We grew up in this part of the world under what I euphemistically call “the Tyranny of Silence”. Children are told that speaking in the presence of their fathers is the height of rudeness. Asking questions is tantamount to rebellion; Questioning authority is outright blasphemy.
As the world turns its prying eyes on our existence, much needs to be explained in order for us to reach a common ground of understanding. Basically, we grew up being told what to do and what to believe and how to act and react. When one of us reaches maturity, the cycle is repeated without questioning or alteration.
Needless to point out that the products of such a system are firm believers in what they already believe in and know nothing of the mechanism of dialogue. You see this phenomenon working itself out in the letters sections of this newspaper for example.
Granted that the editor of that section is highly selective and sucks up to those whom he likes or hold the strings to his salary, you still get the occasional debate between “us and them.”
It is a dialogue akin to a mute trying to show a blind man a picture.
Asking questions is the only way to develop a healthy analytical mind. Otherwise, one is dependant on others to shape one’s mind.
It also follows that silence is not golden — not even copper. Kierkegaard once said that “the surest of stubborn silences is not to hold one’s tongue but to talk.” Which means questions, argumentation, debate, ideas, and finally progress. Silence is nothing more than an attempt these days at quasi-wisdom.
Needless to say that tyrants throughout history have had tongues chopped off with astonishing regularity regardless of time and place. The latest who practiced such activities was none other than Saddam Hussein. To see him yapping when given a chance is nothing short of scandalous for those who suffered his tyranny. Unfortunately for them, Saddam is actually held by the Law. The Law does not chop off tongues.
Today we are at a crossroad socially and politically, and we must decide what we want to do in order to clarify a point or engage in an internal or external debate. Opening one’s mouth for the sake of talking is bad manners.
First we must learn the dialectics of words and their meaning. Yes, re-learn if we have to. No one is too old or too learned to go back to school.
The second most important thing to accept is that others might actually be right regardless of who they are or what they believe in.
Third, we must believe that no one has a monopoly on truth, news, ideas, wisdom, and decision-making.
Perhaps the next time Condi visits she might see a difference. After all, she is a professor and can measure a student’s progress from one term to another.
