Potatoes to Make Cranberry Juice

During the time I was away from writing, I was in the process of trying to absorb as much about Bahrain as possible. It is still a work in progress. But this does not necessarily mean that I haven’t developed a few ideas or noticed a few misconceptions here and there. One of these misconceptions is the idea that democracy would bring us a better life; another misconception is that democracy would never bring us a better life. Interested yet? I sure hope you are by now.

The idea of democracy or political freedom in any shape or sense (including a constitutional monarchy) is a brilliant and noble ideal, except that it should always be after two important prerequisites before it can be achieved. First and most important prerequisite is the need to fill the people’s stomachs, not in the literal sense of course, but rather the idea to fill the people’s needs and achieve some economical advances for the benefit of the people, not just the few and selected capitalist fat boys. The second prerequisite is the idea to fill the people’s minds, again not to literally open up their heads and stuff them with confetti, but rather to fill them with knowledge and information. These two prerequisites in my opinion need to be there when you would like to eventually fill your heart with the ideas of freedom and liberty. Neither of which have happened in Bahrain before the introduction of the national charter and its reforms. This means that as the cliché goes, you have brought the cart in front of the horse. If you still don’t understand what I’m saying then just try and imagine and remember how many times we have seen in the news about a coup d’état or a civil war that would rage on for decades. This all is the product of forcing democracy before meeting its two prerequisites; which are again fill their bellies, and then fill their minds before filling their hearts.

Bahrainis look to their immediate neighbors with envy as to their superior standard of living, and this is true when we have basic salaries that go back to the eighties and nineties, and inflated basic goods that are most probably being monopolized by someone out there. I agree that Bahrain is such a small market, but look at Singapore and how a country roughly our size could have planted itself firmly in the global scene, and to think that we have had a head start on them as well. So basically, it is ever too late to try and take serious measures to raise the standard of living for your people and in that sense, give them enough tools and the means to further develop your economy and GDP.

We were once a country that has prided itself on the standard of education when compared to our neighbor’s Stone Age methods. Underline the word “once”, as in once upon a time. Our neighbors now host some of the most prestigious educational facilities and institutions in the world, and they don’t look like stopping at that anytime soon as well. Our own educational reform initiative is only 3 years of age, which is headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa the deputy prime minister. It is a very brave and hopeful idea but one that also needs more backing in the form of funds and cooperation from all sectors of Bahraini society for it to succeed. Remember that science and enlightenment was always a game changer when it comes to the rise and fall of civilizations. We should not lag behind in that department. Education also would be the stable land that freedom needs in order to grow up into a mighty tree of hope.

Look to our democratic practices now and you would hopefully understand my idea and what I am talking about. We are basically being ruled by people who have virtually no serious education and certainly no political knowhow. I am talking about our esteemed representatives in parliament, or their much worse colleagues in the upper house or the Shura Council. All of this takes place while the people of Bahrain are sitting there watching what is happening around them with open mouths or with little interest and trust in what is taking place. Why? Because they either struggle so much for their living that they have no time or interest in politics or that they have little education that would make them armed with the necessary tools to improve on their nation. What is sad though is that people who have become politicians have filled their pockets with bribes and gifts while the people stay suffering and confused with simple ideas such as politics. So remind me again how I can make cranberry juice out of potatoes!!