“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the season of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…….”
– Charles Dickens, ‘A Tale of Two Cities.’
Summing up a year as eventful as Two-Thousand and Eleven can be one hell of a task, even for the best of writers. Indeed reflecting on the year in the different spheres of life brings flashes that are almost unfeasible to pen. A better option at this point of the year would be to view my personal shortfalls and rare victories and secretly make resolutions for the new year – secret due to the almost certainty of not living up them coupled with the shame that I publicly made them!
However, after much thought, I decided as an option to reflect on the long year by coming up with wishes for the New Year in effect peering into some highlighted failures of the year and coming up with ways of addressing these as a new year begins. The different areas highlighted both national and global are in my opinion flashpoints for the year widely regarded in the media and blogosphere as the year of discontent. So outstanding was the discontent that the Time Magazine at its least creative named ‘The Protestor’ as the Person of the Year.
The Protestor
It is almost a guarantee that there will be a spillage of the discontent that characterized Two-Thousand and Eleven into Two-Thousand and Twelve. Indeed, the Egyptian cause, the sad state of the ongoing Syrian protests and other likely ones like the likely class protests in South Africa are definitely going to make news. The international community ought to have chosen better ways of addressing the situations something that they chose not to. The international politicization of human rights has sadly defined the reaction or a lack of it to the different protests. My New Year’s wish is that concerted efforts are aimed at averting a loss of innocent lives in the process of showing discontent.
Natural Calamities
The year witnessed natural calamities that led to the deaths of many. From Japan to most recently the Philippines and hunger in the horn of Africa in between, it has been sad to see human lives lost and livelihoods washed away. My New Year’s wish is that victims will be assisted to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.
World Economy
The chaotic and erratic state of the world economy, the predicted European economic meltdown and lack of or very few ideas to obviate such is a great concern. My New Year’s wish is that the economic geniuses in their sparks of brilliance will come up with long lasting ideas for dealing with the situation. The need for investors to move from a state of fear and caution towards optimism is very important.
The Obama Administration – Gay Policy
As an advocate for human rights and social justice I am a firm believer in the importance of employing proper strategy and foresight in advocating for human rights protection. The Obama policy on withdrawing funding from countries perceived as insensitive towards gay rights is in my opinion a clear lack of strategy and an overtly desperate move towards acquiring the influential gay vote in the upcoming US presidential Elections. Gay persons in Africa have suffered greatly from the scourge of HIV Aids. The funding for HIV Aids greatly largely by the Bush Administration was a great relief for everyone living with HIV Aids including Gay people in those countries. I am totally against legislation targeting and violating the rights of any persons or group of persons in society. I am however equally appalled by a lack of strategy in dealing with human rights issues that runs the risk of exposing more persons in society to even greater violations. My New Year’s wish is that the most vulnerable members of society will have their human rights individually and collectively protected devoid of politics national or international.
Racism and Intolerance
Great intolerance has been witnessed this year. Sectarian violence in Nigeria, Iraq and Egypt has caused untold suffering. Racism in football was a sad highlight in sports (Re Liverpool FC’s Luis Suarez). The UK which is currently ranked as having the fastest growing rate of inter-racial unions has on a sad note witnessed pockets of racism. The recent killing of a young Indian in Manchester, shot at pointblank range, now treated as a hate crime by police is clear testimony of the need to work to work towards a more tolerant society. My New Year’s wish is that Europe will lead from the front in the fight against racism and intolerance.
Ongoing Wars and Turmoil
Closer home, the ongoing turmoil in both the horn of Africa and the Congo is sad indicator of where Africa is headed. The number of deaths in the Congo in the recently concluded presidential elections and the brutality cannot be explained in such modern times. The continuous and indefatigable fuelling of the conflicts in the resource rich Congo especially by the west is poignant. The hunger and war in the horn of Africa requires more attention than is currently being given. I do not support war the use of weapons to bring peace but highly appreciate the Kenyan Soldiers who will begin the New Year at the battle front against the obstinate and trigger happy rug-tug Alshabaab. My New Year’s wish is that the African Union, known for idiotically rallying in defense of dictators will change tact and show a bit of sensitivity for Africans suffering continuously from food insecurity and turmoil.
KCPE and the Kisii “Nyakemincha” school…
A lot has been said about the recently released primary school examination results. Jubilation and triumph for the winners, lots of shame and for those who ‘failed’. What is depressing is the reaction in the social media about the students who failed exams or were caught cheating coming up with acronyms for Kisii etc. A society is hardly gauged by continuous successes but more importantly the resilience with which the few in society react to failure. My New Year’s wish is that, as the discourse on a revamping of the education system shifts gear, an emphasis is laid on educational prowess as an aspect of but not the sole and ultimate means of gauging success. The need for a system that ensures rewards for those that work hard but at the same time encourages and creates avenues to ensure that the weak and so-called failures pick up the pieces and move on ought to be highlighted.
The Isiolo woman and Security concerns
The Constitution of Kenya provides for the protection of security of both person and property. It further provides for affirmative action for marginalized persons, including the lack of government efforts in guaranteeing protection, and giving special attention to the security concerns of vulnerable communities. The crying woman I saw on TV reacting to the recent spate of insecurity and resultant loss of lives in Isiolo is a clear indication of the need for government to beef up security in this area. Gandhi said government can only been seen as worth its salt if it protects it’s most vulnerable. In the traditional African society, the moment you saw an old famished woman crying her heart out, it was a clear reflection of the helplessness of that society. My New Year’s wish is that government will not politicize the issue but genuinely address the security issues of the residents of Isiolo.
Kenyan Parliament
Parliament has fallen behind in its role as being the most important institution for guaranteeing full implementation of the constitution. Continuous wrangling and sideshows have threatened to derail the implementation process throughout the year. Kudos to the Speaker and the few sober minds that have selflessly fought to ensure that implementation is on track. My New Year’s wish is that the number of such individuals in parliament will increase to ensure full implementation even as we enter year two of the five year constitution implementation period.
The Politician
As we officially enter the election year, there is always a tendency to politicize the protection of human rights especially social and economic rights. Politicians employ the carrot-and-stick approach to guarantee reelection. Hurried construction of social amenities, haphazard awarding of education scholarships and ‘harambees’, are likely to become the norm. My New Year’s wish, as much as politics in its characteristic self has to be played out, is that there will be a taint of compassion and level headedness in addressing social and economic rights issues that greatly affect the Kenyan society. The courts should also be vigilant to keep in check politicians hell-bent at propagating unproductive and outrighttly destructive politics.
Sports
On a positive note, our sports persons have always done us proud flying the Kenyan flag high wherever they go. Am always amazed at how popular Kenyan athletes are in Europe, the US and Asia. Two-Thousand and Twelve is the Year of the London Olympics – the highlight of any athlete’s career. My New Year’s wish is that at the close of this great event and spectacle, Kenyans will in unanimity be doing the famous “Kemboi Dance”!
Have a Great 2012 friends, my New Year’s wish to you all is good health…
Comments
Post a Comment