Is Pakistan undergoing the boiling frog syndrome?
In our country we continue to face breakdown in law and order and sadly the society as a whole takes no action to challenge it; hence our predicament.
These changes, at first, were subtle and when nothing was done to confront lawbreaker’s modus operendi, these activities have become part of daily ritual. Actions such as coercion to pay ‘bhatta’, land and drug mafia flexing their muscles, influential patrons protecting criminals, rampant corruption, rogue elements toting weapons in public, abuse of authority by people with influence, etc.
If we, as a society, had challenged and brought a stop to these activities the first few times they had occurred, such activities would not be rampant today. Regrettably we allowed and accepted them to become part of our culture and they have multiplied and today are widespread and out of control.
I can recall when I was a teenager our country and its culture were diametrically different. No one worried about locking their doors and windows at night and whenever we took a late night drive we never worried about which neighbourhoods were no-go areas. Arms and weaponry were not accessible and neither were they displayed in public.
If anyone did not follow the laws or rules, they were called “the black sheep” of the family. Role modelling and setting examples where ethics and principles are honoured and kept in high esteem have become very rare.
What our country is experiencing is indicative of a popular anecdote known as the ‘Boiling Frog Syndrome’. Premise of the anecdote is that if you take a frog and put it in a pot of boiling water it would immediately jump out, however if it is placed in a pot of cold water that is being heated slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be slowly get boiled until it is cooked to death.
This anecdote is often used to describe the inability of people in recognising changes, positive or negative, that are gradually happening around them. If they do not react to the deteriorating situation facing them, they will inevitably get boiled like the frog and die a painful death.
Considering this overwhelming situation facing us, there is enough good left to instigate a change. In order to survive and to leave a positive legacy for our future generations, we must stand up and challenge the current status quo. But first we as a nation have to wake up from our continual slumber and demand our rulers to bring back justice, ethics and rule of the law. We must demand our leaders to drive a change which improves the life of the common man.
Be brave and seize the moment to lead the change for the better. Let’s not procrastinate but recognise the true value of time; every second has infinite value to those who utilise them with caution.
Let us not be the frog that ignored the sensation of heat increasing gradually around it, thus ending up deceased and obsolete. Don’t let this happen to you.
The writer works in the corporate sector and is active on various business forums and trade bodies.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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Who said we are a dying, declining, denied, dysfunctional, demanding, devaluing or done. Life is good, democracy on street, and you can be what you want to be. Who said Pakistan is poor, the Karachi stock market is up and up, 100 Big Pakistani companies enjoying greater profit, Increase revenue for the government in power, the bureaucrats gets raise after every fiscal budget, army get new toys, Amrika is helping us for last sixty years or so, Bumper crop harvest, no tax on agriculture, local car sales all time high, tractor sales up, Read my lips, 2012 unprecedented economic boom for Pakistan InshaAllah. Pakistan Zindabad.
Good writing but the article lacked specifics.
Interesting analogy of the boiling frog. I agree with you that our risk detection and pre-emptive management skills are under-developed and that is for a reason. Look around, how many even in the intellectual elite talk about where Pakistan should be decades from now? rarely if ever. Disruptions are an everyday fact of life but vision is always constant. When those who have food on the table and shelter over their heads can't think through the future with a foresight and sincerity, who will? What this creates is a nation perennially stuck in crisis management mode and once a group of people get into that mode they are least likely to stay ahead of the curve.
good article.
That analogy is factually incorrect. The frog will jump out when the water gets hot enough. And Pakistanis are too selfish to protest. After who's to say what might happen if you do protest? You might get baton charged by the police or suicide bombed even. Anything can happen. Those who can leave the country do so. Those who can't leave join in the thievery and corruption.