Service to the country is not a cliché. Even the president should serve
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II. many words were spoken. Admiring, respectful, grateful. Nevertheless, it seems more important to me how it affected the British, Canadians, Australians, but also Scandinavians or Czechs. Someone close and at the same time untouchable died. A fulcrum. A permanent part of our lives. It hurt like a piece of heart had been ripped out.
At the same time, it is not determined by the crown that the British monarch wore. The Dutch, Danes, Norwegians and Swedes have monarchies, but with all due respect, only a few remember the names of their rulers. Elizabeth’s popularity and general recognition did not lie in the length of her reign either. In short, she was a symbol of devotion to her homeland.
Can any politician be a similar cross-party bolt? In essence, probably not. The position obtained by blood and the free function are two side stories. One is born into the first role, the second must be earned. However, with both, it is up to the given personality how to fulfill it. And it is not a cliché to talk about service in this context. This concept is the key to Elizabeth’s place in history. She saw her mission as destiny. Regardless of your own feelings, wishes, desires. She served Great Britain and its citizens.
The aforementioned dimension is often missing for classic politicians who win votes in elections. Already in the campaign, they often knowingly promise things that they can never and will not fulfill. Low taxes, a balanced budget, excellent health care without higher costs, pension reform, slimming of the state administration and its digitization. Each voter can supplement dozens of sentences that were heard in the squares and debates, so that they never meet reality.
Who digs another hole…
Do you remember, for example, Miloš Zeman’s words that he will be the president of the bottom ten million people? In fact, he served Martin Nejedlé, Vratislav Mynářov and Miloš Balák. It’s a shame that instead of lavish tributes to the late queen, he didn’t come even an inch closer to her concept of government. In a few months we have a presidential election. It makes no sense to pretend that someone like TG Masaryk or Václav Havel will win. They held their office in revolutionary times and both have proven themselves excellently. Had they been elected in calmer times, perhaps their historical legacy would not have been nearly as illustrious.
Although the future president will also take office in a turbulent era, his mission will be to moderate passions rather than to stand at the head of the crowds on the revolutionary stage. So let’s get back to “serving the country”. In my opinion, the ability to fulfill this criterion should be an essential part of the Czech Republic’s next evening.