Why are we so afraid to speak up?
Author : Zarir Karbhari – Excerpts from Blasts from the Past
Recently an elderly gentleman asked me “Why don’t you speak up when you see certain government officials or politicians who are supposed to serve this land and its people behave obnoxiously ? Why do you as a citizen allow them to be openly corrupt and break the rules of this land ? Why are you so afraid to speak up and bring these disgusting people to book ?
Well, to tell you the truth I don’t speak out openly about it as “I AM SCARED !!” . I rather mind my own business, don’t really say anything about it since it does not concern me and go home in the evening to the security of my middle class home & family… & even if it does concern me , I rather placate these politicians / government officials than antagonize them … I have a wife & child that I want to go back to. I don’t want my secure middle class life ripped apart.
Can these certain obnoxious government officials or politicians really mess you up if you chose to antagonize or question them ?? OF COURSE THEY CAN & THEY DO !
The government official / politicians are always in league with one another. They could for example frame / concoct charges against you for evasion of tax…. Sure in the end you will be proved innocent but you might have gone & spent your life saving, your time, ruined your business and family life running to court everyday to prove your innocence. They could do this with any department of the government .. the corrupt politician / government official has a long reach in all aspects of land, revenue, tax & legal .. there are people like them in all our departments.
We must also not forget their sycophant followers / chamchas that will take it as their honourable duty to make you pay for antagonizing their beloved politician / government official as their livelihood depends on the degree to which they will stoop to serve their masters. Pay back could be in the form of mental & physical harassment perhaps even getting beaten up and being sent to hospital.
So tell me shouldn’t we be scared ? Wouldn’t we rather want to just mind our own business , do our work and in the evening go back to our secure homes & families ?
Pathetic perhaps ! .. realistic DEFINITELY !!