by Deepa BHOOKHUN

A normal working day at ?l?express?. A phone call from reception. Raffick Goolfee and Maulana Adam Sahodeea are in the lobby waiting to be seen to. We go downstairs to meet our visitors. We are greeted by aggressiveness followed by threats.

It took a while for us to understand what it was all about but we eventually got to it. The two gentlemen were unhappy with us because we chose to give them the thumbs down for their decision to contest the Supreme Court judgment in the Rezistans Ek Alternativ affair. So they drive into our premises, walk into the building and start shouting.

Right. They do not agree with a court ruling. Their choice, their prerogative, their privilege. We do not agree with their stand. Our choice, our prerogative, our privilege. It is a free country; we have certain liberties and freedoms. That Mr Goolfee and Maulana Sahodeea do not agree with our stand is fine and they are free to let us know how they feel. We talk, we listen, we come to an agreement. But one does not simply barge into an office and start shouting and screaming and threatening. This is not the way it works. That we even have to say this to people living in a so-called civilized country in this day and age beats me.

Unfortunately they are not alone in this. So many people, particularly politicians think they are above criticism while the adversary should always be criticized. So many people?s tolerance level (political agents) is so low that this country is becoming a dangerous place to live in. Because you cannot reason with them. Because they think it?s OK to threaten and intimidate. And whose fault is this? The people who condone this kind of behaviour.

Why do people think they are allowed to do as they please? Why do people think they are above laws and rules? When did we turn into a nation of rogues?

Above all why? Because people are not on the same wavelengths? Because politicians do not like each other? Because they are not defending the same cause? (What cause? might you be tempted to ask.) Fundamental rights are being trampled everyday in this country. At a time when we are meant to be deciding who is going to rule this land. At a time when politicians, on their best behaviour, are meant to make us all dream. Dream of a better tomorrow, dream of a brighter future. And it is precisely at this particular time that it becomes more dangerous to walk on the streets, to express one?s opinion, to simply be. Is this then the best we can do?

2005. The future is bleak. One more question; what is to become of us?