Democracy has left the building

Once upon a time, many countries decided to light up a new flame of their own and keep it burning bright. Every person in the country gave a bit of his light and soon, there was a huge flame that burned bright for its people. A flame that stood for energy, a flame that promised equality for all, freedom for all, security for all who lived in its light. The flame was called Democracy and it was well named because it was of the people, by the people, for the people.

The change happened very slowly and it happened in all the countries that had the flame of Democracy alight. The people who kept giving to keep the flame alight didn’t notice what was happening and as long as they felt the flame they had lit was burning, they felt secure and went about their daily business as usual.

Slowly, the shadow figures moved in, casting their long shadows of greed and hunger for power on the light that burned. The flame that had been lit by the people was slowly being controlled by a few who definitely did not have the people’s interests at heart. One day, all that was left of the flame were a few glowing embers and when it left the building, no one noticed and no one cared.

The armies grew and there were wars. For our safety, they said. To teach others about our wonderful flame, they proclaimed. And to make those wars possible, the people who had lit the flame were taxed. For your own good, they said. To keep the flame alive. All this is because we, the people want a better life for the world.

The powerful grew more powerful and richer. The poor grew poorer. The dreams that people started off with grew dim and died. There was no time for dreaming when every minute went towards existing.

Oh, my people, said the flame that was dying. Look up, listen, stand up and fight for your rights. Fight to fan the flame and make it burn bright once more. As long as there was a spark, there was hope. Maybe the few who questioned a bit too loudly were silenced but hope that its people would wake up was the only thing that kept the flame going.

Once in a while, people looked at the building and wondered if this indeed was why they had lit the flame. They didn’t realise that Democracy had left the building a long time ago. No, Democracy don’t live here anymore. Would it ever live here again?

de-moc-ra-cy: government by the people

This article was quoted extensively by Jeff Radebe at his Corruption Watch launch speech: 

(http://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/content/jeff-radebe%E2%80%99s-speech-corruption-watch-launch)