MARCH 3 — From political parties to political coalitions, infighting has always made people lament over the politics in Malaysia. In addition to political and racial interests, what others can make us proud and which part of it is noble?

Taiwanese critic Yang Zhao wrote about an incident happened in the far US 51 years ago in an article entitled Political Interests And Universal Values. The story’s main character was the then US President Lyndon Baines Johnson, while the supporting character was his prime mentor Richard Russell, Jr, who is a mover and shaker in the Senate.

During a discussion on the Civil Right Bill to be voted in the Congress in 1964, Johnson and Russell held different views. Russell, whose success depended on the conservatives of the South, opposed to it as once the Bill was passed, the Whites, particularly those from the South, would have to give up isolation and discriminatory policies that they had long implemented against the Blacks. It was totally against Russell’s personal political interests and future.

Politically, Russell had been the biggest backer of Johnson and Johnson knew it well. If he chose to not agree with Russell, he would lose Russell’s support. And losing Russell’s support would mean to lose votes of the Whites in the South, it would then be a dream to be re-elected the president.

Johnson had always been strong at socialising and he even threatened and bribed when necessary. It was the way he survived in the highly competitive American politics. However, it was unexpected that Johnson actually insisted to table the Bill in the Congress to grant the Blacks real rights.

The Bill was eventually passed. As expected, the Democratic Party was unable to gain majority votes in the South. The personal political future of Johnson was thus tainted.

However, it was not the Civil Rights Act that had collapsed Johnson. Instead, the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, the Medicare Programme and the Medicaid Programme had become his great achievements in his political career. Johnson was actually collapsed by his foreign policy, particularly his decision to send more soldiers, trapping the US in the quagmire of Vietnam War. It then led to one after another wave of opposition and eventually, Johnson was forced to announce that he would not seek for re-election in the next election. He was depressed after stepping down and got addicted to alcohol. It was regrettable that he died in 1973 when he was 64 years old.

Although Johnson’s life was not perfect and it was even filled with controversies, just as Yang Zhao wrote in his article, to let the Blacks enjoy equal rights, Johnson had paid a political price, affecting the interests of Russell and the Democratic Party, even his own political future. His practice was not only in line with the US national interests, but also a kind of noble universal value. Therefore, he was noble at that moment.

For many world political leaders holding great power, Johnson’s courage and wisdom are undoubtedly a mirror for them, particularly under polling data, when your approval rate plummets and the conservative force is still powerful, would you choose universal values which are in line with the country’s interests, or succumb to votes that could keep you in power?

You can choose to be noble or speculative. And the choice is always where the difference between statesman and politician lies! — Sin Chew Daily

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.