Botswana's peacock democracy: where no one says 'NO'

One of the basic needs of a visitor to a strange culture is, after acquiring skills of entry such as greetings and self-introduction, to learn skills of stabilisation. One of the most basic skills of settling in properly is the ability to say 'NO'.  I discovered that as Director of In-country for the Peace Corps some 30 years ago.

So, the rituals of declaration of independence, writing of constitutions and design of national symbols such as flags, coats of arms and national anthems and the holding of elections are the rituals that serve to introduce the average citizen to the culture of democracy. The citizen is persuaded, usually through the constitution, but just as often through the propaganda of the state media under the control of the first ruling party, that he or she possesses the right to life, freedom of expression, association, movement, the right to vote and to work.