26-05-2022

5:30pm WAT

I will start today’s article with the popular saying;

“when you point a finger at someone else you have three fingers pointing back at you”

Criticism

Criticism is an important aspect of life and it is important for growth. Criticism keeps one on his or her toes, because you are always wary of what your critics would say.

Criticism is one of the beauty of democracy and it is part of what sustains it. The freedom of speech makes room for criticism, and the opposition in any democratic country make use of this in tackling the party in power.

The room for criticism is what differentiate democracy from other forms of governance, as no other system of government allows public criticism of their policies, shortcomings and abuse of power.

Popular expert will tell you to always listen to your critics because out of their mouth comes some truth that you won’t hear from any friend’s or colleague’s mouth. Critics are quick to find fault in whatever you do, because they don’t like you, unlike your friends who might not find fault in whatever you do.

Sometime they can't drive!

Have you ever wondered why sometimes people who criticize a particular person, or policy won't be able to implement their perfect solution or correction when they get to position?

The answer to the question can be found in this quote I came across more than 3 years ago.

“A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car” ~Kenneth Tynan

It is easier said than done; it is easier to speak but it is harder to turn it to actions. Let me make use of an example to explain better.

Imagine you travelling by bus, and in the course of the journey the driver made some reckless moves or turn; the passengers would swiftly criticize, caution or rebuke.

But the fact is that not everyone in the bus can actually drive a car, most times majority of the people in the bus know little or nothing about driving. But that doesn’t stop them from criticizing the driver for the reckless move.

Lack of criticism!

What lead to the fall of dictators? It is because most dictators surround themselves with people whose thought, belief and agenda are similar with theirs. They are quick to cast away people with different ideologies, especially those opposite to theirs.

One of the biggest channel for criticism on a national level is the news media, but in autocratic countries there is lack of unrestricted media. Not only the news are censored the social medias too.

Dictators hardly hear the truth or the true opinions of their subordinates, because their subordinates are scared to speak as their contrary opinion or advice can be said to be an act of subversion.

Hypocrisy

While you point or make a mole out of other people’s shortcoming? Have you checked yourself and see that you aren’t also making the same mistakes? Because if you are, then you are nothing but a Hypocrite.

Hypocrisy is common in the world today, people tend to say how they would act differently if they were in your shoes. But let them get to that position or situation; and the blunder that will arise from their action or inaction might be worse than yours.

My country

I live in a country where daily everyone blames the government; especially the politician on top about how the country is a mess and disorganized.

They point finger to the top but they forget that the three remaining fingers are pointing at them. The same people would throw their refuse in drainages, dirt on the roads, disobey the traffic laws, spike the price of foodstuff unnecessarily just to make more profit.

The same people who blames the government for corruption steal their their company or institution money either by inflating or padding to the company’s budget or by cutting corners.

Yet they complain about how bad and corrupt the government officials are. What a hypocritical country I live in.

I would end this article with a screenshot of Facebook post by a musician in my country, called "Beautiful Nubia"

Thank you for reading