Aug 31 2007
Roads’ Politics
Self praise gathers no moss but even then I am a law abiding citizen of Pakistan and behaved the same way during my stay at
USA while attending Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute 2007. Undoubtedly USA has made tremendous success in all the spheres of life and presently considered as the single super power because of its multi dimensional success approaches but in my opinion it is the civic sense on the roads that has contributed a lot to the over all success of USA in the world community especially when it is compared with the third world countries.
I believe most of the energies of the people of developing countries are spent on getting themselves normal on the road while experiencing political processions and gatherings on the roads. In hot and humid weather conditions it is really awesome to keep calm and patient to wait the green signal of the policeman to go ahead. He himself seems tense and disturbed but being public servant can not vomit out actual feelings. I hardly found this sort of situation in the
USA which definitely saves energy of people that could be spent on constructive works, research and development, economy etc., ultimately contributing a lot to the overall progress of the nation. I did not see any crowd on the roads, no politician was making fiery speech on the road, nobody was protesting on the road at the cost of country’s economy, or somebody’s health and patience. If it happened, it happened on one side of the road affecting the traffic least. These may be considered indicators of progress or at least smooth functioning of affairs in a society. But on the other hand third world countries have not got themselves free from ‘Road Politics Syndrome’ which, I believe, does not allow people to concentrate completely on all the progressive aspects of the country. I have seen people tense while facing such politics on the roads in my country, waiting to go to their offices, business, work places, homes, etc., with the hope that one day roads shall be declared forbidden places to promote politics. But despite all this I would love to agree with the people who are involved in such activities because of the scarcity of places where they could get the people listen their speeches full of future promises. On the other hand a rational person can say: “Well! Gardens, hotels, restaurants, or some serene places can be chosen to make promises”. My answer to the rational is: A lover can make lots of promises at such places to the sweet heart but at least not a politician because he is to pay a lot for such places”. So, it’s best to do politics on the roads which are supposed to be maintained and looked after by the ruling government; make hey while the sun shine. If this remains aptitude of my fellow friends of the third world then may I dare say at least in the current century our train won’t be able to take us to the second or first world.
