15/08/2024
A LEADERSHIP CALLING: A DEBT WE LOVE.
A debt of love is not merely a moral principle but an intrinsic truth about the fabric of our existence. The mutual responsibility we owe each other is born out of our shared realities and common situations. When we care for others, we essentially care for ourselves. The respect, courtesy, and love we extend to our neighbors mirror our desire to live in a world where these virtues are reciprocated. In this sense, our interactions are governed by a universal law: what we give is what we receive. It’s biblical—love thy neighbor as thyself. Though the affairs of my neighbor may not be my direct concern, their well-being inevitably impacts my own. If you are a doctor, you need patients. If you sell food, you require both buyers and farmers. Our ability to be who we are hinges on the presence and participation of others. My concern for my neighbor is, in reality, an extension of my selfish desire to live in a community that reflects the environment I wish to inhabit.
Life, in its purest form, is free. Yet, coexisting with others comes at a cost, a price that has only intensified in today’s world. A society that is ill or a neighbor who is incapacitated results in a world that fails to serve its inhabitants. The life we owe ourselves, we owe to others as well. This idea was captured by African leaders like Amílcar Cabral, who believed that only the best sons and daughters of the land should lead—those who care for their communities as deeply as they care for themselves. Such leaders understand that their responsibility to their neighborhood is inseparable from their responsibility to themselves. They owe this to their communities, just as we owe love to ours. Love, after all, is worth living for.
From the beginning, we knew we belonged here, that our purpose was to work for the collective good. The dawn of human civilization saw man harnessing nature for his benefit, cultivating the land to sustain life. As nature fought for its resilience, humans adapted, striving to master their environment. The will of man gave rise to civilizations, systems designed to produce outcomes that serve the collective will. Communities thrive on these systems, which aim to create a society that works for all. This societal movement reflects a desire to express more love within and through our communities, guided by an elaborate plan of mutual benefit.
Governments and community leaders are entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to bring this love to life. They are tasked with fostering a society where individuals can freely express themselves without hindrance, inspiring others to do the same. The best sons and daughters of the land emerge from such a society, where they are empowered to prune away what is unfruitful and nurture what benefits the community. The debt of love we owe to our neighbors and neighborhoods is the foundation of a thriving society, where each person contributes to the collective good, creating a world where everyone can live with dignity and purpose.
Yonela GM
