i have often wondered, although never formally, on what really are the problems we face in this illusion of a country. in thinking it through, i have come to the conclusion that they are admittedly varied and diverse, yet common threads run through the fabric of them all.
- the country has alot of money but high poverty and unemployment.
- the middle classes are finding it harder to survive, given inflation, other measures of living standards, crime and kidnapping, etc.
- enthuastic, qualified people with alot to contribute are turning to other countries, or5 to other induced realities via substances or gated environments.
- the infrastructure in antiquated and disintegrating (even as the climate becomes more extreme)
the list goes on....
in considering the causes of these problems, the themes converge further still to fuse into essentially 3 basic factors:
1. CRIME: in its many iterations across the spectrum of society. These include
a. drug (and human) trafficking, ammunition smuggling and money laundering;
b. corruption / dishonesty that is not limited to bribery, fraud, lies and deliberate misappropriation, but softer skills of spin, deceit, diversion of focus and discreditation of 'enemies';
c. aggression through murder in the worst ways, state sanctioned oppression and kidnapping, violence, to lesser forms of traffic offences and other forms of 'badjohnism';
d. theft in the forms of insider trading or larceny by the government and citizenry.
2. POVERTY: a socio-economic problem that is disaggregated to include:
a. social causes: persons who are contented to sit back and benefit from the efforts of others - directly through begging and 'hustles', or indirectly through the taxman in the forms of CEPEP, URP, and other social welfare programmes.
b. economic: persons who cannot afford and are trapped in a cycle of poverty. this does not only refer to individuals in society but also businesses who are unable to transcend the barriers imposed on fair trade by those in current control of the various sectors.
3. NEPOTISM (to ineptitude): looking favorably on persons or entities who belong to the same social circle or group - at the expense of proven or demonstrated competence. This is further broken down into:
a. race or ethnicity: for example the pro-black agenda that shapes policy
b. Class / physical traits: we look after our own
c. political affiliation: party favors for contributions and support received or expected.
How do we solve these problems?
first. clean up the government, the judiciary and the protective services. if we stamp out state and legislative injustices it gives us a platform to ensure strong democratic and social progress, without the risks of emerging dictatorial rule as history has shown. Thereis need for prevention, HARSH methods of correction, and utmost transparency (with periodic reports by independent auditors to the public)
second. eliminate corruption. special televised trials and death sentance to those engaging in corruption - since they are essentially undermining the national security and progress for their personal benefits. This would include government ministers, protective services (police, army and prisions) and judiciary, public servants (ministries, customs, immigration and licenceing) and medical professions (doctors who misdiagnose to earn extra money through private practices).
third. an anti-nepotism / equal opportunity / fair competition policy to apply to all sectors of the country - economy, education, healthcare, civic society. inparticualr are those trade associations who use the guise of standards to create barriers to entry in industries.
forth. zero tolerance on aggression / theft. the penal code is based on isolation (and pain) after conviction. this is insufficient. We are an image society, and would not compromise our individual identities. Embarras the offender. punish him in public so as to deter others. a big man being beaten in public would deter more criminals than his spending a year in jail.
fifth. apply state-sponsored welfare to the weakest of society - the aged, the handicapped and the children. others would have to work to maintain the lifestyle they choose.
Then comes the development agenda:
1. decentralise economic and administrative control of local government so that the regional cooperations can better serve the needs of the constituents in terms of provision and maintenance of infrastructure.
2. raise educational standards while making education (in its many forms - academic, social, vocational, defence, travel and cultural awareness) more accessible to all persons in society (youths and adults), so that all persons would have the opportunity to meet standards and transcend any barriers of economy, society or geography.
to get these to work would require
- legislative reform and parlimentary support
- more efficient allocation of resources (streamlining bureaucracy and government spending)
- mass information and communication - through a dedicated ministry etc.
- individual participation: routine voting on issues, and opportunities to volunteer / participate.
- land allocation policy and planning (for residential, industrial, corporate & administrative, agricultural, quarrying, other resources etc)
Land Administration
the country needs to be divided into zones. each zone needs an administrative centre for the zone (or region) that would include basic services and amenities to the citizenry:
- medical centre (diagnostic and primary care)
- [virtual?] library (literature, laws, history, government documents)
- internet cafe / job support services
- sporting facilities (stadium, recreational grounds)
- hall for social and cultural events
- primary / secondary / tertiary / vocational schools
- office for disaster preparedness
- cemetary
- police station
- court
- Justice of the peace / officers / legal aid
- government agency for licences; passports; certificates and registrations; wards; taxes; house provision; transport offices etc.
this is ongoing development and more would be added / distilled over time.
Sunday 19 April 2009
Sunday 30 September 2007
I HATE THE WORLD!!!
I hate the world and all within
Its full of shit and full of sin
All I want to do is fly
There’s no room in my life to cry.
I hate the world and all around
Everyone wears a tear and frown
They smile at you, but they don’t care
You’re different, so they watch in fear.
I love to look at the setting sun
After a hard day of having fun
You sit back and watch light go
See darkness come with its own special glow.
I love the world of loving dreams
Where nothing is as bad as it seems
When things don’t seem to be going your way
Simply open your eyes and awake you stay.
All in all, its pretty fuked
Some things you like and some have you shocked
What can u do but go with the flow.
Till your time is up, u learn whilst you grow.
P.S. some drugs won't take no for an answer...
Its full of shit and full of sin
All I want to do is fly
There’s no room in my life to cry.
I hate the world and all around
Everyone wears a tear and frown
They smile at you, but they don’t care
You’re different, so they watch in fear.
I love to look at the setting sun
After a hard day of having fun
You sit back and watch light go
See darkness come with its own special glow.
I love the world of loving dreams
Where nothing is as bad as it seems
When things don’t seem to be going your way
Simply open your eyes and awake you stay.
All in all, its pretty fuked
Some things you like and some have you shocked
What can u do but go with the flow.
Till your time is up, u learn whilst you grow.
P.S. some drugs won't take no for an answer...
The Happy Medium
From the earliest known presence of mankind in the plains of Ethiopia through the emergent civilisations of Africa, Eurasia and the Western Hemisphere, to this day, in fact, mankind has struggled to strike a balance between what is needed for survival and what would contribute to legacy. One has only to consider the diverse articulations of the Upanishads or Buddha with that of Machiavelli or Protagoras to appreciate the breadth of the spectrum of perception.
This quest for balance led to the emergence of value systems – ethical codes or guidelines for daily life – some of which we recognise as religions.
Whether we believe they were revealed through divine intervention, as is upheld in Islam and Catholicism, or rather championed by visionaries or opportunists, as is maintained in more secular schools of thought, the fact remains these systems emerged at different times and in different civilisations around the globe.
All the while, indeed, sometimes seemingly in parallel, mankind has marched on, dreaming of perfection and the evolution of superman, as was considered by Dewey, Shaw and Nietzsche. Some see the development process as linear progression, while others advocate cyclic tendencies and act accordingly.
And yet here we are today – a diverse and yet dominant species who (as identified by Sayed Ashraf) have been able to mirror the characteristics of our Creator in our understanding of ourselves, our interaction with our fellow man and even the physical environment.
Yet still, the deeper we delve the more we recognise the mastery and stunning precision of the workings of a Higher Being, as was acknowledged by Bertrand Russell and even more recent counterparts.
We run the risk, however, of undermining those very principles and beliefs we have fought so hard to define and preserve. As we move in this age from the rational to the empirical, we must strive to ensure that these values and beliefs are not only transmitted but internalised so as to foster discovery of intrinsic worth, individual speciality and thereby the unending possibility of intellectual, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
There is need for the recognition and celebration of demonstrated competence and awareness of values within a system based – not on freedom as initially conceptualised by Plato, or equality as articulated by Marx and Ingles, but of a system based on justice – the most delicate of balances between the individual and society. The happy medium as described in the Qur’an.
And was it not Rumi who said “the middle path is the way to wisdom”?
This quest for balance led to the emergence of value systems – ethical codes or guidelines for daily life – some of which we recognise as religions.
Whether we believe they were revealed through divine intervention, as is upheld in Islam and Catholicism, or rather championed by visionaries or opportunists, as is maintained in more secular schools of thought, the fact remains these systems emerged at different times and in different civilisations around the globe.
All the while, indeed, sometimes seemingly in parallel, mankind has marched on, dreaming of perfection and the evolution of superman, as was considered by Dewey, Shaw and Nietzsche. Some see the development process as linear progression, while others advocate cyclic tendencies and act accordingly.
And yet here we are today – a diverse and yet dominant species who (as identified by Sayed Ashraf) have been able to mirror the characteristics of our Creator in our understanding of ourselves, our interaction with our fellow man and even the physical environment.
Yet still, the deeper we delve the more we recognise the mastery and stunning precision of the workings of a Higher Being, as was acknowledged by Bertrand Russell and even more recent counterparts.
We run the risk, however, of undermining those very principles and beliefs we have fought so hard to define and preserve. As we move in this age from the rational to the empirical, we must strive to ensure that these values and beliefs are not only transmitted but internalised so as to foster discovery of intrinsic worth, individual speciality and thereby the unending possibility of intellectual, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
There is need for the recognition and celebration of demonstrated competence and awareness of values within a system based – not on freedom as initially conceptualised by Plato, or equality as articulated by Marx and Ingles, but of a system based on justice – the most delicate of balances between the individual and society. The happy medium as described in the Qur’an.
And was it not Rumi who said “the middle path is the way to wisdom”?
Friday 21 September 2007
Pursuing Individual Freedom for Collective Progress
(The following is a speech delivered to an educational institution on the occasion of Emancipation in the Caribbean - a celebration of the end of slavery. Presentations by departments featured Freedom Fighters from various continents)
We have chosen to focus on the freedom fighter – and that is admirable in its recognition of the contribution of individuals to the progression of humankind. It is also serendipitous that I am asked, having been associated with the Centre for Leadership, wherein we can appreciate the challenges in influencing the behaviour – and in many instances the will of people – to effect change.
We have heard from the various centres on the struggles of people throughout the world, and whilst it suggests that trouble; problems and challenges that we may wrestle with are common to persons on the other end of the earth, it also gives hope that in every instance there were persons with the fortitude, the drive to see things the way they should be and then go to whatever means to realise their visions – even if it costs them their lives – even, in fact, their knowing that they may never live to see the results.
But the challenges they faced are as diverse as their approaches to resolve. It is in recognition of this fact that I focus on the changes in the forms of domination over the ages of man.
Firstly there was physical control – accentuated by firstly strategies to conquer and later on developments in weaponry. But the downtrodden outnumbered the privileged, and the control was not sustainable. Then the domination evolved into political control, and took root. But the migration throughout the globe to some version of a democratic model – 1 individual:1 vote - meant that again the vastly outnumbered privileged class could not sustain their power and control.
They found infinitely more success in their economic mechanisms, and the lower classes of society were suddenly caught in conflict between castigating the opportunists and aspiring to their luxuries. The opposition has been and still is growing – but has been unable to date to effectively curb the advances made through economic penetration.
The single visionary hope of the non-aligned movement has faltered, and bi and multilateral trade has been dominated by the forces in power. Ironically, the economic mechanism on the macro level was and is still being fuelled by the economics at the micro level – individual greed and the thirst that perpetuates corruption.
Today, the mechanism of domination has emerged seemingly based on people’s aspirations to comfort – and is wielded under the banner of culture and social conformity. Today, we are barraged through the media with foreign values that appeal to the 'Id' in us all.
And this barrage has broadened in scope as it has delved in depth.
It has accompanied the media interfaces of the technological applications that have meshed into the very fabric of our lives – making us slaves to its lure. It has become distilled to almost the subconscious, leading us on to arrive at those very conclusions that would perpetuate our submission.
And how can we resist? When values and norms are in question, and the real becomes the ideal, the only avenue open to us is the power of the idea. The idea of a new ideal – one that would elevate and sustain the lives of the common man. The idea of a balance between our individual rights and responsibilities to our fellow human beings. The idea of being the pivot in the ever-changing struggle for equity and equality. Essentially, the idea of justice.
This is how we endure. We can be robbed of our liberty and our justice. We can be butchered outright or in slow, spiralling cycles. But we can never be deprived of our thoughts. Ideas. The singular infection that can override the shackles of restriction and the imposed ceilings of compliance.
The real power is the power to think. The power to choose. And action will follow. Naturally.
We have chosen to focus on the freedom fighter – and that is admirable in its recognition of the contribution of individuals to the progression of humankind. It is also serendipitous that I am asked, having been associated with the Centre for Leadership, wherein we can appreciate the challenges in influencing the behaviour – and in many instances the will of people – to effect change.
We have heard from the various centres on the struggles of people throughout the world, and whilst it suggests that trouble; problems and challenges that we may wrestle with are common to persons on the other end of the earth, it also gives hope that in every instance there were persons with the fortitude, the drive to see things the way they should be and then go to whatever means to realise their visions – even if it costs them their lives – even, in fact, their knowing that they may never live to see the results.
But the challenges they faced are as diverse as their approaches to resolve. It is in recognition of this fact that I focus on the changes in the forms of domination over the ages of man.
Firstly there was physical control – accentuated by firstly strategies to conquer and later on developments in weaponry. But the downtrodden outnumbered the privileged, and the control was not sustainable. Then the domination evolved into political control, and took root. But the migration throughout the globe to some version of a democratic model – 1 individual:1 vote - meant that again the vastly outnumbered privileged class could not sustain their power and control.
They found infinitely more success in their economic mechanisms, and the lower classes of society were suddenly caught in conflict between castigating the opportunists and aspiring to their luxuries. The opposition has been and still is growing – but has been unable to date to effectively curb the advances made through economic penetration.
The single visionary hope of the non-aligned movement has faltered, and bi and multilateral trade has been dominated by the forces in power. Ironically, the economic mechanism on the macro level was and is still being fuelled by the economics at the micro level – individual greed and the thirst that perpetuates corruption.
Today, the mechanism of domination has emerged seemingly based on people’s aspirations to comfort – and is wielded under the banner of culture and social conformity. Today, we are barraged through the media with foreign values that appeal to the 'Id' in us all.
And this barrage has broadened in scope as it has delved in depth.
It has accompanied the media interfaces of the technological applications that have meshed into the very fabric of our lives – making us slaves to its lure. It has become distilled to almost the subconscious, leading us on to arrive at those very conclusions that would perpetuate our submission.
And how can we resist? When values and norms are in question, and the real becomes the ideal, the only avenue open to us is the power of the idea. The idea of a new ideal – one that would elevate and sustain the lives of the common man. The idea of a balance between our individual rights and responsibilities to our fellow human beings. The idea of being the pivot in the ever-changing struggle for equity and equality. Essentially, the idea of justice.
This is how we endure. We can be robbed of our liberty and our justice. We can be butchered outright or in slow, spiralling cycles. But we can never be deprived of our thoughts. Ideas. The singular infection that can override the shackles of restriction and the imposed ceilings of compliance.
The real power is the power to think. The power to choose. And action will follow. Naturally.
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Be Yourself
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar WildeIt's quite possibly the most commonly used phrase in the history of advice: Be yourself. But it's such a vague adage. What do they really mean when they tell you to be yourself? And is it really as easy as it sounds?
Find yourself. You can't be yourself if you don't know, understand, and accept yourself first.
Stop caring about how people perceive you. The fact is, it really doesn't matter. It's impossible to be yourself when you're caught up in wondering "Do they think I'm funny? Does he think I'm fat? Does she think I'm stupid?" To be yourself, you've got to let go of these concerns and just let your behavior flow, with only your consideration of others as a filter—not their consideration of you.
Be honest and open. What have you got to hide? You're an imperfect, growing, learning human being. If you feel ashamed or insecure about any aspect of yourself—and you feel you have to hide those parts of you, whether physically or emotionally—then you have to come to terms with that and learn to convert your so-called flaws into individualistic quirks.
Relax. Stop worrying about the worst that could happen, especially in social situations. So what if you fall flat on your face? Or get spinach stuck in your teeth? Learn to laugh at yourself both when it happens and afterwards. Turn it into a funny story that you can share with others. It lets them know that you're not perfect and makes you feel more at ease, too.
Develop and express your individuality. Whether it's your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if your preferred way of doing something strays from the mainstream, then be proud of it.
Have a Productive Day. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and that some days, you're the statue. People might raise eyebrows and even make fun, but as long as you can shrug and say "Hey, that's just me" and leave it at that, people will ultimately respect you for it, and you'll respect yourself.
There's a difference between being yourself and being inappropriately unrestrained. You might have your opinions, dreams, and preferences, but that doesn't mean you have to disrespect others by forcing them to acknowledge your views.
If fads or trends strike your fancy, don't avoid them! Being yourself is all about reflecting who you are inside in what you do, and what you like is what you like, no matter how trendy it is (or not trendy, for that matter)!
As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn until you can say, I am what I am" - when you can sincerely say it, you will know that you can be yourself.
Just because you don't care about how people perceive you doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of it, especially in situations where being yourself might be misinterpreted. For example, you might enjoy being friendly and flirtatious, but in some cultures, that might be perceived as a sexual invitation, and you could get yourself in trouble.
Find yourself. You can't be yourself if you don't know, understand, and accept yourself first.
Stop caring about how people perceive you. The fact is, it really doesn't matter. It's impossible to be yourself when you're caught up in wondering "Do they think I'm funny? Does he think I'm fat? Does she think I'm stupid?" To be yourself, you've got to let go of these concerns and just let your behavior flow, with only your consideration of others as a filter—not their consideration of you.
Be honest and open. What have you got to hide? You're an imperfect, growing, learning human being. If you feel ashamed or insecure about any aspect of yourself—and you feel you have to hide those parts of you, whether physically or emotionally—then you have to come to terms with that and learn to convert your so-called flaws into individualistic quirks.
Relax. Stop worrying about the worst that could happen, especially in social situations. So what if you fall flat on your face? Or get spinach stuck in your teeth? Learn to laugh at yourself both when it happens and afterwards. Turn it into a funny story that you can share with others. It lets them know that you're not perfect and makes you feel more at ease, too.
Develop and express your individuality. Whether it's your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if your preferred way of doing something strays from the mainstream, then be proud of it.
Have a Productive Day. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and that some days, you're the statue. People might raise eyebrows and even make fun, but as long as you can shrug and say "Hey, that's just me" and leave it at that, people will ultimately respect you for it, and you'll respect yourself.
There's a difference between being yourself and being inappropriately unrestrained. You might have your opinions, dreams, and preferences, but that doesn't mean you have to disrespect others by forcing them to acknowledge your views.
If fads or trends strike your fancy, don't avoid them! Being yourself is all about reflecting who you are inside in what you do, and what you like is what you like, no matter how trendy it is (or not trendy, for that matter)!
As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn until you can say, I am what I am" - when you can sincerely say it, you will know that you can be yourself.
Just because you don't care about how people perceive you doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of it, especially in situations where being yourself might be misinterpreted. For example, you might enjoy being friendly and flirtatious, but in some cultures, that might be perceived as a sexual invitation, and you could get yourself in trouble.
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