Poli what? err? aye? Politics? what the hell is that?

My grandad's friend Adambe told my dad today that he doesn't understand politics.

When my dad prompted him to explain what he meant, Adambe said, "Katheeb told me that having political parties would be a bad thing for the Maldives. And I believed him. Then he told me later, it is a good thing. So I believed him again. Then he told me a few months back, It is a good thing as long as I join DRP. Now I am confused."

Join the Club.

From a particular point of view, politics is confusing. What do we achieve by trying to convert Maldives into a multi-party democracy? Do we really think we are going to be better off? Better-off for who? For those who are desperately trying to join the political rat-race in the hope that they would eventually end up in the higher echelons of power? Or for those average Maldivian trying to improve his life? Fine, we have a multi-party system now. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is now trying to register a party (even if some claim that they have no desire to run for office but just to highlight the social ills of life. In that respect, I would assume that registering an NGO would have a better impact but then....)

But where does all this lead to? Don't get me wrong. I am all for a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Only I doubt there exists a single one in this world. Doesn't mean we can't be the pioneers in the Maldives!

For most of us (and here I am taking the liberty of speaking for the most of us) politicking have now reached a stage where we are not sure what it has achieved so far and where it is taking us. The MDP has done their shouting on the road. They have had their activists arrested. They have been able to draw cartoons of the President and print them in magazines. The international media has taken an interest even if lukewarm about the Maldives. The President has formed "the ruling party". Instead of asking people whether they supported Victory or New Radiant, people now ask whether they belong to MDP or DRP. The word "Golhaabo" has become a new part of our everyday vocabulary. People log into the net to check DO before they even have breakfast. People we never thought and heard of have suddenly become a big part of the "Sarukaaru".

WHAT ELSE?

For the Maldivian worried about how he is going to buy the school books for his kids, how he is going to pay for the medical treatment of his ailing mother, how he is going to find the money to rebuild his house so that his daughter will have a room when she gets married, worried whether his son would become the next drug addict, whether it would be his house that would get broken into next...I doubt whether he could see the light at the end of this political tunnel.

So if this is all what politics is about it is hardly suprising that Adambe is confused.

I am off for some coffee and some de-confusing time...

maybe do some "Golhaabo Faibaa" therapy on the way......