Salutations to Whistleblowers in today's vicious world

Expose the oppressor, give voice to the voiceless
Wouldn’t you want to speak & listen to the truth and deal with honest people 24x7/365 days a year; wouldn’t you want to expose intelligence and unlawful information, for public scrutiny so that the guilty are punished; wouldn’t you want to see the world as a peaceful place where every human being enjoys their constitutional rights of freedom, equality, and justice. Just wished a big-hearted genie would be generous enough to grant me my three wishes…I would have surely asked for these three wishes, provided people in the whole wide world mirror the same principles.

Can I keep the commandments in the real world?
I don’t think so! A lone individual cannot obey the commandants of ethical behaviour all by herself while the rest of the world does what pleases them. And even if he decides to be undeceiving, he probably would be tricked and duped and be taken to his grave even before his time comes. They say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so probably the whole world is waiting for someone to make the first real-istic move and then the rest will follow.

Exemplifying from experience, many a times we dash across people who backstab their own colleagues to win a position to the top. And to make things crueler, the very next minute, you would see your colleague become your boss, not because he has the attitude and a mind for the job but because he has successfully pleased the top management by his sweet and pleasing talks and actions.

Similarly, individual nations are waiting for the other nation to make the first unadulterated move which is not tainted with corruption, hypocrisy, scams, nuclear proliferation, terrorists and, bureaucrats with a political agenda. Recently the United States of America with support from the UN Security Council took the initiative towards Non-nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) calling nations of the world to sign the NPT in order to make the world "un-armed” and “nuclear deterrent”. A few democratic and peaceful nations signed the NPT while some of them resisted, even abusing decision makers for their sagging mindsets and wisdom.

Pragmatically, it’s a tough decision to make, when you know that on one side if you sign the treaty, you could be bombed by a nation that has not signed it…and on the other side if you don’t sign it, you would be oust from global meetings and punishments in the form of “sanctions” would be entrusted upon you. Today, powerful nations are boasting about deploying new class of weapons capable of reaching any corner of the earth under an hour…so how can anyone make a 100% commitment!

“Courage is contagious”
They say courage is contagious…must say it really is! An open government group, also known as the anti corruption and transparency group—WikiLeaks—has recently made news all over the world exposing 91,000 sensitive reports mainly comprising of ground realities about how US is blindly and unknowingly fuelling terrorism in Afghan by blindly paying Pakistan for access to Afghan. Although the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, an Australian national with a PHD in Physics, claims that the information exposed on his website are bare facts...the truth about its authenticity is yet to be investigated.

Nevertheless, the point I'm trying to make here is about the courage and audacity that this man called Julian has, to be able to reveal and speak about what he believes is the truth without a shadow of fear for his life. It reminds me of the Monk called Julian from Robin Sharma’s bestseller, “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”…he pretty much had the same approach towards life.

So if courage is really contagious, I think each one of us needs to pick up ourselves from the dregs, dust off ourselves, and fearlessly speak out. It's a tough thing to do, but if we don't do it, the world will take us for granted and use us as puppets to fulfill their individual or group ambitions.

Making a confession, I admit that I don’t have the nerves and audacity to be upfront and outspoken 24x7/365 days a year...but am asking myself badly whether it is really all that difficult? Authoritarian governments, oppressive institutions and corrupt corporations should be subject to the pressure, so that every human being on this beautiful planet enjoys his rights by right and not by fear. 

I will try to walk the talk…..how about you?

Thanks for visiting my blog. Do write to me with your reactions, opinions or critical comments at simplymearl@live.com or leave your inputs in the comments tab below.

Before I sign out, as I always say take very good care of yourself and God Bless!

Comments

Gopal said…
I guess you are a very good blogger.. as per seeing your writings.. not this current one.. but as per the old ones too.. i guess you are blogging since 2006.. and also u had written a good blog on FIFA Octopus.. den way back in jan... the first blog of 2010.. jai ho types..it was a good patriotism.. appreciate it...

well was good feeling reading your blogs.... may be i am a little benefitted in reading... hehehe

Great.. Keep Blogging.. The Perfectionist!!

You are close to it!!!!
Mearl Colaco said…
Thanks Gopal for your comments. Do leave in your email address next time.

I did begin in 2006...but that was only the opening of my blog. I got inactive for almost 2yrs and active really since 2008. Hope I can do more of it.

Do you have a blog?

Cheers!
Mearl
Gopal said…
Actually i sent to the same comments to your live id which you mentioned in blogger profile...

so after 2008 u are constant... yah..surely.. u can be doing well more...

I guess i have seen u in twitter too.... asking questions too to Chetan Bhagat sometimes.. hehehe

Anywayz its past 12:00 am and today is first sunday of august; so wish you a HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY & WEEK....

Hope our friendship starts from right away...

Cheers!
Gopal
Gopal said…
Actually i sent to the same comments to your live id which you mentioned in blogger profile...

so after 2008 u are constant... yah..surely.. u can be doing well more...


No i dont have a blog!!!! If i write i would be confused what to write.. i love reading.. i secretly write on LIFE.. but bit complicated...hehehe

I guess i have seen u in twitter too.... asking questions too to Chetan Bhagat sometimes.. hehehe

Anywayz its past 12:00 am and today is first sunday of august; so wish you a HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY & WEEK....

Hope our friendship starts from right away...

Cheers!
Gopal
Uma said…
Hi Mearl, U r truly a “Whistle Blower” Pun Intended to come up with this novel thoughtful article. Awakening and Appealing on this silent topic. Everyday in our lives v come across a lot of incidences/challenges in our Society/Workplace which we are very well aware that are against all norms/laws/practices and conventions. However seldom do we have the courage to stand up and confront/challenge the System, be it in Politics, Society or in a Organization. Generally Whistle Blowers are considered as rebels who impede the functioning of the Society/Organization. In a situation like this, the Leader blowing the whistle/horn is somehow targeted made a scapegoat either by implicating him/her in a fabricated story so that his/her name is tarnished & maligned or they are threatened, victimized and sometimes even eliminated for the fear of them influencing the masses. There are many live examples for us to read, just flip open the newspaper.

We need Responsible Unbiased Honest Heads at the helm for the Whistle Blowers to get across his/her message for them to think/introspect and appreciate. The Head has to b genuinely interested in the Society/Organization and not have a hidden agenda. Unfortunately most of our Leaders have vested interest, thus trouncing the wake call. We Indian need to come out of our closet. We are too scared to speak out. I attribute this fear due to our social economic conditions. We all have our loved ones to support and by just raising a Red Flag to the higher ups, u could be either sacked/demoted/shunted out thus affecting the family and payment of monthly bills. Absence of any Social Security system acts as a deterrent.

You have rightfully mentioned abt “A Lone Individual cannot obey the commandants of Ethcial Behaviour” Very true. Whistle Blower have to b fully supported in by all means for their courage to expose and for taking an initiative to bring it up at a public forum/domain. V cannot be a mute spectator being timid and coward, only then wl our country come out of the deep mess v r in with so many Scams being unearthed.
Though the media has been a Whistle blowers in many of our Governance issues, there are still a lot of laps. Whistle Blower succeeds when they form a revolution.

Good Editorial, Mearl, keep it up. While u lead and blow the Whistle, I am sure V can muster the support for the cause u blow. Wishing to C more Whistle blowers 4 a better World. TC
Mearl Colaco said…
Hey Uma,

You need to write on this topic as well. I appreciate your honest ideas on this topic. Thanks for sharing.

Probably social security for every citizen will help us become more bold and be ready to even face the consequences if need be. Looking inside ourselves...Kashmir exemplifies the rust that is in our system which needs immediate bold correction with quick intervention from the centre in New Delhi.

Cheers!
Mearl ;-)
Gopal said…
Hey!!!!

so wen is the next article coming up!!!!

May be the commonwealth games..

Juz searched you over in Facebook, send a request.. may b u dnt mind... hehehehe

Cheers!
Mearl Colaco said…
Hi Gopal,

Thanks for writing in :-)

I write issues that bother me or something that I am passionate about and as rightly mentioned, I was looking forward to the successful roll-out of CWG and was very keen to write about the much awaited India's success story in the CWG arena. But the corruption issues that is exposed is giving me nightmares...I can't think really.

All that the CWG organisers should do now is focus on the execution of the preparations on fast-track...rather than waste time on pinning the guilty...because we just have no time in hand right now.

Cheers! Mearl
Gopal said…
Hey Mearl!
What you said is correct that they have to be on the fast tracks to complete the stuff!! for the upcoming... leaving aside the other issues...

So... anywayz u didnt liked that i have found you out on facebook and declined my friend request :(

It's a sad heart on this par of the world!!!


Keep Blogging!!!
Gopal
ASHISH said…
There is no point in searching for light in this dark world. You be the light of your own and there shall never be darkness. "Fanus bankar jiski hifazat hava kare, woh shamma kya bujhe jise roshan khuda kare".
Mearl Colaco said…
Hi Ashish,
Thanks for writing in. I agree with your thoughts and feelings looking at the bad experiences that we all have had in life.

But I see a point in blowing a whistle when things are not going the way they are suppose to be going. Of course, we cannot interfere and confront everything illegitimate that happens around us...but to begin with we need to speak out for ourselves and refuse to take the shit.

That's why I admire honest human rights activist who go out of their way to speak for society...not caring a damn for their own lives. U need blood of steel to tackle bloody issues, and I admit it…that this is something I’m very naive to. Got to get there someday!

Cheers! Mearl.C
ASHISH said…
They nailed my arms and legs to the cross. They are scaring me with a golden hammer to nail the last one through my chest. I cannot wait for people to react and revolt. I need to protect myself. It is "I" who need to start the revolution.
The COMMON MAN

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