Just Politics...

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So, as I’m rounding up the holiday season and preparing to resume the second semester, I decided to see this new K-Drama that was recently released on Netflix. The title is The Whirlwind. I’m not done yet, but with only twelve episodes, I’m sure that I’ll be done with the season before the end of this week. Just in time for me to resume school.

Not too long, I think just last week, we all talked about what we would have done if we were to find ourselves with the opportunity to get involved in politics. And not just anyone, the kind of politics that brought about real change. As I watched the drama, all I could think of was how I wished I watched the series before making that post because so far, it has opened my eyes to so many things that go on in this game called politics.

It tells the story of a Vice President of South Korea. At first, he was a prosecutor and all he wanted was to put criminals in jail. However, he realized that the criminals he was going after were big fish and they had lots of power in their pockets. No matter how he tried to bring justice to them, he was blocked at every turn and even transferred to a place where he wouldn’t be able to do any further damage.

Eventually, he was forced to quit being a prosecutor and acquire power of his own. He attached himself to a politician and ran alongside him for President of South Korea. They won, with the mandate that they would root out all the corruption in the South Korean government and provide a better life for the people. Sadly, the president eventually succumbed to the allure of power and money, turning him into a patsy for criminals.

Now, the main story is about how the Vice President is trying to fight one of the biggest conglomerates in South Korea, but he’s facing so many hurdles on all fronts, even from the very president he helped gain power. So, we get to see how this man who has nothing but good intentions for his country slowly begins to get sucked into the game and do anything and everything just to secure power.

Things that he would never have done on a normal day, he started doing it. Rolling in the mud with his rivals just to secure his seat at the highest point of power. Committing crimes and making deals with shady characters all in the name of seeking justice. Watching it, I can’t help but also picture the Nigerian political scene as well. I think the game of politics is cursed so there is no way you can be involved without getting your hands dirty. If you try to stay on the clean side, you won’t get the job done.

When you think about it, even the best presidents of the world had to do one or two shady things just to secure power. For many, the means will always justify whatever the end is. Even if they plan on being the holiest of presidents, they would be willing to make deals with criminals and terrorists just to secure that seat. Then, once they get there, they can do whatever they want.

I guess what happens will depend heavily on how far gone they are in the pursuit of power and just how dirty they were willing to go. The truth is, there is no way you can do politics without staining your white. If you think that is possible, then maybe you’re deluding yourself. There will always be backroom deals to be made and underground hands to be shaken if you really want to take and keep that power.

Power doesn’t come easy at all, and only those who are willing to do what it takes to get it will actually get it. I’m not done with the drama yet, so I don’t know how everything turns out. When I do, if it inspires me again, I’ll be back with a follow-up post.

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_{Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to know what you’re thinking. Till we meet in the next post.}

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_{N.B: All images used in this post are mine. The thumbnail was designed using Canva.}

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