It is easier to criticise and be righteous than to present and implement alternative solutions. It is easier to be negative and talk about what we don’t have than to be thankful for what we do have. It is also easier to be righteous and pretend we have better ideas than others, especially those in power. We may say that if our ideas and proposals were listened to, things would have been so much better.
Yet, we may not quite want our ideas to be tested in practice, but rather just talk about them in debates at seminars and around the dinner table. True, to criticise is important in order to find new and better ways, and we often say that improvements start with criticism and analysis of what exists and what could be.
Now then, with all this negative talk, I shall still in my article today try to write about the many positive issues around us that we should celebrate, yes, in the midst of a time when there is much to criticise, and a time when it seems to be a fashion to criticise and paint opponents and those in power in a negative light with a broad brush.
We must learn to see what is good and right in the world we live in, whether it is in public and private life, related to big or small issues, in sub-sectors and overall. It is a matter of being willing to think positively, and a matter of learning to look for what is right and good, not only what is wrong.
We must try to look for how to build on what we have, improve that, especially for groups that have been left behind as the most powerful have reaped the fruits. To look for what other people need and what potential others have, is a duty, because we must all work for fairness and greater equality.
Today, it is the twelfth day of Ramzan, the Islamic month of fast, and it is the last day of Lent, the Christian month of fast, leading up to Easter, which at the beginning is a sombre event, ending as a happy event. Thus, this time is a particularly relevant time to reflect on the issues I have described above, namely what we can do better, what we should be thankful for, and what gives joy and happiness in our lives.
We must remember that if we are too critical and negative of ourselves and how things are, we will be less able to do the good things. I believe Muslims clearly see this, making Ramzan a month of serious reflecting and how to improve oneself, and also a time of thinking about the positive things, having friendly Iftar gatherings and planning for a festive Eid-ul-Fitr, with joy and happiness, with thankfulness for all the good things we have, and how we can help those who need help; rich can share their wealth; poor can give of their kindness.
This week, we should be thankful for the peaceful transition of power from one government to another. The judiciary played a role, but in the future, even that should be unnecessary.
We should congratulate Pakistan’s leaders for the peaceful transition of power, and then in a year’s time, or sooner, there will be another general election. Let us then hope that those who win will be allowed to complete the full parliamentary term of five years. Perhaps the term should be shortened, for example to four years, to avoid too much time of the parliamentarians being spent on trying to topple an existing government.
Let me suggest that we should now take stock of what good the outgoing government of Imran Khan has achieved, especially as they focused on new values and good intentions in politics. The new government of Shehbaz Sharif should build on the good that was done, and change, of course, what was not so good.
I expect the new government to be more business-like and implement issues faster, especially to benefit disadvantaged people at a time when there is high inflation in Pakistan and the rest of the world. Positive measures have already been signalled. So, let us not stand in the way of the new leaders’ work; we should be supportive and positive, and that even goes for those who would rather have seen the old leaders complete their term.
In my home country Norway, the new Labour-Centre government, having taken over from the Conservatives in September last year, have been criticised for many things, yes, in spite of having done well if you ask me. As I said above, in my general discussion about how to offer positive criticism, and not be negative, I believe the Norwegian government is doing better than the opinion polls show.
Like in Pakistan, there is high inflation, and the trend everywhere in the democratic world is to publish news 24 hours a day; the nature and role of the media is most of the time to be critical. Perhaps we have reached a level when we discuss and criticise too much, and a time when politicians and leaders have to spend too much time responding to news that they get less time to do their real job.
In a radio interview, the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality, Anette Trettebergstuen (41), was reminded of this; she was very positively welcomed by most as a new minister, only to experience negative criticism in a short while. She replied that to be a minister means that you must be a bit thick-skinned and be able to handle criticism, which is not always as negative as it sounds.
She said that politicians live on ‘borrowed time’, as it can all be over any time, even tomorrow. Although it has little to do with her performance, she lives in a same-sex relationship, and she is the mother of a son of five or six, with a father who is the family’s gay friend. In Norway, this is not a major issue any more, but the media still likes to mention it in gossip columns.
Yet, Norwegians are not less ethical or moral than before; in the last year, several parliamentarians and ministers have had to resign because of overstretching rules regarding benefits, such as travel and housing allowances. This week, a government minister had to resign because it was revealed that twenty years ago, when he was a government minister, too, he had an intimate relationship with a very young woman when she was only 18 years and he was close to fifty.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (61) said this was not morally right for a minister in his cabinet. Many commentators, especially women, applauded his reaction and said it was a result of the #metoo campaign. We must not take undue advantage of people and situations; we must live in ways that are good for all, in private life and in politics.
May I wish all people in Pakistan, Muslims and others, a continued
Happy Ramzan—and the Christians,
a Happy Easter.
Yet, we may not quite want our ideas to be tested in practice, but rather just talk about them in debates at seminars and around the dinner table. True, to criticise is important in order to find new and better ways, and we often say that improvements start with criticism and analysis of what exists and what could be.
Now then, with all this negative talk, I shall still in my article today try to write about the many positive issues around us that we should celebrate, yes, in the midst of a time when there is much to criticise, and a time when it seems to be a fashion to criticise and paint opponents and those in power in a negative light with a broad brush.
We must learn to see what is good and right in the world we live in, whether it is in public and private life, related to big or small issues, in sub-sectors and overall. It is a matter of being willing to think positively, and a matter of learning to look for what is right and good, not only what is wrong.
We must try to look for how to build on what we have, improve that, especially for groups that have been left behind as the most powerful have reaped the fruits. To look for what other people need and what potential others have, is a duty, because we must all work for fairness and greater equality.
Today, it is the twelfth day of Ramzan, the Islamic month of fast, and it is the last day of Lent, the Christian month of fast, leading up to Easter, which at the beginning is a sombre event, ending as a happy event. Thus, this time is a particularly relevant time to reflect on the issues I have described above, namely what we can do better, what we should be thankful for, and what gives joy and happiness in our lives.
We must remember that if we are too critical and negative of ourselves and how things are, we will be less able to do the good things. I believe Muslims clearly see this, making Ramzan a month of serious reflecting and how to improve oneself, and also a time of thinking about the positive things, having friendly Iftar gatherings and planning for a festive Eid-ul-Fitr, with joy and happiness, with thankfulness for all the good things we have, and how we can help those who need help; rich can share their wealth; poor can give of their kindness.
This week, we should be thankful for the peaceful transition of power from one government to another. The judiciary played a role, but in the future, even that should be unnecessary.
We should congratulate Pakistan’s leaders for the peaceful transition of power, and then in a year’s time, or sooner, there will be another general election. Let us then hope that those who win will be allowed to complete the full parliamentary term of five years. Perhaps the term should be shortened, for example to four years, to avoid too much time of the parliamentarians being spent on trying to topple an existing government.
Let me suggest that we should now take stock of what good the outgoing government of Imran Khan has achieved, especially as they focused on new values and good intentions in politics. The new government of Shehbaz Sharif should build on the good that was done, and change, of course, what was not so good.
I expect the new government to be more business-like and implement issues faster, especially to benefit disadvantaged people at a time when there is high inflation in Pakistan and the rest of the world. Positive measures have already been signalled. So, let us not stand in the way of the new leaders’ work; we should be supportive and positive, and that even goes for those who would rather have seen the old leaders complete their term.
In my home country Norway, the new Labour-Centre government, having taken over from the Conservatives in September last year, have been criticised for many things, yes, in spite of having done well if you ask me. As I said above, in my general discussion about how to offer positive criticism, and not be negative, I believe the Norwegian government is doing better than the opinion polls show.
Like in Pakistan, there is high inflation, and the trend everywhere in the democratic world is to publish news 24 hours a day; the nature and role of the media is most of the time to be critical. Perhaps we have reached a level when we discuss and criticise too much, and a time when politicians and leaders have to spend too much time responding to news that they get less time to do their real job.
In a radio interview, the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality, Anette Trettebergstuen (41), was reminded of this; she was very positively welcomed by most as a new minister, only to experience negative criticism in a short while. She replied that to be a minister means that you must be a bit thick-skinned and be able to handle criticism, which is not always as negative as it sounds.
She said that politicians live on ‘borrowed time’, as it can all be over any time, even tomorrow. Although it has little to do with her performance, she lives in a same-sex relationship, and she is the mother of a son of five or six, with a father who is the family’s gay friend. In Norway, this is not a major issue any more, but the media still likes to mention it in gossip columns.
Yet, Norwegians are not less ethical or moral than before; in the last year, several parliamentarians and ministers have had to resign because of overstretching rules regarding benefits, such as travel and housing allowances. This week, a government minister had to resign because it was revealed that twenty years ago, when he was a government minister, too, he had an intimate relationship with a very young woman when she was only 18 years and he was close to fifty.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (61) said this was not morally right for a minister in his cabinet. Many commentators, especially women, applauded his reaction and said it was a result of the #metoo campaign. We must not take undue advantage of people and situations; we must live in ways that are good for all, in private life and in politics.
May I wish all people in Pakistan, Muslims and others, a continued
Happy Ramzan—and the Christians,
a Happy Easter.
