A TALE OF TWO WOMEN LEADERS

 

“You always want to quit while you are ahead. You don’t want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until you’re not performing at your best.” (Clint Eastwood)

I asked ChatGPT to reflect on Eastwood’s words, describe a typical brawl between two fighters, and give some flesh and blood on the bones of the clash taking place inside the ring. The following piece it crafted in seconds which I edited for brevity and clarity:

In the heart of the boxing arena, the air pulses with thrill, as both fighters step into the spotlight. The crowd’s red-hot energy electrifies the mood, setting the stage for a clash of two steely warriors. Every gaze zeroes in on the ring, psyched up to watch a combination of strength, agility, and grit.

As the bell tolls, the boxers explode into action, their bodies honed to perfection. Jab by jab, moving with precision, their fists carve paths through the air like lightning bolts. Each blow showcasing their years of training, with muscles rippling beneath sweat-soaked skin, both fighters give their best shot for a knockout.

Amid the relentless action, emotions flare, revealing the heart and soul of each fighter. True grit etches lines on their faces, as their eyes burn with unyielding resolve. The rush of adrenaline fuels their spirits, pushing them to grin and bear even though their bodies beg for respite.

As the roar of the crowd and the intoxication of battle surround both fighters, an equilibrium must be held fast.  For when fighters linger past the peak of their prowess, when they turn a deaf ear to the subtle whispers of their mortality, they risk more than just a defeat.

They gamble with their honor, their reputation, and even their lives.

 

Boxing is a good metaphor for the human experience – reminding us of the delicate balance we must strike between chasing our passion and knowing when to gracefully step aside. This leads us to a parallel narrative – the complex tapestry of political life.

Just as the fighter who overstays his welcome in the ring risks a lot – his honor, respect, reputation, and even his life, so too does the traditional politician who clings to power beyond her worth and even below her grade. Just as the boxer’s punches lose their impact and footwork turns sluggish, so too does the traditional politician’s ideas may go stale, her vision may turn myopic, and her link to the needs of the people may be washed out. For her peers, she may emerge as a relic of a bygone era, unable to adapt to the shifting dynamics of society in constant flux. For her constituents she once sought to serve, they may now question her motives and integrity. Spilling the beans, the following headline homes in on who she is.

“Gloria Arroyo demoted, loses ‘senior’ title in House deputy speakership”

As expected, the following speculations as to why she was demoted have swept over the opinion pages of the mainstream media:

a)    She was being punished for trying to overthrow the House Speaker.

b)    She said her actions “may have been misconstrued.”

c)    She may be being neutralized for her ties with the VP and her prexy ambition.

d)    The President said the demotion was part of a reorganization.

e)    She will probably be offered a position more important than a Deputy Speaker.

Speculations (a), (b), (c), & (d) have given weight to the somber reality of losing more than just a defeat by the boxer who “lingers past the peak of his prowess,” and to be exact, by the traditional politician who clings to power “beyond her worth and below her grade.” Speculation (e) needs to heed this caveat: “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

More than a decade ago, in 2010, looking back, some Pinoys might be stunned when she did not retire from politics after the end of her presidency, but ran instead for a lower position as a congresswoman of her district. In clinging to political power, she offered grounds for such a downgrading political move by saying she wanted to continue serving the people.

The rest is history.

Four months ago, another woman leader, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023, shocked many of her constituents and leaders around the world by announcing her stepping down. She said:

“I’m leaving, because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple.”

She wanted to end her career on a high note and pass the baton to someone else who had more vision and ideas. She left a positive legacy that inspired millions around the world with her kindness, strength, empathy, and optimism.

At 37, she became the world’s youngest female leader in 2017. Held in high esteem globally, and known for her demeanor and compassion as a liberal politician, she was often cited as a counterpoint to more extreme politicians such as former U.S. President Trump and Brazil’s Bolsonaro.

Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations said that it’s particularly hard to imagine a politician resigning in the U.S. [How about in PH?] as Ardern did who is likely to win re-election and still being respected globally.

Jennifer Lees-Marshment, an associate professor of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, told National Public Radio:

“I did not expect it to happen, because it is rare that politicians are that strategic and selfless.”

“Ardern stepping down before she was pushed by colleagues or lost an election may make leaders in other countries wonder if they should leave also. Most leaders are embattled due to the long-term impact of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, and the cost of living crisis. Historically leaders have waited to be pushed.”

So true. Ardern's sterling standard came to Arroyo more than a decade after her presidency. But it may not be too late for her today.

The somber reality of politics casts a shadow over the whole democratic process.  Aging leaders' inability to gracefully stepdown stifles progress and hinders the emergence of new voices and fresh ideas.

In our neighbor Thailand, what came out in its recent election was a cloud's silver lining for democracy. “I think our generation right now is starting a new era. We are mapping the points of the new era,” said youthful Rukchanok Srinork, the “giant killer,” beating a heavyweight veteran politician – epitomizing Thailand’s reshaping political landscape.

In our country, Philippines, could a youthful candidate beat a political dynastic heavyweight veteran opponent?

Only when such an opponent sees the light that he or she has stayed too long in the ring like an aging boxer, will he or she be able to pave the way and pass the torch to the youthful generation with new voices and fresh ideas to secure a brighter future for our country.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Content put together in collaboration with ChatGPT

Head collage photos courtesy of PH Official Gazette & Beehive

Video Clips courtesy of YouTube