A Fragile Contentment

"Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

 

The same can be said about peace. Peace ensues. It is an outcome, not an output. I am intrigued by the recent directive outlawing public demonstrations in the wake of the disputed March 2013 presidential tally. This is not a comment for, or against the directive.

I think the directive is a reflection of our fears.

We are afraid of ourselves

We are afraid of the untamed animal within.

We saw what the animal could do in 2007/2008.

We saw what the animal could do in Tana River.

We know what the animal does to disenfranchised labourers in cities and other places.

"I knew a man who lived in fear

It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near

Behind his house, a secret place

Was the shadow of a demon he could never face

He built a wall of steel and flame

And men with guns to keep it tame

And standing back, he made it plain

That the nightmare would never ever rise again

But the fear and the fire and the guns remain…

And then one day, the neighbours came

They were curious to know about the smoke and flame

 They stood around outside the wall

 But of course, there was nothing to be heard at all

 "My friends," he said, "We've reached our goal

The threat is under firm control

 As long as peace and order reign

I'll be damned if I can see a reason to explain

Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain"  -- Dan Heymann

The recent prescriptive campaigns for peaceful co-existence are well meant, and I am sure they have had an impact. However, as long as the shadows of our demons remain; as long as the elephants in the room remain unspoken about, we shall continue to need guns and tanks. This begs the questions: What happens when there are so many elephants that we become and elephant graveyard? What happens when the ghosts overrun us?

We all know from science fiction movies that bullets don’t kill ghosts. Exorcism works better. The peace we desire and are urged to maintain can only come when we commit to exorcism and healing.

I look forward to the time when we shall collectively appreciate that peace is more than not killing each other. I have hope from the fact that many of us who think this way. In whatever language you translate the word peace, it implies harmony, safety, and right relationships. My favourite word for peace is Shalom (from the same root word as Shelam and Salaam). It implies welfare, prosperity, and wholeness.

Shalom, Kenya.

 

Debris after the campaigns

As you read this blog post, beware of flying jabs and barbs. 

While we collectively wait for the IEBC to finish tallying the March 2013 election results, I thought I might write something on the lighter side. I hope you can chuckle at least once, so that if you have been holding your breath since Monday, we might get some fresh air into your lungs – because, you know, you might be holding your breath again for another 24 hours. 

Since November 2012 I have had a unique source of entertainment in the form of campaign posters. You see, I have a relatively conservative work ethic: I believe that a job worth doing is worth well doing. It follows, in my line of thinking, that if you want to offer yourself to serve your electorate (serving the electorate is certainly a misnomer – please let it pass - we shall deal with that in a later post), you may want to create the impression that you will do a good job.  We judge books by their posters more often that we would like to admit. At least, I do. In case you think I am talking about being flush with money, that’s not it either. We know who’s flush by how much they flashed. Money can certainly buy you professional teams to polish your image and pose, but we assume you have some taste to start with.

Let’s cut to the chase. What’s with using a photograph that gives the impression that your face was smeared on the camera? Then there is a certain gentleman who was vying in Westlands. His campaign posters could be recycled to promote the Brazilian national soccer team. There is such a thing as wearing party colours to the point of ridiculousness. One wealthy gentleman looked like he had posed for a distinguished gentlemen’s clothes catalogue. But there is also something about his pose that makes me think he is about to start deejaying seriously (a la DJ Chris – the two are fabulously wealthy gentlemen of a certain age) or perform a hardcore rap. I am ya dawg, man.

For there was also a young-ification and street-ification thing going on. Let me state that I don’t think street cred can be created overnight. Cult icons like Sonko and Waititu have been perfected their thang for years. Suddenly everyone was Jamoh, not James. I have no words for geriatric Senator Stano. If my grandfather asked me to call him Stano I would think I am hearing voices. 

Kamlesh Pattni’s blue monstrosities get the cake for bad taste. See, posters are meant to be read on the move. They don’t move. So, when you fill one with text (not to mention the illegibility of white text against blue), er, you’re expecting who to stop and read? Good luck, Brother Paul. If you had less baggage, I could have offered to help you design better posters in future. For free. I still might, if you would consider returning, say, ten billion shillings to the Treasury.

All the posters, savvy or otherwise, are a serious eyesore right now. In my thoughts, hate and Nairobi are finding themselves in the same sentence a lot lately. I am curious to see whether and how the campaign materials will be disposed of. Will the contestants hire the same armies of followers to clean up?

In spite of my misgivings I am happy for all the start-up printing businesses that received a shot in the arm during the electioneering period. Watch this space, for in 2017 I shall be serious competition.