Beyond Winning and Losing: The Nation Is Bigger Than Politics
By Dickson Tumuramye
Last
week, our country exercised one of the most important civic duties in a
democracy, the right to vote. The process concluded peacefully, the results were declared,
and the nation has moved forward. For parents, teachers, and stakeholders,
however, this moment goes far beyond ballots and results. It is a living
classroom. Elections may end in a day, but the lessons children draw from adult
behavior last a lifetime.
Learning
is not limited to classrooms alone. It is formed through observation,
conversation, and daily experience. In moments such as these, children and
young people learn not from what is written in textbooks, what they watch on television, or what they observe on social media, but from how we respond to national events, especially when emotions are high and opinions differ.
Much
of civic education happens outside formal classrooms. It takes place at home,
in hostels, in staff rooms, and on social media feeds. After elections, our children
listen carefully to how adults speak about leaders, institutions, and the
future of the country. They notice whether parents choose calm reflection or
inflammatory language, whether teachers emphasize unity or deepen divisions. These
informal lessons matter. They shape how young people understand authority,
disagreement, citizenship, and national belonging. When adults model restraint
and responsibility, children learn that democracy requires maturity, not chaos.
The
Nation Is Bigger Than Politics
One
foundational lesson everyone must learn is that a nation is bigger than any
political contest. Elections are competitive by nature; they produce winners
and losers. But citizenship does not change with election outcomes, and the
country shouldn’t be divided along political lines. When parents speak as
though the country belongs only to those who “won,” children internalize
exclusion and resentment. When adults affirm shared national identity beyond
politics, children learn cohesion and mutual respect.
We
must help young people understand that disagreement does not cancel belonging.
A healthy nation survives political competition because it is rooted in shared
values, institutions, and a commitment to coexistence.
Democracy
Is a Process, Not an Event
Voting
day is not the climax of democracy; it is one stage in a long process.
Democracy includes institutions, laws, courts, electoral bodies, and time.
Teaching children this broader understanding helps them appreciate patience and
procedural order.
Accepting
results declared by the constitutionally mandated authority is part of civic
maturity. It does not mean abandoning critical thinking or accountability.
Rather, it means respecting lawful processes while continuing to engage
constructively within them. This is a vital educational lesson in a society
governed by rules rather than impulses.
Helping
Children Process Post-Election Emotions
Elections
evoke strong emotions—joy, excitement, disappointment, anger, and anxiety.
These feelings are natural, especially among young people who are politically
aware and socially connected. Education should not suppress emotions, but it
must guide how they are expressed.
This
moment offers parents and educators an opportunity to teach emotional
intelligence. Children must learn that frustration does not justify violence,
insults, or destruction of property. Calm dialogue, reflection, and lawful
expression are signs of personal and civic growth. These skills are essential
not only for politics but for life, leadership, and relationships.
Guiding
Gen Z Toward Constructive Citizenship
GenZ
occupies a unique position in national life. They are informed, vocal,
digitally active, and passionate about change. Their passion is an asset, but
only when channelled constructively. This must help them understand that not
every moment of dissatisfaction requires protest, and not every disagreement
demands confrontation.
There
are times when young people feel there is “nothing they can change”
immediately. Let us teach our youths that meaningful change often takes time
and discipline. Violence, riots, and post-election unrest do not create
opportunities; they destroy them. They interrupt learning in schools,
destabilize communities, and place young lives at unnecessary risk. Young
people must be encouraged to redirect their energy toward education,
innovation, entrepreneurship, community service, and lawful civic engagement.
These are the paths through which nations are built and futures secured.
Calmness and peace are not signs of apathy; they are expressions of wisdom.
Cooperation
as a Civic Skill
Another
critical lesson after elections is cooperation. Cooperating with leaders who
have been chosen is not a weakness. It is a civic responsibility. The country must
move on, schools must function, development must continue, and national life
must move forward. Therefore, children need to understand that cooperation and
accountability are not opposites. One can respect leadership while still
advocating for improvement through peaceful and lawful means. This balanced
understanding prepares young people to be responsible citizens rather than
perpetual agitators.
Life
Must Continue After Elections
One
of the most reassuring lessons our children need after elections is continuity.
School timetables resume, businesses open, and families plan for the future.
When adults dramatize election outcomes, children absorb fear and instability.
When adults remain steady and forward-looking, children learn resilience and
confidence. Politics matters, but it must not eclipse learning, work, and
personal development. Life must go on, and education plays a central role in
restoring normalcy.
Peace
as an Educational Value
Peace
is not only a political aspiration; it is a personal value. Scripture reminds
us, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), and affirms the importance of
order in communal life (Romans 13:1). These principles reinforce the
educational goal of raising citizens who value harmony, responsibility, and the
common good.
Raising
Nation Builders, Not Political Casualties
The
ultimate task of post-election education is nation-building. Our children must
be taught that unity is a daily choice, not a slogan reserved for political
speeches. Elections will come and go, but character, peace, and commitment to
shared progress must endure.
What
we model now will shape the citizens of tomorrow. By choosing calm over chaos, togetherness
over conflict, and education over emotion, we raise a generation capable of
building a strong, peaceful, and united nation.
The
writer is the executive director of Hope Regeneration Africa, a parenting
coach, marriage counselor, and founder of the Men of Purpose Mentorship Program.
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