whether it would create the desired impact?
Nonetheless, we still do it any way and anyhow... That’s the beauty of this noble profession.

Invariably, you release the mind: The mind that spots red bandana head gear with a muffler around its neck like a prophet gone astray---wandering in the wilderness in the hope of getting something motivating, something exhilarating, a must-read something.

Glad I found one—something different. It was four days in fall September 26, 2016.

It was also a day that one would say the blogosphere and the traditional media arena, especially in the United States was saturated with the much-hyped first 2016 US presidential debate.

Needless to point out that the summer fête was over too. But Washington State, where I’m domiciled still had the sun radiating its authoritative rays. It was about half past midday on Monday Pacific Time --courtesy of Facebook someone had posted roughly one minute video of a generous duck and a group of red fish.

I really don’t know how many of you saw that footage. But I can tell those who did see it had their minds appraised. If this isn’t surreal what else qualify, a duck feeding other animals?

Be reminded they weren’t even feathered birds, nothing close to her likeness.

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The lowly duck and her newly-fangled friends had found themselves in a pond or pool: The shoal had gathered around what seemed to be a mat floating in the waters, while the duck perched on the said object. Where there’s honey there are bees and where there’s money there are human beings, says this writer.

See, I didn’t say what you thought…
That mat had food on it attracting the little ones to swarm around it. But there was a problem. They couldn’t reach the food on the mat. And in the midst of plenty the lucky duck had a thought. She decided to do what’s become increasingly hard for contemporary politicians, particularly those in developing democracies to do.

The duck showed matchless leadership trait and compassion. In several turns she served the shoal or school. It turned left and dropped some food to the guys in the water; it turned right and did the same thing—making sure everyone had something to eat; making sure no one was left out. She was really busy at it. It was breathtaking!

And it would soon capture the writer’s mind: The mind that had been wandering in the wilds.

That episode would set the mind thinking and wondering the more. Trying helplessly to find answers to these mindboggling questions:

What at all is wrong with Mankind?
What’s led us to become so greedy and so selfish?

Why do we breed hatred and not love?
Why do we discriminate and not eliminate these societal ills?

If the aquatic birds can feed a hungry ‘multitude’, why can’t politicians do it when they find themselves in leadership positions?

Indeed I know why, I know the answers. I know what makes them behave that way.

How quickly did they forget the hand that feeds the mouth?

They tend to forget about the people who gave them the mandate to rule.

They pick and choose…They choose and select where to distribute the wealth. They choose times and seasons (rallies, campaigns, conventions etc.) to share the loot and hoot at the masses.

They know who the booty must go to. They know who gets what and why they must get it.

I call them the ‘selected few’. I call them bootlickers. I call them leechers.

The few who make the most noise, the few who’ve sworn hell to cause mayhem should their masters lose power.

But seriously, I think whatever motivated this generous act from the aquatic bird has to be instilled in our politicians and humanity in general. It’s better late than never so let’s do it because we can do it.