THE successful defence of their 100m world titles by Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a solid testament to the indomitable nature and resilience of the human spirit. They have demonstrated, once again, what can be achieved against great odds when you have strong faith in your ability to achieve, and when your internal mechanism for greatness can tune out the voices of the naysayers.

Both athletes now dominate their events in the sport and are deservedly sitting at the apex of the athletics world. This is huge, and Jamaicans are understandably bubbling with pride. What is theirs, have become ours. I believe Shelly-Ann and Usain know this in the depths of their hearts.

These two athletes and our general athletics team have conducted themselves with dignity. They have been good ambassadors for Jamaica. In fact, they have been the best public relations that Jamaica can celebrate at this time; the bridge across the yawning chasm of mistrust, hostility, savagery, and horror that so often characterise our lives together. We may not yet appreciate how huge their achievements have been for Jamaica’s standing in the athletic world and beyond.

Nonetheless, however much we may want to lionise our athletes and their achievement, they are human, and as such subject to the frailties of human flesh. What Shelly-Ann and Usain have demonstrated is the extent to which such frailties do not have to be a disability in the path to great success. They are young people and the young today are easily distracted by the enticing indulgences that come at them every day. Not least of these is the fame in which they are forced to bask and the wealth that comes with their success. To fight off the negative forces that would want to overwhelm them cannot be something easy. Yet, they have held their heads high, trained hard with great diligence and discipline, and have brought glory to themselves and to their country. For this we stand proud.

But, just as our athletes cannot be the saviours of track and field, they cannot be the saviours of Jamaica. It rings hollow sometimes when our national leaders give praise and glory to our heroes, athletes, and artistes. Yes, they represent some of our better angels, but when they are lauded you get the distinct impression that their achievements are being exploited for political ends; as if their achievements are functions of a political directorate at a given time. Often their achievements are insulted by the negativism of our politics. There is no reciprocity that recognises that the country will be put on a path that truly honours the philosophy and ideals for which they strive: honesty, integrity, hard work, moral purpose, selflessness, the diminution of personal ambition to achieve a higher and more desired end.

Here, our young politicians could learn a great lesson from our athletes. Those who are being challenged for national offices and who reject or resist such challenges should be made to understand that part of the assumption of the democratic process is that personal ambitions often have to give way to a higher ideal. It is an ideal that does not always comport with what they desire. In not wanting to be challenged, they betray a selfishness that says no one else is capable. This they know to be a lie if their own performance in office is even superficially analysed.

The challenge to live up to the ideals for which our athletes strive becomes more palpable as we enter the election season. At this stage in the social and economic development of our country, there is the urgent need not to sacrifice hard-won successes on the altar of political expediency. The challenge is greatest for Dr Peter Phillips. One should really have said for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, but it is clear, even to the unborn, who is really keeping the macro-economic sanity of the country in place. Phillips will come against a tidal wave of demand to spend in order that the tribal beast is fed, but he should resist this with all the inner strength he can command. So far, he is sounding the right chords, but we will see. One only hopes he will command the personal strength of those of our athletes, who against great odds placed the country ahead of their own personal agendas.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest and social commentator. Send comments to the Observer or stead6655@aol.com.