Power and the mind

12/11/2006
GRANTS WECHE MOKADHO AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	Mer kod telo Nyar kager, Erokamao kuom miya yor mbui ni mondo apim pacha kod joka Ramogi. Yande apimo acha kod jokenya to gaset mar eastandard ma tarik 30/11/06 ema ne ondiko badhe paro matin. Koro aore e nduond mbu jokaramogi. Ne andike kod tho wagunda kendo akwayo ng'uono ni ok aloke e dholuo. Ma eparo na mane andiko no:- November 28^th, 2006 Power and the mind "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power" - Abraham Lincoln. So what is power? My Merriam-Webster English Dictionary defines power as "the right or prerogative of determining, ruling, or governing or the exercise of that right or prerogative." Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state once said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. It is reported that Lyndon Johnson, the 36^th president of the Unites States relished in summoning his subordinates to confer with him as he sat in the lavatory. That is power at its best. It is said to corrupt, and when absolute, corrupts absolutely. The reason for such untoward behaviour bred by power is still not well understood. Some studies suggest that power lowers the threshold of inhibition in a similar manner to alcohol. This inhibition occurs in the subconscious such that suppression from bad or bold behaviour is drastically minimized. The consequence is a revelation of hitherto unknown character flaw. Studies have shown that people with power are more oblivious to what others think, more likely to pursue satisfaction for their own appetites, poorer judges of other peoples' responses, more likely to hold stereotypes, overly optimistic and more likely to take risks. In Kenya, Sir Charles Njonjo, the former powerful attorney general could get one in jail at a blink of an eye. Mr. Simeon Nyachae, the only chief secretary Kenya ever had, was so powerful that he could "never go wrong". Mr. Mwango, the infamous KiambuDC shaved a primary school teacher's goatee without a second thought. Mr. Nicholas Biwott was so powerful that he became the Total man. Former president Moi dished out public land as if it was his personal property and was so knowledgeable in so many aspects of life that he was named the prince of peace by the then Minister of education Mr. Oloo Aringo. He was so obsessed with power that he insisted in Uhuru Kenyatta succeeding him; the rest is his-story. Kiraitu Murungi of the "scandal that never was" fame was emphatic that Anglo Leasing was a no-issue, as stolen money was being returned. President Kibaki call others pumbavu when his leadership is questioned while he used to advocate for reduction of presidential powers. The current members of parliament immoderately increased their salaries while insisting that the country was broke and could not afford to pay teachers just a tad of a deserved salary increase. A great chess player, Capablanca once said "You learn more from a game you lose than a game you win." This is true, but only if one is able to heed the lessons from the loss and then act on them. Power clouds the ability to learn and act accordingly even to individuals who were thought to be virtuous. Power reveals and transforms people. This is why many powerful people imbued with talent, luck, and leadership skill still tumble with a just a small dose of power. President Kibaki's government is a good illustration of this. He and his close associates such as Kiraitu, loathed Moi's presidential powers and wanted them reduced, but now floats in the same without a twitch. He is oblivious to perception of others and dangerously isolated and discerns other people simply as a means to his own end. For leaders to harness power, they first have to understand what power does to them. That power lowers inhibitions by its aphrodisiac or intoxicating effects that cannot be checked by other self serving, dependent arms of the government. Ultimately, the people can, as people power is crude and unforgiving. For Kenyans at the moment, struggle never ends as the powerful will almost always be intoxicated to notice their needs. Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave in 1849 said that, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of it many waters. Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will." Okumu Kaluoch Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? Inyalo oro twak kod weche manyien ne: Mig. Ajos wuod Atiga WuonAbila@jaluo.com GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

12/11/2006

GRANTS

WECHE MOKADHO

AGAJA

KUYO

BARUPE

WECHE DONGRUOK

MBAKA

NONRO

JEXJALUO

NGECHE LUO

GI GWENG'

THUM

TEDO

LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI

SIGENDNI LUO

THUOND WECHE

; Hit Counter

Mer kod telo

Nyar kager,

Erokamao kuom miya yor mbui ni mondo apim pacha kod joka Ramogi. Yande apimo acha kod jokenya to gaset mar eastandard ma tarik 30/11/06 ema ne ondiko badhe paro matin. Koro aore e nduond mbu jokaramogi.

Ne andike kod tho wagunda kendo akwayo ng'uono ni ok aloke e dholuo. Ma eparo na mane andiko no:-

November 28^th, 2006

Power and the mind

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power" - Abraham Lincoln.

So what is power? My Merriam-Webster English Dictionary defines power as "the right or prerogative of determining, ruling, or governing or the exercise of that right or prerogative."

Henry Kissinger, the former

secretary of state once said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. It is reported that Lyndon Johnson, the 36^th president of the Unites States relished in summoning his subordinates to confer with him as he sat in the lavatory. That is power at its best. It is said to corrupt, and when absolute, corrupts absolutely. The reason for such untoward behaviour bred by power is still not well understood. Some studies suggest that power lowers the threshold of inhibition in a similar manner to alcohol. This inhibition occurs in the subconscious such that suppression from bad or bold behaviour is drastically minimized. The consequence is a revelation of hitherto unknown character flaw.

Studies have shown that people with power are more oblivious to what others think, more likely to pursue satisfaction for their own appetites, poorer judges of other peoples' responses, more likely to hold stereotypes, overly optimistic and more likely to take risks. In Kenya, Sir Charles Njonjo, the former powerful attorney general could get one in jail at a blink of an eye. Mr. Simeon Nyachae, the only chief secretary

Kenya

ever had, was so powerful that he could "never go wrong". Mr. Mwango, the infamous KiambuDC shaved a primary school teacher's goatee without a second thought. Mr. Nicholas Biwott was so powerful that he became the Total man. Former president Moi dished out public land as if it was his personal property and was so knowledgeable in so many aspects of life that he was named the prince of peace by the then Minister of education Mr. Oloo Aringo. He was so obsessed with power that he insisted in Uhuru Kenyatta succeeding him; the rest is his-story. Kiraitu Murungi of the "scandal that never was" fame was emphatic that Anglo Leasing was a no-issue, as stolen money was being returned. President Kibaki call others pumbavu when his leadership is questioned while he used to advocate for reduction of presidential powers. The current members of parliament immoderately increased their salaries while insisting that the country was broke and could not afford to pay teachers just a tad of a deserved salary increase.

A great chess player, Capablanca once said "You learn more from a game you lose than a game you win." This is true, but only if one is able to heed the lessons from the loss and then act on them. Power clouds the ability to learn and act accordingly even to individuals who were thought to be virtuous. Power reveals and transforms people. This is why many powerful people imbued with talent, luck, and leadership skill still tumble with a just a small dose of power. President Kibaki's government is a good illustration of this. He and his close associates such as Kiraitu, loathed Moi's presidential powers and wanted them reduced, but now floats in the same without a twitch. He is oblivious to perception of others and dangerously isolated and discerns other people simply as a means to his own end.

For leaders to harness power, they first have to understand what power does to them. That power lowers inhibitions by its aphrodisiac or intoxicating effects that cannot be checked by other self serving, dependent arms of the government. Ultimately, the people can, as people power is crude and unforgiving. For Kenyans at the moment, struggle never ends as the powerful will almost always be intoxicated to notice their needs.

Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave in 1849 said that, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of it many waters. Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will."

Okumu Kaluoch

Joluo.com

Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni
Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?

IDWARO TICH?

Inyalo oro twak kod weche manyien ne: Mig. Ajos wuod Atiga
WuonAbila@jaluo.com

GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam.

WENDO MIWA PARO

OD PAKRUOK