Most of the political problems we face today are due to the fact that old men don’t want to retire. Because old men don’t want to give up power and sit at home, we continue to be spectators to firsthand embarrassment of these old men on both local and international television.
We as a country have had rulers over the years who have developed statewide policies based on whims and wishes instead of research. Such ignorance to empirical evidence was on full display by someone journalist Mehdi Hasan interviewed the other day. Not only was it embarrassing to watch, I thought I was being personally questioned. The guest was not only answering based on personal whims and lack of knowledge, but was doing so with full confidence and gallantry.
Even Mehdi Hasan seemed to be smiling and pondering in disbelief.
My guess is, he was probably baffled and unpleasantly surprised as to the levels of ignorance and preposterousness he was witnessing from someone holding a very important political position.
This had me worried and thinking. Worried, you know why. Thinking, because I seemed to be asking myself as to why the ones in power would want to remain in power so desperately that they wouldn’t mind making an old man look vile on international media. What is it about power that we’re so scared of losing it?
Wasn’t intoxication prohibited in certain religions?
We keep hearing alcohol is prohibited in certain religions because it is an intoxicant; but isn’t power also an intoxicant at this point, withdrawal of which seems to be more potent than a glass of wine?
Why are the ones in power so intoxicated with power that they don’t want to lose it at any cost. Even if it means making one’s nation look like a laughing stock before the world?
Why is it that the quarters which hold power want to continue ruining their nation only so that a few families at the top can enjoy living life to the fullest while others dwell in poverty, sickness, illiteracy and disdain?
Isn’t this the intoxication that God prohibited and not some harmless grapes?
Children around the world grow up with goals. Some aim to become doctors, some lawyers, some engineers and some researchers. Once they have a goal set, their family provides them with the financial and emotional support to help them achieve those goals while the state provides them with the facilities and infrastructure to realise those goals.
Whereas on the other hand, there are some countries in the world where children grow up with one goal only. To leave their country as soon as possible.
Until they achieve that goal, they do not rest. Which country is which, I am not informed enough to form an opinion on that but hey, you’re reading the morning paper, you tell me.
Last month, I was roaming the halls of the Library of Congress in Washington DC when I came across a quotation on the wall. It said ‘reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man’. It had me thinking, and too much thinking isn’t good for you either, do we as a nation believe in reading? Do we believe in debating humanely? Can we even imagine writing freely without the fear of censorship? All these things are pivotal towards nurturing opinionated and informed citizens.
Your ideas, your views, your opinions and your vision make you who you are. They can take everything away from you but to silence your thoughts, all they need to do is take your books away. And that is exactly what they’re doing.
So, in order to not embarrass yourself in front of millions of people, please make sure you tell the truth, even if it costs you your job. A man is nothing without his principles. Do not bow down to tyranny.
