Does anyone of you remember the ‘who bells the cat’ fable?
Without retelling the story to bore those that remember it, I will nevertheless, for the benefit of the millennials and others who’ve never chanced on such fables of years gone by to tickle their minds. And I will lift right from the millennial’s knowledge source, Google, specifically Wikipedia.
‘The fable concerns a group of mice who debate plans to nullify the threat of a marauding cat. One of them proposes placing a bell around its neck, so that they are warned of its approach. The plan is applauded by the others, until one mouse asks who will volunteer to place the bell on the cat.
All of them make excuses. The story is used to teach the wisdom of evaluating a plan not only on how desirable the outcome would be, but also on how it can be executed. It provides a moral lesson about the fundamental difference between ideas and their feasibility, and how this affects the value of a given plan.’
Ditto this to the Uganda situation today. Last week, at one of the usual talk shops in this muddy Kampala city, a fire-spitting politician was shouting herself hoarse (typical of her, always shouting, shouting, shouting) how the villagers have let down the country; how they should rise up and say ‘enough’ to the Museveni hegemony.
How they are suffering, but wake up to vote the same system responsible for their suffering back into power, yada, yada, yada. A scholar of collected demeanour and calm composure then stood to speak.
In total disagreement with the politician, he argued that ordinary folks, those she called villagers, perhaps being modest not to call them the wretched of the earth, cannot lead themselves.
They need to be led and guided and, in her position, she would be better off offering leadership through the trenches, rather than condemnation in the comfort of air conditioned hotel rooms over a well-made cup of spiced tea. Look, this woman told of how the current government, tired of the previous one, went to the bush and called on the villagers to emulate the same.
The academic challenged her to lead the bush trek! There was silence. And here is where as an old man I come in to give my two pence on you who think that 1,000 raves on Facebook from likes and comments over that abuse you spew or novel idea or even product you are marketing has a direct correlation with support. Forget it!
Folks are all too happy to cheer you from the comfort or crap of their abode, but will not stand up to be counted when you need the mob behind you.
Take the example of this woman who in making an incredibly wonderful point, she chose the most profane of languages. Of course, considering the anger caused by disappointment over the government, many went out to cheer her on (I am still doubting if they are as many as how loud they sound.
There is a fable to that too, about few people fighting in dry banana leaves to create an impression of multitudes). The long and short, she might be disappointed by how she has had to bell the cat solo, at a huge cost to self and family. And let’s not kid ourselves; she is no Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela or even Mother Theresa.
Without sounding like a coward out to discourage folks from telling truth to the power, mine is only advice that if you choose to do so, do it. Don’t expect to be with a mob behind you, and for crissake, don’t encourage others into harm’s way from the comfort of your abode. If it’s for harm’s way, join, and in fact lead, the pack!
Enjoy your Labour day!
