Intellectual freedom and responsibility to society – A Guinean Perspective (Part III) by Thierno M. Diallo

In this final part of our article, we shall attempt to wrap-up our discussion by bluntly spelling out the responsibility of the intellectual in a society. Faced with such daunting problems of despotism, nepotism, corruption and political monopoly, as intellectuals, we should have optimistic views – no matter what – to collectively mobilize ourselves to seek for solutions that will pave the way for social and political reforms. Most importantly, we should seek for solution that will enhance tolerance, good governance and accountability, ensuring our people to live amicably in peace and tranquillity. But let me hasten to stress here, peace could only be achieved if there is security and justice, and prosperity comes when and only when we are free of oppressions and injustices.

Guinea is neither a barren nor a poor country. In fact we are one of the luckiest nations in the world to be endowed with all the bounties of nature and human resources, especially, the most vital of all, and that is, people with ingenious talents, which I believe if properly managed (and fairly enough), none of us would be poor or become destitute as we are at the present moment. The greatest challenges of our future society are to fairly and efficiently manage these given resources and to harness the talents and the skills of every individual in a way that could benefit us all. Like leaders, as well as intellectuals, we must show warm humanity to our people, have sympathy for our human frailties and weaknesses, and we ought to be interested in everything that concerns our society. Finally, let us turn to the last but not the least point of this discussion, which is the responsibility of intellectuals in a society.

Frankly speaking, the result of freedom must depend on the values which the free individual seeks to pursue. So the conception of social justice must prevail if a free society is to be preserved. Thus the real task of the intellectual is to do all in his/her intellectual power or creativity to disseminate the appropriate moral conviction in order to preserve freedom and justice for all. Intellectuals, in general, should be aware of the fact that independent creative men and women have the freedom and the right to act as political sensors, therefore they should not shut themselves behind concrete walls (or ivory towers) claiming innocent and ignoring what is happening around them. They ought to know that participation in public life is an act of individual responsibility to society. Dante once said in one his epoch poem, The Devine Comedy (1321), that “the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality.” In a similar context, while addressing the UN in 1963, Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie, once said: “Through out history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voices of justice when it mattered most that made it possible for evil to triumph.”

Nevertheless, the final responsibility of the intellectual is to serve as a preacher at the gate, and no more. We must preserve our freedom by standing cautiously on the periphery of politics and to warn of what is happening, while we sit permanently on the boundary. The intellectual should seek to pave the way between the prophets of dooms who refused to dip even the tip of their toes into politics, and the technocrats who wallow in it with open delights. Intellectuals should be very cautious not to be enslaved by the political apparatus, or by the pattern of thought and behaviour of professional politicians. But, equally so, I do believe we should reject the option of preaching to others what we do not practice or without ourselves entering the fray. “History belongs to doers.” This brings us to our main conclusion.

Guineans today are living under the pretence of freedom, the very kind of freedom we detested from the French colonialist during our sought for independence. Nationalist leaders, like Sekou Toure, during the struggle for independence had declared that, after the departure of the colonialist, they would marshal democracy, good governance and all-round development which were no doubt pious declarations. But none of them even their successors did not live up to their promise. Nonetheless, I urge that every Guinean citizen to have optimistic views – no matter what – to rally ourselves to usher our path to development and prosperity. We should seek for solutions that will pave the way for social and political reforms that will enhance tolerance and unity amongst our citizens. Again, let me reiterate peace could only be achieved if there is security and justice, and prosperity comes when and only when we are free of oppressions.

Moreover, experience suggests that views and opinions held (put forward) by intellectuals could become the governing force of politics. The character and process by which these intellectuals’ views influence the politics of tomorrow is very important. As for freedom, any leader who stamped an X (or who gave deaf ears) on the freedom of intellectuals could becomes “a prisoner of hatred locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness” (Mandela 1994). And such a leader would not be freed unless he/she falls on their knees in respect to the MIGHTY PEN of the intellectual.

In conclusion, let me remind my compatriots that, we need government to preserve our freedom. It is an instrument through which we exercise our freedom, yet by concentrating power into a single political hand it becomes a threat to our freedom. Hence, never again shall we allow any of our future governments to monopolize its power. God bless la Guinée!

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