'We are all politicians'

By Adam Borowski

During a Facebook Q&A session in June, the Polish President was asked if he was going to ban K-pop in Poland. The President replied diplomatically that K-pop was certainly not going to be banned.

In fact, President Duda said he was going to compete with K-pop by taking part in what is creatively called the ''hot 16 challenge.'' The challenge is a rap contest where people come up with a 16-verse rap song to help Polish hospitals.

As soon as you are finished rapping in the video, you are supposed to nominate another person who will have to show their lyrical prowess.

Even Polish politicians can't escape K-pop.

It is clear that K-pop fans are a force not even the highest levels of the global power structure can ignore. Just ask Donald Trump who had his rally in Tulsa sabotaged.

How about the North Korean K-pop performance? Wasn't it a marvelous psychological operation? I wonder if any North Koreans were converted to K-pop.

We have entered an era where politics, entertainment and business are strongly linked. Even online conspiracy theories and political agendas merge, as is the case with various groups that believe Donald Trump is working behind the scenes to defeat the so-called “deep state.''

Yes, people are often told to stay away from politics. I would normally agree with that sentiment but in these tumultuous times, the standard rules no longer apply. We need to get involved every step of the political ladder, reaching people from all walks of life.

Politics is certainly fraught with temptations and pitfalls, but it is also the only meaningful way we can impact the world around us. Intelligence, finances, connections, charm and appearance ― yes, including great legs ― make it much easier to succeed in politics.

Even outsiders can succeed in politics. Immigrants, defectors and refugees can be a source of new ideas and strategies, often desperately needed by a host country.

Thae Yong-ho is a shining example of this, as the first North Korean defector to win a National Assembly seat. Clearly, his expertise on North Korea is invaluable.

Getting involved in politics acts as a preventive measure, ensuring the specters of the troubled past are not going to haunt us.

There will always be people and groups that dream of taking away our basic rights but they will not succeed in smart and politically active societies.

Politics is an expression of a hierarchical mindset. Some form of hierarchy, much to the chagrin of idealists, is always going to exist in society. Just look at the so-called Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle. It is supposed to be an egalitarian paradise where everyone is respected. Yet, there seems to be a warlord in charge.

Not exactly the kind of “egalitarian paradise'' I would want to live in, that's for sure. Politics can help humanity usher in an era of prosperity and individual liberty. Or poverty and human rights abuses. The choice is ours. Whether you like it or not, we are all politicians. It's just a matter of scale.

Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations aficionado. He is the author of a novel titled: ''Planetary Entrapment Syndrome.''