Cry Wolf

Freedom, revolution, uprising, these words have been romanticized by poets and politicians alike. They stir the most primal of human emotions. Whether it is the promise of redemption, the thrill of rebellion or the pursuit of justice, humanity’s constant knack for breaking the rules has often stood in the path of tyranny.Now welcome to 21^st century Pakistan. Rather than go to secret gatherings, all you have to do to indulge in your, not so secret, desire for rebellion is walk past your nearest billboard, or catch the pre news bulletin ad-parade. You’re bound to run into a myriad of cellular service provider and fashion clothing commercials promising unprecedented freedom with every purchase. Linger a while longer and you will be treated to exquisitely choreographed  infomercials and music videos explaining how the latest brand of lawn has been instrumental in empowering women (which somehow the gazillion brands that came before, failed to do).A little further along the path and you will meet the “well informed” political gurus hosting there creatively named talk shows (our equivalent to common sense). If Asim Jofa’s new block prints weren’t enough to send chills down your spine, these messiahs sure will.Don’t be alarmed, if after this “enlightening” experience you feel the unsettling urge to barricade yourself in your home, and start rationing bran bread (to survive the impending apocalypse on Tuesday, the Zionist invasion on Wednesday, and off course your in-laws are visiting over the weekend).Amidst all this, it is hardly surprising that any talk of legitimate and progressive change is either indiscernible over the rabble, or quickly shunned as an impracticable abomination of liberalism. We have been relentlessly bombarded with promises of justice and freedom, in fact far too often. It has made us numb, and cynical. So heavily is the inertia ingrained in us that protests are an inconvenience, and voting is pointless. Nothing moves us anymore, from horrible atrocities committed by misogynistic monsters, to the blatant corruption of our appointed rulers. Twenty years from now, you could be kidnapped, incarcerated, or even stabbed to death for voicing dissent against a ruling power, whether democratic or otherwise. Censorship prevailed and differing opinions were quickly silenced. In those days words had power, they had meaning. They weren’t a cheap marketing gimmick or a sorry excuse for a real manifesto. Two decades on, electronic media has grown a thousand fold, unregulated and unhindered by prejudice. The misdeeds of those in power are plastered across TV screens mere seconds after they are revealed. It could be argued that it is nearly impossible for them to hide the collateral damage, and indeed it is, but ironically they have only become bolder and more deliberate in their cruelty and greed.It is because our voices rather than growing louder have been diluted by repetition coupled with inaction. Hollow promises of redemption without actual results have accomplished nothing; in fact they have served only to disillusion the masses, so when the time comes to act they shy away and just scowl at the boy who has cried wolf far too often. In the end, it is the feeble and half hearted attempts of challenging the status quo that have preserved it.