ERNESTO ‘Che’ Guevara said: “If you can convince a fly that flowers are better than garbage, then you can convince traitors that the nation is more valuable than money.” This is because a fly will always be a fly, and the same applies to the corrupt. This phenomenon cannot be eradicated unless the State, any State, has access to a figure that is able to decide with firm resolve, and works for the sake of the country and its people. Realistically, the decline that has taken hold of the country hurts a lot.
This is the result of choices regarding quotas, nepotism, tribal and sectarian zeal, as well as the prioritization of personal interests over the future of the nation, over the past three decades. All these made Kuwait go through many crises due to the poor selection of officials whose only concern was to win a share of public wealth or gain prestige, even if it was in ruins. Therefore, we saw the greatest corruption in appointments through bribery or ‘wasta’ (influence).
This is the reason why the institutions were like farms for many officials who did not have mercy on their country and the people; while the honest and experienced people were prevented from reaching positions where they could improve the situation and work with honor and honesty.
Consequently, we hear about the scandal of officials every day. All this happened openly and no one took action until Kuwait became famous in international reports as being among the top 10 in terms of corruption. Cheating prevailed in all of its sectors, even education -- the greatest corruption that can destroy the largest countries; because if a student is raised from an early age to cheat, he will not be trustworthy in his job.
The doctor will not fulfill his oath, so the patient will die. The killer will not be held accountable for his actions, because of a corrupt judge. Here, we return to the story of the Great Wall of China. Perhaps, we can derive a lesson from it. The wall was built in the hope that other people would not invade the country. The Chinese believed that no one could climb over it due to its height and strength. However, in the first hundred years after its construction, the country was invaded three times.
Each time, the enemy did not need to penetrate or climb the wall. Rather, he bribed the guard and he entered through the gate. So, take this as an example of building man before walls, which happened to us. For countries that benefited from the past, the first thing they did was pay attention to education and they spent a lot on it. The teacher’s salary in these countries is higher than that of any official because the teacher builds generations and trains them about responsibility and national honesty.
At this point, we remember the story of Allah’s Prophet Musa (PBUH) when he escaped from the Pharaohs and went to the land of Midian where he helped the daughters of the old man. When the old man learned of his honesty, one of the daughters said to her father: “O father, hire him. Indeed, the best of whom you can hire is the strong and trustworthy.” Hence, honesty is a source of strength. When a wise man, who is firm in his decision, came to rule Kuwait; the country began to rise from a slump, and accountability was imposed on everyone -- the big and the small.
Thus, the country is enjoying the era of the torch of reform. It wants to race against time at all levels in order to get rid of diseases that have plagued it for 30 years, as well as to return to its leadership. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah chose the strong and honest ones -- whether the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, or the ministries; so that Kuwait will be a spark of activity and productive projects during his reign. An acute triangle symbol works hard to push the corrupt into the darkness of prisons and enshrine the rule of law. Henceforth, we must rejoice over such wise choices that prove we are now in the era of the torch of wisdom and reform.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
[email protected]
