Playing The Game

Is politics an emotional need? Its like saying, is man an animal? In today's world, this is after all a book of the twenty first century, or near about as would make no difference, and in this day and age, politics is only a name for all things we do even in our private lives, leave aside the professional part of it.

Politics is the name we give, and the game we unconsciously play all the time, the name we give to many of our everyday acts by which we work and play. We are diplomatic with our wives, far sighted and diplomatic in our profession, our professional colleagues, we feel, are playing politics with us, there is politics involved in the admission of one's children to good schools, we say, and all government jobs, transfers, promotion involving our friends we believe are politically motivated. And so on and so forth.

Well yes, you will have to admit that the world has become highly political today, why else do papers sell, we are the eager buyers, when one third of the contents are political in nature. Even that news item about that crooked businessman being charged with corruption has political overtones, no wonder the story is so juicy. Millions of fanatics are caught in the throes of politically motivated religious tensions right this minute throughout the world.

You think the price of sugar has gone down due to the goodness of the government? Read tomorrow's paper, somebody will point out in conspicuous print that it is only a political ploy to win votes in the round the corner elections.

The drift of all this is simply that, since politics is playing such a big part in our everyday lives, we cannot be mere spectators, although we would like to think we are, but actually what is happening is that we are also being politicized unconsciously to such an extent that we are forced to become political in our thinking which will no doubt affect our innermost emotions, and reflect on our everyday actions. Maybe its all for the good, isn't it a good thing to cultivate diplomacy with the boss? Or with the wife? Less chance of our feet getting stuck in our mouths.

Somebody had said a long time back that man is a social animal, well let me coin another phrase, which hopefully will be quoted by all and sundry, 'man is a political animal.'

Man is a political animal, no less, because it is not beyond even a shortsighted individual's observation to see that man is ignited beyond control when things turn really political in the main. For instance, during elections in small towns. More so in villages. Oh yes, there is a proper alignment of forces all right, with one becoming either a loyalist of this party or the other, and it´s a difficult situation really, with very little chance to escape the alignments. Even if one professes to be apolitical.

The short but intense interludes of local political activities during such times literally send people into emotional frenzy. No matter that there is very little in the way of gaining. It's almost like watching a football match in which the local club is playing. Can any spectator just remain one, without the emotions getting aroused to dizzy heights?

So let there be no doubt that politics is affecting us day in and day out without making us all the wiser in the knowledge of it being so. Our subconscious selves are being continuously bombarded with the intellectual need to take political sides, and let me assure you that this taking of sides will take place sooner than later, and quite consciously too. It is very difficult, if not impossible to escape the experience that millions of fellowmen are feeling simultaneously.

Is this so because we are all followers in nature, the whole ninety percent of humanity? Or the ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent? Maybe it is so, I think this is best answered by oneself after searching within without presumptions, without biases and without prejudice.

Search within yourself for the answer to this one, and don't worry, nobody's looking, so there is no need for the ego to come into the picture, find out for yourself if this is so, and don't worry, no one is expecting an answer from you. You are all alone in this, and you are only seeking the answer for yourself.

Politics is the name of the game today, and money is the goal. Not necessarily that money is the goal one wishes to attain through the playing of politics, but necessarily, politics also comes into the picture as an important part of everyday life in today's world. The ways of making money are many, I believe, but the affectations of politics on an individual's emotions are similar in many respects.

I do not mean to confuse rather I would like to convince even the naysayer that man is political in nature and that politics is a part of life today and will be forever, and that it will play havoc with one's emotions if one is to keep on fighting this truth. No one can remain immune to the effects of continuous bombardment of the senses by the thing called politics.

So be clear about this and plan accordingly to fulfill this emotional need too, as you would fulfill spiritual need by praying and religion, as you would fulfill your hunger by eating. Enjoy this escapade for this is one thing where you don't go hungry if you don't work, this is one thing where you will not have guilt at not being religious, really this is the one thing you will really enjoy doing because it is so intellectual.

But be clear about the whys of not being able to escape the fact. And anyway why do you want to escape, there is so much to be enjoyed. It is only not understanding that this too is a part of modern emotional needs that prevent people from partaking of the intellectual joys. It is only the fact that people do not understand completely the effects.

We are talking about, or rather, searching for ways to fulfill emotional needs so as to have a fuller life. A life without regrets, and this is an important lesson for the modern individual. Accept the fact that you are as political an animal as you are social. And you will be on the right track to becoming more aware of the nuances of modern life and its complex methods of emotional harassment.

Be aware that modern life is demanding more from you in more ways than have been experienced by our forefathers. Play the part of the modern animal in full awareness and see how your life becomes less complex, and emotional pangs are better understood. Its really very simple, if you are to love life, you will have to accept that politics is an integral part of this life.

So can one have a fuller life without this knowledge? The knowledge that will hopefully propel you into the right actions with pleasure so that you enjoy the fulfillment of one more emotional need.