Patriots are usually great optimists. Their belief in their country going ultimately into the embrace of a glorious destiny is often rock-like. But they can also be cynical. One such patriot I happen to know. I can’t disclose his identity for the simple reason that he is a serving senior bureaucrat. Some time back, during a discussion on democracy, he came up with a stunning set of questions that would leave most flag-bearers and beneficiaries of our political system speechless.”In democracy all contenders for power are supposed to believe fiercely in people being their true constituency.
This belief may be supported by, or made conditional to the fundamental Muslim conviction that the final authority lies with Allah. Why then our leaders consider the U.S. Government their true constituency? Why do they remain engaged in an endless struggle to improve their approval ratings in the State Department?
Will a moment ever come when the State Department will not be choosing our government?”I had no convincing answers. But I did assemble a logical reply.”What is required in a democratic system is a constituency. It may be people; or Allah, or America. Luckily we don’t have a fourth constituency.””We do have a fourth constituency.” He was quick to say “Our army.” “Surely we have,” I argued. “But the army is raised from the people.””Raised from the people to rule them you mean,” he said cynically. I was speechless.
(First publish on
-01-04-2007)
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