A thousand or so years ago, it was easy for dictatorship to work. A single man could rule a kingdom simply by instilling fear in its residents or keeping them in the dark. With transport not being modernized as it is today, it was even easier to completely cut all contact with the outside world and ensure that nothing got in his way. Freedom was easy to suppress.
How little things have changed over a thousand years.
Even when I was signing in I was ready to come on and just post a bitching about Musharraf, make a few jokes to get my point across and go to sleep. It was then that I realized I had a weapon that those a thousand years ago could only wish for. A power which all of us have nowadays and that can be used for the most littlest of things.
Its amazing how much power a blog can give us. Complete freedom of speech. And the internet ensures that anything can just travel around in a few seconds without us having to fear for our lives. For this entry I have a favour to ask of everyone, which I shall do shortly.
For those of you who don't know what's going on in Pakistan, I will give you a quick update.
It's been 60 years since Pakistan got its independence. 10 years before Malaysia. In that time, the leaders that have followed have used the country as their own playground. About 50% of Pakistan is illiterate, not because education is not present but because people's right to it has been suppressed. Because once you learn to think you realize the difference between right and wrong and learn to stand up for your beliefs. This would mean you would know the complete bullshit being blabbered by the different politicians and try to shut them up. Ofcourse they can't accept this as it would stop them from ruining the lives of millions of people, just to make a quick buck.
As each new leader came, he continued from where the last had left and manipulated the people in his own unique way. While other countries prospered, the best Pakistan could hope for is to not get any worse than it already was.
It's funny how much damage or repair a single man can do. As corruption prospered under Musharraf, the chances of him continuing his rule grew higher. All he needed to do was convince the Chief Justice to do him a slight favour. Surely he would be trying to make some cash on the side just as everyone else was.
Alas, how one man can change a country in a single day that has gone in the same direction for 60 years. The Chief Justice not only declined his offer but completely turned the legal system around. Suddenly lawyers or judges were not so intimidated to send a criminal to prison. They no longer feared the threats or want the "rewards".
So what happens when a politician is on the verge of receiving what he deserves? Easy. He declares a state of emergency and takes over by sheer power. He cuts of all forms of media and ensures that the people realize that freedom is nothing more than a myth.
And what about that one person who dares to stand up? That person who comes every half a century? He is dragged by his hair by a petty constable and thrown on the road outside his house.
But the match had been lit and it was too late to blow it out. The fire was on its way. Thousands of lawyers were on the streets. They had tasted freedom and they weren't going to give it up.
There is no guarantee that the leader to come after Musharraf will be any better but atleast the public will regain the right to choose their own leader no matter how corrupt he is. Atleast it can be said that there is corruption going on in the background rather than most politicians proudly accepting it and making it clear that whoever doesn't follow their ways will be punished accordingly.
My plea to you is simple. While the people of Pakistan might not have their freedom right now, we do. We have all the resources present to stand up for a country that might for once have a chance to grow under a proper legal system if not for that one dictator.
Almost everyone reading this have blogs. You might not realize the importance of this but if two people who read your blog that don't read mine, then thats two people more who can realize the extent of what is going on and appreciate what they have more.
I might not be as good at words as some of you. Maybe you can word it better than I have. Maybe you can inspire more people to stand up for what is right.
We can all blog everyday about how our day went but sometimes we have the resources to do something bigger than most of us are capable of. Its just if we are willing to take the chance or care enough to go for it. So please, typing a post that takes you 5 minutes to do so can be worth more than any protest that are taking all of a person's life.
Musharraf can only stand in power as long as people don't stand up to him. Yahoo has already stopped updating on what is going on. Once people outside the country stop caring, Musharraf's power will only continue to grow.
This isn't about being Pakistani, or Musharraf or even politics. This is about each person having the right to freedom. This is about you having the right to say whatever you want. Whether it is a thousand words in a blog or 2 lines in your MSN nickname.
PS: Gah this all sounded better in my head than it does on paper...uhh screen. Ahh well thats what you get for blogging on 5 hours of sleep.
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