After Independence, Princedom or Republic

Princedom or Republic?

Would you like to see, after independence, a Prince or a President in Wales?

As I see it, this is of little importance. Countries such as Spain have restored the monarchy and others, such as Greece and Egypt, have overthrown theirs, but in fact it is the people who are the guardians of the nation and in a true democracy, which the UK is not, it is the people who decide their elected leaders. A tywysog or a taoiseach is one who leads, whether or not he is associated with royalty, and Wales, or Cymru, needs an elected leader who exhibits certain qualities, and who is statesmanlike. I see a statesman as someone who displays dignity, honesty and integrity, as well as intelligence and wisdom. There have been people in the past as well as the present who, in my opinion, have had these qualities, and those who come to mind include such people as Conor Cruise O’Brien, David Lloyd George, Dag Hammersjold, Gwynfor Evans, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Lee Kwan Yew.

It is said that the people get the leader they deserve. From this, we understand that the people elect their leader and make their decision based on their own independent evaluation of the leader and his virtues. If they find later that the leader is flawed they have only themselves to blame. If the leader oppresses and tyrannises the people, as in the case of Stalin, it is up to them to rise up and overthrow him, or in a more tolerant society he faces impeachment. A leader who is truly a statesman has risen a little above politics, yet he displays the traits of modesty and humility and equanimity. When we elect our representatives, or put them up as candidates in any election, whether it be for the European Parliament, the National Assembly or the local or county council, we need to keep in mind these criteria in order that we have the best possible leadership and representation.

There is an old and wise saying, which is as follows :

“The lord looks down on the servant ;

The servant looks up at the lord ;

The lord and servant converse together.”

We are talking about the third sentence, “the lord and servant converse together”, where there is a meeting point between the elector and the elected, and an understanding that nobody is in any way superior to anyone else in this world. This is the reality but few are aware of it. To put it another way :”we are all one in the eyes of God”.

Alan in Dyfed