EDITORIAL - What some of our politicians can learn from the Lebanese

In case you have not read the news, the entire government of Lebanon has resigned as a result of public outcry for government reforms following the enormous blast in Beirut a week ago that left more than 200 people dead, thousands more injured and homeless, and a huge part of the city in ruins. 

According to BBC, the announcement was made in a national TV address by Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Monday evening.

"Today we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change," Diab is quoted as saying in the same report.

Corruption and an unchanging political system that favored only a certain social class was largely blamed for the negligence that ultimately led to the explosion of the haphazardly-stored ammonium nitrate.

While Diab and the others may yet change their mind between the writing and the publishing of this editorial, that seems to be the way they wanted to go as of yesterday.

Some of our politicians can learn from what the Lebanese are showing, especially those politicians who keep getting embroiled in one scandal or anomaly after another, in one office after another, who insist on staying in their post, hoping that their obstinacy will somehow prove they are innocent.

We actually have something here like the trait that Lebanese are showing now, we call it delicadeza. Many politicians are familiar with it but do not practice it at all.

While it has no direct English equivalent, it can be described as the honorable behavior one is expected to observe when in a certain position or office. Some of the better or more decent politicians will offer to resign from a post or office if they feel the people they serve or their superiors no longer have faith in their capabilities.

The less decent ones? They play the game, shift and blame, and hang on to power.

Take note that we aren’t saying all politicians should throw in the towel at the first sign of a scandal or anomaly or the first expression of lack of confidence in their abilities. However, if you happen to keep a close eye on developments in politics and governance, you should know who among them should go do what the Lebanese are doing.