The Capital Sin of Betrayal

IBREI
Mar 3
3 min read

*Article published in Diário de São Paulo on 05/26/2021

On this day, May 30, 590 years will have passed since the young Frenchwoman, Joan of Arc, now the Patron Saint of France, was burned in a public square, accused of heresy and witchcraft. Despite her young age, Joan of Arc played a crucial role in the Hundred Years’ War, securing significant victories for France. She was a product of her time, a turbulent period in French history following the death of King Charles IV, who left no heirs, resulting in a political impasse, territorial disputes, and ongoing wars.

Receiving divine messages, Joan, an illiterate young woman, gained an audience with King Charles VII, who believed her words and authorized her to lead part of the army in battle. It remains one of history’s great mysteries. She led troops into battles, achieved victories, and created a lasting legacy. Her successes led the English to believe she practiced witchcraft. After all, how could Divine Providence act against English interests?

The sad reality, however, is that Joan of Arc was betrayed and sold to the English, who, together with French ecclesiastical leaders, tried her as a heretic, witch, and demon-possessed, among other accusations. The king, the main beneficiary of Joan’s victories, did nothing to save her from the death sentence. And so, on that fateful May 30, 1431, Joan was burned at the stake under shouts of “witch,” “liar,” and “blasphemer.” Even in her final moments, the 19-year-old remained steadfast in her dedication to faith, France, and her principles—hallmarks of a true public servant.

Joan of Arc’s story is not the first tale of betrayal in politics. From Brutus stabbing Julius Caesar in Rome to Judas betraying Christ, treachery has been a constant throughout human history. Perhaps an eighth sin should be added to the list of the Seven Deadly Sins—greed, gluttony, envy, wrath, lust, sloth, and pride—and that sin is betrayal.

Increasingly, betrayal has become part of everyday life in countries, particularly in politics. In this sense, the greatest betrayal relates to electoral promises, where candidates offer voters an ocean of unrealistic possibilities, either due to inconsistency or bad faith. Once elected, instead of honoring the sacred promise of the vote, the politician sacrifices the voter according to their own convenience and gain. The result is a growing distrust in the political class, leaving the voter at the stake, their dreams, desires, and prospects destroyed. In such moments, citizens may feel that the only escape for their country is to “head to the airport.”

Betrayal is also a reason why politics struggles to attract talent. The possibility of seeing a reputation built over years of tireless dedication destroyed in a short time is a real concern. This is particularly painful when much of this destruction comes from so-called “friendly fire.” One of the harshest realities of public life is the expectation of betrayal: from the elected to the voter, from those in power to their appointees. Yet history shows that the names of traitors are rarely remembered; what remains is the legacy of those who devoted themselves to a cause and made it their life’s purpose.

For this reason, a political legacy must be built on solid fidelity to reputation. Those who neglect their reputation—even allowing for human imperfection—risk being labeled traitors. There is no greater betrayal than betraying one’s own principles and history. Are we betraying future generations by leaving behind an embarrassing legacy based on our electoral choices?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________