Why we are failing in our governance?
Firstly, we never fully understood what democracy is all about save for the casting of votes during election. Even in the exercise of our suffrage we are failing too. We see election as an opportunity to make money. This is a tell tale sign of our failure.
Secondly, aside from the conduct of free and fair elections, democratic governance is about the "Rule of Law", protection of human rights of all citizens and active participation of people in politics as well as in civic life [1].
Look around and how unfair the law is applied, goons and criminals freely roaming around; and the law enforcers having second thought apprehending them because the former are allegedly cuddled by our politicos. Look at how justice often favors the moneyed and the powerful.
Look at how politicos and bureaucrats steal from government coffers while flaunting their ill-gotten wealth through cars, vacation trips, mansions and estates and similar displays. As public service suffers, they get wealthier and powerful. While they enrich themselves, children die of preventable diseases, children growing up ignorant and unemployable, parents with no access to employment, families squalor in poverty.... Where is the protection of human rights of all citizens?
Thirdly, where are the people in political and civic life? Engagement in civic life is not for professional "civil society"; just as political engagement is not for professional policy makers. If we leave the shaping of public policy and governance to these professionals, we have just by our own doing, shut out ourselves from public life. There is a common misconception that the only way to participate is to run for election and become a politico; such is the outcome of long neglect on the importance of citizenship and civic education.
Fourthly, how well do we hold our leaders accountable to public trust? Are they not our public SERVANTS? When we are afraid of our public servants, we have only our collective selves to blame. We elected them in the first place!
Fifthly, if we can't work together to clean our neighborhood, how well do you think we can run a huge regional government?
Finally, while our political structure is based on democratic principles; our insight about governance is traditional, parochial and autocratic.
Source:[1] What is democracy - http://www.stanford.edu/~ldiamond/iraq/WhaIsDemocracy012004.htm
Muraqabah in my mind
Note: This is a Friday Tafkeer (تفكير - Reflection)
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I am liberal in outlook but not secular, like my hero Sheikh Ali Gomaa. Born and raise as a Muslim and staging my own 'jihad akbar' (positive self-struggle) to be at peace with my Creator, with my self, with other people and with other creations.
Life is not static. My life is like the stock market, sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes in the middle. Life was tough while growing up. While it is tougher now, I have the competence and capacity to do it on my own. So far so good. Pretty much lucky at times.
I'm a Muslim bloke trying to find the meaning of life in a global world and my place under the sun. As a modern-day Muslim, I find solace in many of the Friday khutabah (sermons) of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), a voice of moderation in this side of the world.
Muraqabah or God's consciousness is essentially what I try to achieve at the first instance. Hopefully will be able to move to a level where I can say to myself, I have learned the "knowledge of God" and before life expires, have entered the realm of Hubbullah (Love of God), which is the essence of Islam, the supreme end of human beings in this world according to Imam al-Ghazzali. Yeah, it is a tall order so is living. Without it, you can't really understand the point of overcoming daily challenges - what for? There must be meaning to life and the purpose of living. I'd like to bet on the Love of God.
How about you, what's your bet? Is it muraqabah?
Better world or better kids?
There is no blaming of parents wanting a better world for their children, who doesn't? Now having a kid myself I am beginning to understand the hardwork and determination of parents to make life better for their kids. However, coupled with this good thought for our kids is a lingering question - is it better world or better kids that we need? This is not a play of words. As we begin to embrace environmentalism in our daily lives we are awaken to the dire state of the earth, we begin to ponder on the fundamentals.
Initially, we embrace the idea of leaving a better world for our kids. A world where they can be safe, healthy and grow. At the current rate of environmental destruction and the slow pace of pro-earth actions, is better world possible. At this point, we need to remember that climate change and other environmental concerns are largely brought about and hasten by human destructive actions.
Which lead us to the second and more strategic idea, instead of leaving a better world, we leave behind better kids. Better kids in the sense of having a mindset that recognizes the fragility and finiteness of the natural world, whose daily actions is driven by a strong sense of stewardship and not of utilitarianism, and whose hearts are driven by an inclusive desire to leave the world better than they have inherited. We say too much about leaving a better world to our kids, but not about better kids to take care of this world that we forget what really matters - better world or better kids? I think, this is the challenge of the future for today.
A fellow nurse Tin Sangkula goes for both, "a better world and a better kid. Indeed we are in a struggle to preserve our mother nature for the next generation to be able to see and enjoy nature's bounty. What good will it bring if we have better kids and yet the place they live is like hell? Would this not eventually make them worse kid instead? On the other hand if we have a better world but our kids are not, who would take the effort and the courage to continue on making the world better? Hence, both are vital that need to be given full attention. Truly a challenge for everyone to consider!"
Initially, we embrace the idea of leaving a better world for our kids. A world where they can be safe, healthy and grow. At the current rate of environmental destruction and the slow pace of pro-earth actions, is better world possible. At this point, we need to remember that climate change and other environmental concerns are largely brought about and hasten by human destructive actions.
Which lead us to the second and more strategic idea, instead of leaving a better world, we leave behind better kids. Better kids in the sense of having a mindset that recognizes the fragility and finiteness of the natural world, whose daily actions is driven by a strong sense of stewardship and not of utilitarianism, and whose hearts are driven by an inclusive desire to leave the world better than they have inherited. We say too much about leaving a better world to our kids, but not about better kids to take care of this world that we forget what really matters - better world or better kids? I think, this is the challenge of the future for today.
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PCL Cotabato Chapter President Bruce Matabalao goes for Better kids." We can only do so much at this point and we will soon leave. Our kids will have more time and hopefully, greater concern and pro-active moves to save what's left of them in the environment."
A fellow nurse Tin Sangkula goes for both, "a better world and a better kid. Indeed we are in a struggle to preserve our mother nature for the next generation to be able to see and enjoy nature's bounty. What good will it bring if we have better kids and yet the place they live is like hell? Would this not eventually make them worse kid instead? On the other hand if we have a better world but our kids are not, who would take the effort and the courage to continue on making the world better? Hence, both are vital that need to be given full attention. Truly a challenge for everyone to consider!"
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