Friday, September 4, 2009

To err is human, to forgive...well, I don't think that's a word found in a lot of people's dictionaries...

Perhaps it is due to my current disposition towards the pessimistic side of things, but I do not think there will be a good resolution of cowgate. Rather, judging from the reactions and the statements issued by the various actors from both sides of the socio-political divide (inclusive of politicians and leaders of civil society organizations or otherwise), there can only be one conclusion - we are edging closer and closer to what we had hoped would never happen again 40 years onwards.

There do not seem to be any rational minds among our politicians to lead us out of this mess in a graceful manner. Everyone is thinking about how to gain the most political capital from this 'crisis'. Both sides are clearly guilty of this. No one realizes that such political capital is of no use once it all goes to shit.

Grassroot organizations have taken the proverbial bait in reacting to the situation in a manner which, if based on Yasmin Ahmad's measure of what is good, is not at all borne out of love or compassion. Last I checked, holding a candle-light vigil requires that people 'light a flame' when there is one already burning.

No one is reaching out. No one is actually communicating to each other. There is a clear delineation between the voices coming out from either side. The current reporting of what 'he-says-she-says', usually written up in separate articles as well, has merely helped to consolidate this perception of division.

The combined formula of 'rational' politics and 'independent' journalism is a pretty damned good recipe for disaster.

God help us.

No comments: