26 March 2008
"God named paradise after Mauritius"- Mark Twain. Well our paradise island is burning or going straight to oblivion if we follow the recent trend of events unfolding. On the 26th of March, the government has been personally responsible for the death of a schoolgirl. Am saying personally because if there was some real thinking thinking behind their acts, that is, if the properly analysed the situation and took the necessary measures on time that girl would still be alive.
I was overcome by a spit of rage whilst listening to the live broadcast on the radio. The reporters at Radio Plus, did a formidable job in covering the effects of nearly a week of rainfall. On the eve of this day, which should to my belief be declared a day of remembrance for the idiosyncratic beliefs and actions of our political leaders. The country has been pounded with torrential rain yet the minister of education did not think good of asking the kids to stay home. Yes, the politicians know better and one life was again cast in the name of building a better society.
Hold on a moment did we really become better by killing an innocent child who did just what we would expect of someone of her age? Yes, she died because she went to school, because she complied with the directives of those who know better, and had those same politicians who claim they are all knowledgeable, thought a bit about the possible consequences of the onset of torrential rain for over a week, she would still be alive. Because this country has entered a phase whereby politicians think they will stay in office no matter what happens. Bear in mind that such an attitude is condoned by the public who with their passivity, have given a loaded gun to a monkey and most often than not, we get shot in return for our stupidity.
Thinking back about the way minister Gokool reacted on live TV, that unapologetic face and a tone which only expresses a blown up ego, makes me sick. I wonder what he would think or the way he would have felt if that was his own kid but no, those sort of politicians are only in politics for their own betterment. Shame on them, and the images of one Japanese Prime Minister, presenting national excuses after a major blunder live on TV come to my mind. What is there more natural than an elected representative coming forward and asking for excuses from those who have rightly put him in office to oversee that such tragedies do not occur. No, that was not meant to happen, what the Mauritian electorate got in return was an unapologetic and stern minister giving the public a lecture about procedures.
Procedures, yes procedures, given that are doing their utmost best to turn this country into some sort of banana republic after 40 years of independence, one would ponder on what the normal procedure would have been in a banana republic. Better still what should have been the reaction of the population of such a country? Yet here it's all passivity and one's political colours are the same as one's declared support for a football team. Whatever happens I am with Manchester United through heaven or hell. But hold on, even though we should all show passion in everything we undertake in life, football clubs don't decide of our destiny as far as am aware, no clubs in this world has an iota of power to decide on the life of any citizens. But in paradise lose, fools have the chance of holding office with the unconditional support of the fellow countrymen who take politicians to be the incarnation of their numerous Gods.
This could have been so much worse, if only our politicians did have the ability to think and take proper decisions. What a wasted argument, we all know too well that in Paradise Lost, donkeys can get into office if they have the support of any political party. Next time it might be anyone, might be your kid so react for heaven's sake. One man is not enough to change things "sometimes all it takes for the world to change is an exceptional individual". We have seen some Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Phyllis Friends, all it takes sometimes is to have someone who is willing to stand up. But in a land where cowardice is a way of life, where passivity is the norm rather than the exception, will it be worth giving one's life to fight for those who would not even support the one who is willing to sacrifice himself for them? Actually, we never had to fight for anything, that might be the reason why...
