As someone in the business of writing and even as just another member of the eight billion-plus humanity one thing you’d have chosen is not to hear about the darkest side of life. You wouldn’t want to hear about individuals or communities suffering from one thing or another not because you’re a bad person at heart but just because you see no reason tormenting yourself with things you can do nothing about.
You either forget about those aspects of life about which you can do nothing, things which most of the time are humanly impossible to do. Call them ‘fate’ or any other name, in these instances what you see is what you get. So you either try to forget about if it is possible or else learn to live with it as you’ve no other options.
Now when we talk about such things we’re not talking about sci-fi stuff or anything about emulating the Rip Van Winkle fellow by sleeping a couple of years more. We’re talking about things which other people can do and you can’t; it’s as simple as that. “You can’t’ also means that you don’t want to have anything to do with such things which go against your life’s principles. Believe me even if quite a great number of us have thrown the concept of principles out the window there are many around who keep their principles to their hearts and stick with them.
One day you run into a person you know; know in the way having cups of coffee once in a while and nothing more. He isn’t the type of guy to whom you tell that the previous night your wife or partner angry over something got you with one half of a broken broom. If you think broken brooms are worth nothing just watch the village security people all over the place and you’d know what I mean. So you run into this guy and after the usual mundane and largely clichéd greetings he starts sharpshooting.
“You know last night I and my wife were discussing something and your name came up.” (Here comes another one of those souls thinking of dumping their private problems on your shoulders.)
“Oh, really!” Now you know the last persons who can raise your name in the privacy of their homes and during the evening hours at that, is this couple. Why, you realize the existence of the person only when you run into him at some place or another. “I must be a very lucky person.” Call that a sidekick dealt when the referee was looking the other way. He gives that very strange smile. I’m talking about that very strange smile which seems to shoot out nine hundred and ninety nine meanings not one of which you know. The person behind the smile could be saying about you something like, “What a wonderful person he is!” or “I though the last moron standing was my boss and we know this guy who makes my boss a very intelligent person!”
“You know, we’re not in very good condition and I wanted to talk with you. In fact it was my wife who first mentioned your name.” Come again! What’s going on here? You never even met the lady and don’t even know what she looks like and what happens? She mentions your name!
“Oh I’m very sad to hear that. What happened?”
“You know that she worked as a senior accountant.” No you didn’t! You don’t even know she is employed let alone in what profession. But this is one of those moments when an innocent lie would save the day.
“Yes, I know.” You only hope this doesn’t get its way into your heaven-bund CV!
“There was some sort of restructuring in their company. But I’m sure they used that excuse as a cover and they wanted to kick out people they don’t want and replace them with their relatives and friends.”
“That’s very sad.” And what does all this have to do with you?
“My wife is one of those who lost their jobs.” You start feeling the itches and pricks all over you. Things are going in one of those directions you hate. You only hope he doesn’t ask you “a very little loan” of twenty grand.
“I want your help.” Sorry! How in this godforsaken age could I help someone’s wife who is out of work for reasons I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. One help you can offer is maybe join the curse and name bashing of her bosses who gave her the marching orders.
“I’ve been told that you’re close to many high profile people in top positions. I want you to talk to them about my wife.” Sorry what was that! Me close to high profile people! In other harmless circumstances that would have been hilarious and you would have enjoyed a laugh or two. But not in such circumstances. You decide; “I’ve to stop it before things go any further.”
“Who told you such a story?”
“No one has to tell me. You’re a journalist and…”
Wait; wait a minute. Does he think just because you’re some guy in the media you’re close to what they call high profile people. The only ‘high profile’ person you ever knew was the executive secretary of some company manager and that is as high as you managed to go!
“Look I don’t want to disappoint you. But you’ve heard wrong. I don’t know any high profile people.” You’ve to make sure he’d bother you no more. “And even if I did know such people I can’t do what you’re asking me to do. Sorry!”
You just got one of your fiercest enemies.
The sad part is most people seldom understand your position in such circumstance. Maybe you might indeed be one member of that fast dawdling species of people who try to lead their lives according to their principles. Yes, in a world so out of touch with everything, concepts like ‘living by one’s principle’ might be taken as the end products of minds which have failed to keep up pace with the changing world, a world where greed and individual pursuits of riches and power have become the norm.
So, it would be a plus to realize that principles no more lead much of the world’s affairs. The motto is “What’s in it for Us/Me!” Even in the “Us” there is always “Me!”
The Ethiopian Herald April 16/2023