The Politics of Pragmatism

By Marco Cáceres
Even though at some level there exists at least a grudging realization among most people in Honduras that there is a need to heal the divisions fueled by the political crisis of the past year, there remains a disturbing reluctance on the part of many on all sides of the conflict to actually take steps in the direction of national reconciliation (... or even familial reconciliation). I read a letter written recently by an official within the Zelaya administration to Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez that continues the ever predictable and thus overly worn diatribe by supporters of Manuel Zelaya against anyone who happens to take a position against him. The sterile, unimaginative, and infantile accusations always end up turning personal, as if somehow questioning one's integrity automatically wins points for your side.

Sadly, similar tactics have been used by opponents of Mr. Zelaya to try and diminish anyone who views his overthrow as wrong, illegal, even immoral. If you happen to belong to la Resistencia, there must be something wrong with you. You must be a socialist, perhaps a communist, or just a troublemaker. You must have been brainwashed. You must be uneducated. The tendency is to paint with a broad brush. So there can be no middle ground... "Either you're with us or you're against us."

I reject these tactics, mainly because they're unhelpful, but also because they fail to take into account the fact that this entire issue is not black or white. There are people of integrity and brilliance on both sides. I know them. There are pros and cons on both sides. I see them. The only people whom I would venture to say are undoubtedly wrong are those who think one side is completely right and the other side is completely wrong.

Not only are these kind of people wrong, they're going to be relatively useless in the post-Zelaya era, as Honduras tries to regroup and pull itself together to undertake yet another series of attempts to deal with its vast array of social and economic problems. Useless because they will be unable to move forward and leave the past behind. Unfortunately, many of these people will never be able to play a constructive role in bettering Honduras because they are so filled with anger, hatred, suspicions, or desire for revenge... or the sum of all.

In the midst of all this unwillingness to let go and begin the long process of reconciliation in Honduras, it is refreshing to hear President-elect Porfirio Lobo talk about forgiveness and looking toward the future. Mr. Lobo has consistently sounded like a man sincerely interested in letting bygones be bygones, not because he's just a nice guy or doesn't care about the law or justice, but rather because he is a pragmatist, not a populist or an ideologue.

Mr. Lobo knows that he cannot effectively address all the challenges he will face beginning on January 27 unless he unifies the country and, moreover, remains genuinely open to talking with anyone and actually listening. His announcement yesterday that he would like to include Mr. Zelaya on an advisory council consisting of former presidents sets precisely the right tone and example for the rest of us. (photo courtesy Internet)