What’s that line from The Untouchables surprise is half the battle. Many things are half the battle, losing is half the battle. Let’s think about what’s the whole battle. Let’s think about winning!
I am increasingly hearing the word Reality from well meaning family and friends. I don’t think they understand. Reality and Change are opposites. They are not synonyms.
If we accepted Reality, if we were comfortable working within the status quo, for change at a glacial pace, we would have been crazy to do all that we have done in the past two years or so. They do not understand that we do not accept this Reality. Acceptance would be legitimizing criminal acts against the people. It would be a sin of the highest magnitude.
We do not accept the status-quo nor do we accept that it can be changed from within bit by bit. We do not have the time. The rot has only intensified in the past 25 years or so.
It would be foolish to assume that the Cosa Nostra or the Hydra Headed Monster, would have withered and died by themselves or because some of us have good noble intentions; Hercules has to kill the Cosa Nostra, and in real life there are no Michael Corleone in the Mafia.
My thoughts go to the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King did not accept the Reality that was then imposed by the white man that the Negro was a lesser mortal.
Any Movement for Change, any Revolution has many passengers, fellow -travellers, camp followers. Some want to get off the train at the first stop, as soon as their comfort zone is inconvenienced. By all means, the exits are clearly marked.
The all encompassing morass that Pakistan finds itself in today cannot be overcome by half-hearted efforts, absurd theatrical gestures and hollow promises. To move mountains a tectonic shift is required and those of us who are in it for the long haul, let us get ready to move the mountains, even with our bare hands, if needed. In the mining industry we use plastic. It works faster.
