A brawl broke out on the floor of Seoul’s National Assembly yesterday over a disputed media bill:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/jul/22/seoul-lawmakers-fight
The ruling party tried to pass a bill to ease media restrictions, which, as is clear from this footage, the opposition did NOT take kindly to! They feared that the bill would mean the ruling party would receive more sympathetic coverage from the media and demonstrated their displeasure with violent and chaotic results.Passion is good in politics, but there is a limit: these scenes are more reminiscent of a bar brawl than national leaders debating a bill. These are leaders and representatives of their citizens, surely they need to set a good example with calm and respectful debate? Politicians should (though the word should is operative here, as they very rarely do) conduct themselves with dignity and restraint; their behaviour should show respect for their voters and the positions of power they have been entrusted with. Although, I must say, that rarely happens.
#1 by Muthee at July 25th, 2009
Jwall, true that rarely happens but still it does happen. I am ashamed to say this but in my city (Nairobi) mayoral elections are by blows and hurling of chairs.
All these are a reminders to us the leaders of the coming days that our world as it is now needs a lot of improvement in the way we look at issues and deal with each other.
Tolerance and a need to listen to each other’s views before we can agree or disagree with them is very important.
What a shame!!