The so-called minus and plus formulas is unlikely to solve any problems.
The present system is obviously not ideally democratic, and many of the expectations from system are yet to be fulfilled. The 17th Amendment still lingers as an ugly reminder of the Musharraf era and we are yet to implement the Charter of Democracy.
There is also growing frustration over the law and order situation, the erratic load shedding, and a catalogue of crises both internal and external. Some might say that better governance could have resulted in more “visible” changes that democracy can bring to a common man’s life.
As a television journalist I often speak to various political leaders. A few days ago I spoke to Nawaz Sharif, and he seemed clear that those floating such conspiracies do not mean well for democracy. “I do not believe in the minus one formula” he told me. This may have surprised many political observers who expect him to take a more radical stand against Zardari. They argue that his stance is not only hurting his popularity, but also giving his party labels like “friendly opposition”. Maybe they have a point, but as a visionary leader Nawaz Sharif can see beyond this short-term view. He realizes this is not the time to play popular politics, and today Pakistan needs stability more than anything else.
Our brave armed forces are engaged in a battle against extremism and we cannot afford further political instability. In my view, Nawaz Sharif’s stance represents the sort of positive politics that Pakistan needs at this time when leaders have to look beyond their own political gain and put national interest before their own.
However, as he continued to speak I could also sense some disappointment in his voice too, particularly when he spoke about the Charter of Democracy that he had signed with Benazir Bhutto.
The Charter of Democracy provides an ideal starting point for this journey to begin but more would have to be done to show the people that democracy can really improve the quality of their lives. It should be seen to be resolving the challenges that face them on a daily basis. We all know what these challenges are and I will not repeat them here. But I will talk about opportunities. People also expect democracy to create opportunities for better education, employment and healthcare.
A recent survey by British Council suggests that our youngsters feel despondent. Such feelings should not be allowed to simmer. Despondency must be replaced with hope. This hope can come from a culture of positive politics. The PPP and PML-N, as the two largest parties can lead the way for this positive political culture. That is the only way in which the “formula mongers” can be silenced.
Javed Malik is a television journalist and Executive Director of The World Forum. He can be reached on JavedMalik78@yahoo.com
Published by alaiwah
ALAIWAH'S PHILOSOPHY
About 12 years ago, while studying Arabic in Cairo, I became friends with some Egyptian students. As we got to know each other better we also became concerned about each other’s way of life. They wanted to save my soul from eternally burning in hell by converting me to Islam. I wanted to save them from wasting their real life for an illusory afterlife by converting them to the secular worldview I grew up with.
In one of our discussions they asked me if I was sure that there is no proof for God’s existence.
The question took me by surprise. Where I had been intellectually socialized it was taken for granted that there was none.
I tried to remember Kant’s critique of the ontological proof for God. “Fine,” Muhammad said, “but what about this table, does its existence depend on a cause?” “Of course,” I answered. “And its cause depends on a further cause?” Muhammad was referring to the metaphysical proof for God’s existence, first formulated by the Muslim philosopher
Avicenna.
Avicenna argues, things that depend on a cause for their existence must have something that exists through itself as their first cause. And this necessary existent is God. I had a counter-argument to that to which they in turn had a rejoinder. The discussion ended inconclusively.
I did not convert to Islam, nor did my Egyptian friends become atheists. But I learned an important lesson from our discussions: that I hadn’t properly thought through some of the most basic convictions underlying my way of life and worldview — from God’s existence to the human good.
The challenge of my Egyptian friends forced me to think hard about these issues and defend views that had never been questioned in the milieu where I came from.
These discussions gave me first-hand insight into how deeply divided we are on fundamental moral, religious and philosophical questions. While many find these disagreements disheartening, I will argue that they can be a good thing — if we manage to make them fruitful for a culture debate.
Can we be sure that our beliefs about the world match how the world actually is and that our subjective preferences match what is objectively in our best interest? If the truth is important to us these are pressing questions.
We might value the truth for different reasons: because we want to live a life that is good and doesn’t just appear so; because we take knowing the truth to be an important component of the good life; because we consider living by the truth a moral obligation independent of any consequences; or because we want to come closer to God who is the Truth. Of course we wouldn’t hold our beliefs and values if we weren’t convinced that they are true. But that’s no evidence that they are.
Weren’t my Egyptian friends just as convinced of their views as I was of mine? More generally: don’t we find a bewildering diversity of beliefs and values, all held with great conviction, across different times and cultures? If considerations such as these lead you to concede that your present convictions could be false, then you are a fallibilist.
And if you are a fallibilist you can see why valuing the truth and valuing a culture of debate are related: because you will want to critically examine your beliefs and values, for which a culture of debate offers an excellent setting.
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