I’m sure many of you watched the recent Ugandan elections with a keen eye? OK, I know you didn’t and why would you? My attachment to the political battle began many moons ago when caught in a political riot in Kampala, Uganda, while bumbling my way to Kisoro in search of mountain gorillas.
Seeing a riot on the evening news and staining your pants hightailing it out of one, are such different things. I would like to think the later was successful due to my amazing travelling skills, but the truth is it was luck. Like almost every aspect of our lives our fortune, good or otherwise, can more often than not be attributed to luck.
On a human level there were very few differences between the youth I met in Uganda and myself (I was youthful at the time!). But the one difference that struck me was how politically minded and aware they were. This may be due to living lives where the effects of politics are amplified compared to that of my own, the luck of nationality.
This society we are part of provides access to education, health and opportunity. It did not magically appear. It has taken work from all sectors of society and the rainbow of political parties. It took time for me to understand this, the need to be politically aware, and eventually the need to actively participate.
Next time you notice the hand lady luck has played in your life or the life of one of your loved ones, don’t take it for granted, jump in and participate in society where and how you can. It can be the global society or your local street, with anything from politics to marshalling at the local parkrun.
P.S. the mountain gorillas were awe-inspiring.
