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“A PRINCE is also respected when he is either a true friend or a downright enemy, that to say, when, without any reservation, he declares himself in favour of one party against the other; which course will always be more advantageous than standing neutral; because if two of your powerful neighbours come to blows, they are of such a character that, if any one of them conquers, you have either to fear him or not” — from Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince.
Astonishingly, the great Machiavelli, villainous for some, was able to predict around 1532AD, the state of democracy in Pakistan today. If you think about it, it is all the more amazing considering that his masterpiece, The Prince, is only focused on providing guidance to dictators.
After the Panama verdict, this is the exact dilemma that every Pakistani is faced with today; polarisation at its extreme. And what scares the bejeebers out of me, is that 99 per cent of the 99pc are passionately and ferociously aligned with one side or the other. While it is understandable, considering the national literacy rate, that the majority of common Pakistanis are easily rustled towards fanatically supporting one, or the other, side of the picture, it is nevertheless rather disconcerting to see persons blessed with proper education mindlessly ranting in support of their respective political party.
Where are the motivated independent opinion makers? Is there no one?
Dear readers, in all this chaos, I have a simple question; whatever happened to the right and wrong of things?
Thinking rationally, anyone cannot be right all the time; except, unfortunately, those ‘anyone’ who can today fool all of us all the time. Utterly befuddling is that everyone cheers, celebrates and argues for their side on every issue. Reminiscent of president Bill Clinton’s impeachment, we have already witnessed multiple definitions and application of the word ‘corruption’, and perhaps the next project is about receivables.
I agree that the truth is relative, but how is it even possible that all sides can be right every time? It is but natural for everyone to be wrong some of the time! Albeit try pointing out to the ruling elite, in power or in opposition, that they are wrong on any issue; or even to their supporters. There seems to be a dearth of patience to handle even positive criticism. Things have come to a point where your selection of news channel can brand you as a friend or foe; there being no middle path. How is a democracy, which thrives on loyalty and shuns merit, different from an aristocracy?
And when I say democracy, I don’t single out those in power, I include the entire political compass. Realistically speaking, the rank and file of political parties unthinkingly towing the party line is perhaps not unwarranted. Additionally, considering that private media houses are in the business of profit and not national good, them being aligned to one side or the other is a given; which perhaps most of us fail to understand. Today, journalistic independence is a myth.
Literally, for some time now, I have not come across views which are middle of the path. Depending on which side you are on, everything is either good or bad, closed mindedly; how can the economy be stable and unstable at the same time? CPEC cannot be a game changer and be similar to the East India Company at the same time. Worse, debates are shunned and when they do happen, they resemble a non-physical version of kick boxing with serious potential to get physical. And rest assured everything is deeply personal.
But where are the independent thinkers, the motivated independent opinion makers? Is there no one? What happened to them? My answer to these questions, in one word, is fear. And there is sufficient evidence to support this view; getting beaten up, simply disappearing, getting FIRs registered against you, or at the very least being served income tax notices, is the fate that awaits anyone foolhardy enough to criticise the inhabitants on either side of the corridors of power.
For that very small minority, who have always been sceptical that democracy is a system to beat all systems, the epiphany that the only difference between democracy and dictatorship is hypocrisy, is a mixed blessing. While it feels good to be right, it feels worse to see where Pakistan stands today. Our enemies must surely be gleefully celebrating, we as a nation stand divided over trivial pursuits while increasingly surrounded by hostilities. Today, we as a nation, can agree on absolutely nothing. And unfortunately, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
You think, you ponder, and you pray for a way out of this mess for Pakistan, but meanwhile it is best to be sitting on the fence.
The writer is a chartered accountant based in Islamabad.
Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2017
