Being an ex merchant marine captain and having weathered many storms during my sea career and also saw ebb and low tides as well as neaps (a tide of minimum amplitude when sun and moon are working against each other). I now see a lull before an economic cyclone.
The storm which is brewing in the country due to downslide in economy and 32.5% CPI inflation of food commodity in June, falling exchange rates are serious concerns of business community as well as of masses at large. I was witness to a function of business community which was largely attended by notables of trade and industry in honour of the Head of State at local five star hotel.
While I found the business community frank and vocal and expressed their serious apprehension on economic conditions, which is absolutely true as focus on trade and industry by the Government is not in sight nor the comprehension of the gravity of the situation. Nobody seemed to be alarmed with trade deficit exceeding 20 billion USD and loss of assets of billions of dollars in stock market and flight of funds from the country, closure of industries and increasing unemployment. We are virtually a banana republic like Honduras of the past where no good governance was visible and the mercenaries were active.
The Head of state also endorsed the views of trade industry and received rousing reception. While reading "Abel Hermant" who said "if lies kill love, what does frankness do?" I could see perhaps for the first time all speakers being frank, but politicians soon learned that frankness is an expensive commodity in public life. The same is true in private life, except when it is judiciously employed and tempered by kindness, for frankness can do greater harm to fragile relationship resting on strings.
The speakers spoke with frankness to reveal what they really think, to tell the truth as one sees it, and to do so whatever the consequences. When people are not frank they are being careful or dishonest, or tactful and often all three. Many of us find that dishonesty and tact are far more useful for getting on in life than frankness. This is regrettably true as regards dishonesty but not always so as regards tact, for tact is an impression of concerns for others needs and sensitivities, and is an important instrument in helping people negotiate the unpredictable complexities of relationship, which unfortunately our political leadership lacks.
In my opinion, the only kind of person who can be frank is a saint. He says what he thinks, and even when it is uncomplimentary to his interlocutors, they sense that there is no malice. I am of the opinion that in frankness of trade and industry leaders there was no malice and a very good speech was by FPCCI member from Lahore, who did not mince words and spoke without malice.
There are very few of us who can guarantee purity of our motives in speaking bluntly for the national cause, but politeness acquires a great value, as was evident from a soft spoken leader.
I have observed that in every social transactions most of us are consciously or otherwise assessing how much frankness the circumstances demand. In my interaction with electronic media, I always quoted the axiom of Tennesse Williams that all cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness, thus continuous bashing creates sympathy which was largely evident giving the impression that the tide is changing from the ebb to flood. Thus musketeers on TV shows may draw lessons and try to contain bashing as it is libellous/slander.
It will not be out of place to draw moral of Muslim bashing by US and to my shock, I have seen recently more Hijabs and reverting to religion in Istanbul as in the 90s it was hard to find people in the blue mosque which is now jam packed. Therefore continuous bashing brings sympathy.
There are many areas where frankness is almost invariably imperative, national interest, the evolution of friendship. The point at which friends can drop their reserves and reveal themselves to each other is the point at which their relationship advances to a higher level. One frankness invites a reciprocal frankness. Unfortunately even in the case of national interest or that in the case of friendship our ruling coalition is not frank to each others on issues, thus the country is in a limbo, looking for a saviour.
The nation is virtually rudderless and is drifting to be grounded. It could be anybody's wild guess who is actually at the helm of affairs of this commandless ship of Pakistan, which in nautical terms means "out of command," sending "SOS".
It is now incumbent upon all to put their heads together voluntarily to address the economic issues on priority as rising food inflation of 32.5% and transport and communication of CPI soaring to 25% as per FBS is serious cause of concern.
We must cut down on fuel and food imports and learn to live within our means or find alternatives on war footings rather than blaming each other. The need of the hour is to take strategic decisions with honesty of purpose to salvage the country.
The origin of the connotation of 100 days, hopefully, is not from sad Napolionic era of 1815, but hopefully after cleansing of connotation by Theodore Roselt of 1933, when in only 100 days the cabinet met twice a week and 15 Laws were passed. We may also draw moral from the biography of John F. Kennedy who on taking over said that I will not even commit 1000 days for the existing problems.
