The Order of the Day
“Class, as you can see on the board, the topic of discussion is ‘Politics and The Media’. Before going into the field of lecturing, I have been a political commentator for many national dailies in the country. I have worked as a political correspondent for National Television Network, Bahamas and many TV stations in Cayman Islands. I have also worked as part of the advisory team for President James Jackson.
In all my years of politicking in and out of the class room, I have realized the ‘symbiotic’ relationship between politics and media. The former has to do with the organization of workable ideas geared towards the continued peaceful co-existence of all ‘fragments’ of a nation while the latter acts as the mouth piece through which ideas are being disseminated in the form of information through stories for the understanding of the viewer and by extension, the general public. Without politics, the media would be an empty mouth piece and without the media, there will be no significant ways to communicate information to the masses.
With that being said, I would like to know if any one of you have questions or comments pertaining to what I’ve just said or the topic in question” Prof. Taylor Bent lecturing final students of politics, The University Of Nassau, The Bahamas.
There seem to be conviction in the faces of the twelve-member class. But Carlos Alberto, popularly called ‘The Conspiracy Theorist’ by friends and colleagues was displeased at his explanation. He expressed is dissatisfaction by lifting up his right hand for attention. Prof. Taylor allowed him to make his comments. When Carlos saw the opportunity, he decided to speak out: “With all due respect, sir, I would like to point out at some certain flaws in your statements you made. First, you mention that politics is a system of working out workable ideologies towards the common interest of the masses while the media serves as the mouth piece through which politics speaks itself to the public. I beg to disagree! First, politics, from the get-go, has never been orchestrated for the benefit of the masses. Rather, through the media, it has been used to deceive all and sundry of what is really happening. It’s quite unfortunate that a lot of events that have plagued the world have been engineered hierarchically to put the people in perpetual fear and constant need for security. The Political Elites all over the world, though few in number, have gained control of well over a billion population through mass mind control schemes using the media as a tool or what you referred to as ‘mouth piece’. They cause the problems you and I are facing, wants us to react, based on how they’ve programmed us through the education system, thanks to the instrumentality of whom I call, I’m sorry to say this, ‘the knowledge prisoners’ and expect us to call on them to proffer solutions to the problems they’ve caused. To me, sir, this is really worrisome!”Are you done with your vague complaints?” Prof. Taylor asked, shaking his head. “I see you’ve been bombarded with a whole lot of synthetic and pseudo facts from books that hold no waters. I and the rest of the school have gotten to know about your activities in school. You’ve successfully indoctrinated a number of students in this university into your weird way of thinking. Very soon, I’ll make sure I send you back to your native Bolivia where you can make a mess of your silly political ideologies. Let me tell you now; the school authority have been planning to suspend you, provided you come back to your senses-let the school system pass through you and you pass through the school system. Left to me, I’d have suggested that we rusticate you because like a bad egg, you’ll end up making the good ones bad! But the magnanimity of the management has given you a chance to show yourself worthy, both in learning and character!”
“To be frank, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to leave this school. I’m tired of this never-working learning or what we call ‘acquiring of knowledge’ we’re engaging ourselves in. But the good thing is that I’ve gotten what I wanted-it’s time I build on what I’ve started. It’s a world of illusion we live in!”
As Carlos was about taking his seat, a harsh voice coming from Prof. Taylor hit his hearing, saying: “Please, leave my class now!”When Carlos heard it, he smiled, without being remorseful: “Sir, I’ll surprise everyone in the school! Even if I get sent away from this school, my indelible marks will be remembered for years to come. My deepest regret and discouragement was to be shortlisted amongst the students in Bolivia to be granted scholarship to study in this university. Nonetheless, I have learnt that discouragement is a part of success, no matter what and regret can only be fine-tuned into greatness. I have left a better mark than you in this institution! As you can see, I’m about leaving your class but mark my words; I’LL SURPRISE EVERYONE IN THIS SCHOOL.
Carlos left the class. Others were moved by his thoughts but Prof. Taylor acted otherwise. Instead, he called their attention: “Class, Carlos is suffering from multiple psychological disorders. He needs help! Please, don’t be like him if you want to move ahead in this world! Joining them, I mean the world system, is far more a better option than beating them!” When Prof. Taylor saw that they lost the appetite to eat what were being dished out from his mouth, he left the class suddenly. It was a sad day for him!
A week later, Carlos and his men posted on the school’s press and notice board articles collectively called The True Politics of Our Time. Students all over the school gathered at the various lecture auditoriums, theaters and hostels to read the notice and press boards where they were all posted. They read as follows:
“We live in a world where we are given freedom of expression. In this wise, I want to use this human right to express my views, to a large extent unbiased, of the politics of the world, using this great institute of higher learning as a starter. The following articles are written by the Conspiracy Group of Theorists under the leadership of Carlos Alberto and friends. We want to expose ‘the order of the day’ politics of today’s world. I hope I won’t be caught for inciting you all. Please, get back to us if you need clarifications, for further questions and inquiries.”
The Government and People; The eater and Cutleries concept
More often than not, people, all around the world complain bitterly and assert the importance of their relevance to the state. However, if we are to critically look into the questions: 'who is the government?' and 'who are the people?', it can be said that the dynamics into the crucial nature of the asked questions are profound. Why?
Quite a number of individuals are of the view a government is an organized socio-political and economic body, consisting of people-elected persons, on-seat political representatives or to-the-throne monarchs and the general masses of a particular geographic entity. On the other hand, the people are seen as the masses that possess rights and obligations to their nations of citizenry. On the contrary, are these definitions potent enough to describe the government and people?
Believe it or not, the government, from the era of the supreme and great Babylonian empire to our present disposition, has been, is and will always be ahead of the people. How and why?
Consider this instance: You had in mind to go to a restaurant nearby, knowing the kind of food delicacy or combination to select from in the waiter's menu, expenses to be incurred and the kind of cutleries to be used. Of course, you had gotten a picture of what to do at the restaurant based on the plans you have. The cutleries have no idea of being used to get started the eating process. Should there be inconveniences observed when using the cutleries, it would be reasonable of you to request that the waiter provide you another replacement.
This analogy explains the edge of the government has over the people. By analysis, the individual, that is, you, having in mind to go to a nearby restaurant to eat can be construed as the brain work (intent) of the government to orchestrate certain agendas-political, economical, social and so on to be executed or passed into law. 'Knowing the kind of food delicacy or combination to select from...' can be interpreted as government-set array of targets or goals that can be attained within the bounds of its sovereignty. The 'cutleries' refer to the people. The 'picture' pinpoints at the visualization of how realizable set government strategies are (analogous to and people?
Believe it or not, the government, from the era of the supreme and great Babylonian empire to our present disposition, has been, is and will always be ahead of the people. How and why?
Consider this instance: You had in mind to go to a restaurant nearby, knowing the kind of food delicacy or combination to select from in the waiter's menu, expenses to be incurred and the kind of cutleries to be used. Of course, you had gotten a picture of what to do at the restaurant based on the plans you have. The cutleries have no idea of being used to get started the eating process. Should there be inconveniences observed when using the cutleries, it would be reasonable of you to request that the waiter provide you another replacement.
This analogy explains the edge of the government has over the people. By analysis, the individual, that is, you, having in mind to go to a nearby restaurant to eat can be construed as the brain work (intent) of the government to orchestrate certain agendas-political, economical, social and so on to be executed or passed into law. 'Knowing the kind of food delicacy or combination to select from...' can be interpreted as government-set array of targets or goals that can be attained within the bounds of its sovereignty. The 'cutleries' refer to the people. The 'picture' pinpoints at the visualization of how realizable set government strategies are analogous to the individual having in mind to eat at the restaurant).
By implication, the cutleries, having no idea of being used to get started the eating process refers to the oblivion of the people towards the government's intended plans. Asking the waiter to replace the use of cutleries because of inconveniences observed means the government has the power to 'replace' certain people who obstruct or impede the actualization of its objectives. The government is also ware of the sacrifice to be made or price to be paid to realize its goals. Hence, the phrase, '... expenses to be incurred...' '... The kind of cutleries to be used' simply refers to a set or group of individuals that will not only pose problems to governmental decisions and plans but will carry out to the letter its orchestrations. The food delicacy or combination refers to certain activities, dues, and other interests that the people are to offer; tax payment, productivity, civic duties and other domestic and professional expenses.
In all, the government is ahead of its citizens (subjects), courtesy of information advantage (similar to having in mind to eat at the restaurant and subsequent actions toward realizing it without the knowing of the cutleries!). Information advantage is originally of its own laid-down standards and appreciation of the quality of information, possessed by exceptional people in a 'crowd' of masses by 'specially' setting them aside to join its train of dominance thereby toting to its reservoir of 'for-all-ages' quality information.
Because of that, La News became the people’s favorite and was voted by popular demand the best in Bolivia and third in South America. The publication secured Carlos Alberto the position of Adviser to the president on political matters in Bolivia. Interestingly, he recently appointed, Prof Taylor, now retired, to be the head his political magazine, Polis Pneuma de Seclorum in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, United States and Spain.