Cynicism can open the doors to hopelessness. For the individual, hopelessness can lead to many psychiatric problems, including depression. At this stage, life, to many, becomes meaningless and death becomes the best option. That is why people suffering from depression can easily resort to suicide.
When the majority of people in a country become cynical, it may mean they are losing hope in the future of their country. In other words, they don't seem to see any light at the end of the tunnel.
As stated earlier, the individual may take refuge in suicide. But for a nation, desperation may set in and push people into doing what they normally would not want to.
For instance, people who otherwise would not want to break the law may be driven into crime or other unlawful means to fight for survival. People may also become agitated and resort to violence at the least provocation.
When the majority of the people are driven to act in an unlawful manner, then the country can be said to be heading towards anarchy.
It is dangerous if the generality of the people become cynical and begin to lose hope for a better future. When people become frustrated as to see nothing good ahead of them, it may mean that any social upheaval could trigger civil strife with dire consequences for national cohesion and stability.
I, therefore, share in the sentiments of President John Dramani Mahama when he appealed to Ghanaians not to be cynical and to have hope for a better Ghana.
It is also true that any country that seeks to make progress must rely on the industry, honesty and dedication of its citizens.
Interestingly, life is not all about hope and the progress of a nation is not just about the quality of its citizens. A lot depends on the leadership.
It is abundantly clear that countries that emerged from poverty and underdevelopment did so on the shoulders of a leadership imbued with vision, inspiration, honesty, determination and commitment.
Ghanaians are generally hard-working, honest and are determined to make decent living. But quality and determination alone cannot address the aspirations of the people if the leadership fail to show the way.
People are becoming cynical and, in the process losing hope because progress, if any at all, is too slow to be noticed. Projects started decades ago are still not completed.
Roads that are mentioned in every budget reading are in the same deplorable state. It is very difficult to pick any sector of our national life and point at any significant progress.
People are prepared to remain patient and wait for that better day if they appreciate the difficulties confronting the government. But in a situation where the leadership exhibits opulence and affluence that is opposed to the general situation in the country, it becomes difficult for the majority of the people to go along with the leadership. Such a disjoint cannot augur well for national development.
It is not for nothing that in a democracy, people go to the polls to elect their leaders. It is to make a choice from among the available alternatives. So while the President would want to count on a hard-working, entrepreneurial and dedicated citizenry, the citizenry would also, on their part, want to count on an honest, inspirational, incorruptible and visionary leadership. If you want to know, it is the leadership that carries the bigger burden.
May the new year bring to us a more inspirational and honest leadership that will give hope to the majority and end the cynicism.
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
