It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to be a star. No, the problem of Upper Volta is more serious than that. It was a grave mistake to have looked for a man, a star, at all costs, to the point of creating one, that is, to the point of attributing the ownership of the event to captain Sankara, who must have been the brains, etc.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the tendency to oversimplify political events by attributing them to singular heroic figures rather than recognizing the underlying complexities.
In this quote, Thomas Sankara reflects on the misconception of viewing political events through a simplistic lens, akin to comic strips where one hero saves the day. He emphasizes that the issues at hand, specifically in Upper Volta, are multifaceted and should not be reduced to the actions of a single individual, advocating instead for a deeper understanding of the societal and systemic problems that exist.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about political leadership during a seminar on governance.
Our revolution in Burkina Faso draws on the totality of mans experiences since the first breath of humanity. We wish to be the heirs of all the revolutions of the world, of all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the Third World. We draw the lessons of the American revolution.
Let there be an end to the arrogance of the big powers who miss no opportunity to put the rights of the people in question. Africa's absence from the club of those who have the right to veto is unjust and should be ended.
We must dare to invent the future
Under its current form, that is imperialism-controlled, debt is a cleverly managed re-conquest of Africa, aiming at subjugating its growth and development through foreign rules. Thus, each one of us becomes the financial slave, which is to say a true slave.
It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future.
A military without political training is a potential criminal.
We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.
I think it's about time! Who cares whether he is looking for votes or not! At least your country is moving forward with the times!
Ladies and gentlemen, well may we say 'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General. The proclamation you have just heard was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will go down in history as Kerr's cur.
The goal of the revolution is to achieve the people's rights, but during the course of the revolution, we must stress military power - and the two are mutually contradictory.
The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.
The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies.
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