I read somewhere what an American satirist fade up with the Republican/ Democrat ‘clash of the titans’ sort of bickering proposed an alternative party… ‘The Party of the Confused!’ Confused, that’s what we are around here. Trivial, it might sound, but it still makes sense! We really know what ‘confused’ means because we are in the thick of it. So much so that many are finding it hard even to force themselves to be part of the whole thing.
There is this guy willing to talk about anything, except politics; an attitude he held to for several years. He’d tell you, “What they say is politics in this country is anything but politics.” So he kept his distance from such talk. These days however he is finding it rather hard to make people understand.
“What do you mean you don’t like talking about politics? Everything is about politics!”
There is also this other guy so disengaged from everything ‘political’ he doesn’t even know a single one of the so-called major players who are influencing things positively or negatively depending whose verdict it is. “Who is that guy?” he would ask you about some ‘politically active’ person who dominates the media with such vigor one would be pardoned for thinking the guy is the majority shareholder of every single media outlet! Extreme! It might be; but when tired of all the cat and mouse hide-and-seek turning your back on all of it becomes the decision of the wise.
Yes, ‘The Confused’ are all over the place; the political chatter is so nonsensical no one seems to be talking about day-to-day problems condemning us to sleepless nights. No politically active soul worth his salt is talking about ISSUES that have to do with everyday existence; so no wonder ‘The Confused’ are all over the place.
Look, treating the country as if it was some big Political 101 class with the avalanche of bookish ‘isms’ is no mark of brilliance. Ours is one place where one could talk ‘with confidence’ about things one barely knows and few, if any, eyebrows are raised. The funny part in this dull circumstances is that what most of them talk is so similar that you wonder,
“Are you telling me these guys are from different groups?”
“Yes sir: that’s what it is.”
“It is so stupid!” (Don’t let them hear you say that! You, sir, would be marked as ‘clear and present danger’ and would end up as social media fodder!’)
It just doesn’t add up. Why should there be so many different groups talking about the same things down to the adverbs and prepositions! No wonder ‘The Confused’ are all over the place!
When you are in the media business one thing you can’t run away from is rumors. So many rumors come your way separating the grain from the chaff puts to task every cell in your anatomy. And, you know what the most unfortunate thing is? Many people’s current affairs arsenal is populated with rumors, more rumors, and even more rumors. Sad to find some sections of the media in the epicenter of this quagmire.
It was one of those light moments where you’re supposed to be talking about nothing serious. A time to give your tense nerves a break with issues like sports. Even guys who hate football like it was prelude to Armageddon don’t mind if the talk is about the handshake that never happened between two English Premier League coaches. At least, so they must be reasoning, there is a touch of humanity there, I mean, even those who wonder why twenty-two young people should be chasing a single ball can’t help being drawn by the antics of Jose Mourinho! (And while we’re at it, about this Armageddon thing, seeing the nearly total mess this world seems to be in, many are talking about just that, “Five minutes to midnight,” they’ll tell you. Some do really believe that; others beef up their bank accounts for scaring the hell out of the innocent! Where does ‘sin’ start and where does it stop? Just curious. )
There is this joke of two air force pilots always talking about flying in the presence of their wives. Then one time one wife asks, “All you talk down here is about flying; what are you guys talking about up there?” The answer left no room for doubt; “About women!” That must be one of those things you talk about when you are not sure if you will make it home to the next dinner or any dinner after that!
So, ‘The Confused’ have a thousand and one questions about a hundred plus things, and not enough responses are forthcoming. They seek answers about the below-standard services they get from both public and private institutions; they need answers about the random lawless acts of people who seem to have concluded the law is too frail to come after them; they seek answers as to why there is so much verbal abuse on the media under the pretext of free speech, a concept that is being dragged through the dust face down; they need answers as to why anybody doesn’t seem to be doing anything worthy of mention about the ever-spiraling cost of living. ‘The Confused’ are bursting with questions; and the silence of those concerned is deafening! And they bombard us with ‘isms’ that are neither bread nor water!
“What do you think about the politics of this country?”
“What politics?”
Surprise! So much is happening and this smart guy thinks he can play hardball!
“The country is almost running out of breath with anxiety and expectations and that’s all you say!”
Yes, that’s all ‘The Confused’ have to say; not out of indifference as to what is happening, but due to the feeling of being left out in the cold and no one offering an even a piece of rag to tame the political chill.
Talking of politics, years back there was this incident in parliament. Some member says representatives of opposition groups should come up with alternatives ideas and not simply oppose everything. And one long-serving ‘opposition’ politician says, “We are not supposed to present alternative ideas. Our responsibility is to oppose!” Ha! That really played out in Arat Kilo! What a queer place, this Arat Kilo! If we were taken aback then, we’re outright confused now.
Just to end on a note of optimism let’s just hope things will get better. No reason why they won’t.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 14 February 2020
Ephrem Endale
Contributer
