South Sudan: The Political Tree!
By Dr. Ben Guarken Chiman, Juba, South Sudan
Friday, 08 July 2022 (PW) — During natural or man-made disasters, human beings tend to find refuge in shelters, faith, and emergency support. Others suffer from the effects of disasters. Similarly, during political disasters, choosing to be a political tree or claiming to have a political tree, some few facts should be held in our minds.
Before choosing to fight for a certain political tree (the politician), one should ask these few questions: What mentorship will my tree provide? How long will my tree provide fruits? Will I remain faithful to my tree regardless of my prayers for daily bread/seasonal fruits the tree MUST provide? Or will I cut down my tree if it fails to produce the fruits I want?
For a young tree to grow, Our preference in selecting it our chose should be based on how its leadership has positively impacted the lives of young people in the past and the quality of leaves of other young trees growing under them. It matters a lot!
And not only that, our tree should have reshaped the development of his/her community and beyond.
To support or oppose a leader for that position and this, we should count, on what he/she did without seeking reward or fame. We should not support some leaders or politicians because their pockets are open to us, or based on the cool shade they provide, No!
Don’t forget, storms drive away people sleeping or sitting under a tree without tents or umbrellas.
Opposing, certain politicians, shouldn’t be based on how empty or closed are their pockets. Our support should be measured and based on what impacts their deeds in the life of society especially in the lives of young people. And more importantly, how they unite their opponents and support them during national duties or disasters is important too to notice. If our political tree meets some of those criteria then sit under it comfortably. You got a tree.
I challenge no one to abandon or cut down their trees for a better one. The devil you know is better than the one you don’t know. And for that reason, a tree should be protected to provide a good shadow and to produce more branches, or else, it risks the chance of being a bush. And once your political tree turns into a bush, be ready to fight with wild animals, wild animals of the forest will clean it up and put your life in more danger.
Be reminded that, when a tree is inhabited by snakes, lions, and hyenas, the tree doesn’t move or withhold its humility, or shade, it’s the old and careless Owner that gallops for his/ her life, forcing him or her to look for a better habitat that has been left by other careless owners or that was not providing better shade.
And for those whose aim and dream is to be a political tree without producing fruits that will produce other trees, I mean, those who only want to be the only tree standing in the middle of the Sudd or the desert, another fact they should know is that, if you want to be claimed as a tree in the future when a tree is still growing, it has an opportunity to grow towards the sun’s rays or light, it has the chance to bend with the wind so that is doesn’t break.
That time it has the chance of winding itself on other big trees so that it grows and absorbs nutrients for its survival and growth. The other chance is that, given it’s rarely used, it will not be cut down for many reasons. So used your time when you still have leaves, and roots to attract those looking for trees like you. Don’t miss the chance!
In conclusion, let’s choose to be better trees when we are young, so that when we become old old trees we may be claimed by those who will not cut us down, but by those who will clean around us and water us during drought. Some trees in some parts of the world are offered as sacrifices or places for offerings, some are used as places for public gatherings or as boundaries between communities. Those trees survive long! They are protected and cared for by all.
Finally, if you want to claim any tree, let’s know what benefits you have to the tree rather than sitting under a tree without caring for it. With bushes around the tree, you both may risk the danger of burning bushes which may compromise the leaves of your tree and concomitantly, compromise the shadow it provides.
For those who want to be political trees, some wise birds build their nests on good trees!
Writer, a poet and a medical doctor,
MBBS from Bahri university
Currently: Pursuing a Master’s in General Surgery
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