Every generation has pursued the dream of a utopian society. The inspirational force leading to the inception of philosophical ideas, social infrastructures and even religions has been the desire for the perfect world.
This is the central theme in man’s search for the ideal. Fiji is no exception!
In the recent past a certain individual and his band of brothers have come up with answers to all our problems once and for all, or so it seems!
In the recent past a certain individual and his band of brothers have come up with answers to all our problems once and for all, or so it seems!
They would eradicate fear, poverty, hatred and other social ills and create a pain free world of peace, love, joy and harmony for all the inhabitants. Far from reality!
The concept called “ideology” was developed out of this search and desire for the idyllic world. Ideology is basically the formulation of ideas and thoughts that have been developed, tested and retested over time and can also be defined as philosophies or ways of thinking.
The concept called “ideology” was developed out of this search and desire for the idyllic world. Ideology is basically the formulation of ideas and thoughts that have been developed, tested and retested over time and can also be defined as philosophies or ways of thinking.
Some of these philosophies have become the foundation of theories and ideologies that have in turn been the creators of systems of governing communities, societies, cities, nations and even the world.
It has been said, “And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”
But Truth taken to the extreme becomes error and this error has led to the formation of ideologies of injustice, destruction, oppression, poverty depression and social terror.
Over thousands of years, a variety of labels have emerged, submerged then reemerged from these “erred” ways of thinking.
Over thousands of years, a variety of labels have emerged, submerged then reemerged from these “erred” ways of thinking.
Some labels are very familiar to us today: imperialism, socialism, communism, dictatorship, humanism, deism, democracy, monarchy and communal living. Many of these have been the result of numerous social experiments of the past.
And it seems no matter how hard we have tried to recreate our world this utopia has been further from our grasp.
And it seems no matter how hard we have tried to recreate our world this utopia has been further from our grasp.
It seems previous attempts in 1987 and 2000 have only given rise to the ideology of “individual freedom” to carry out anything and everything we are capable of doing to make it “better”.
Those events have inscribed in this fragile generation a coup culture that strives in the concept of “self-determination” and “a just society” as “the democratic ideal” and though this is the most civil form of national government, even this has not manifested the utopia we all dream of.
This may sound pessimistic but our nation has been, still is and always will be plagued with inequality, racism, prejudice, injustice, corruption, jealousy, suspicion, competition, abuse, neglect and of course the ever widening gap between the “haves” and “have-nots”.
We are prisoners of our pursuit of the perfect world and the so called “clean-up” campaign has not only magnified these insecurities but also accelerated our demise.
The pursuit of utopia is a universal truth but the difference is the means and methods we execute to find what has eluded us.
The pursuit of utopia is a universal truth but the difference is the means and methods we execute to find what has eluded us.
This pursuit is not a choice but has become a necessity; it has become personal vendetta for some as well as a corporate retaliation for others. I challenge you with this line of thought: if thirst implies the need for water, hunger implies the need for food, tiredness the need for rest, does bad governance necessitate a military takeover!?
John Doe
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