Why We Get Frustrated

Bishalya Gautam

People in my generation, who are in their early 20s, have studied our nation and its vast riches, rich history, and majestic mountains since a very young age. Everything that has ever been written or taught to us has been positive and has focused on the vast quantity of natural resources that we still have not used, as well as the few successes we have had. 

Every young person has an illusion of grandeur and a false sense of hope since our educational system never really gave us an insight into the future our country was moving towards. Instead, it fed us the same wonderful past. Our generation is built on doubt and illusion. While it is impossible to deny a sense of patriotism or a commitment to doing good deeds for our nation, there are still too few outlets for inquisitive and innovative thinking. It appears that no one in a position of authority over a country is concerned about the number of young people who are leaving in quest of opportunities overseas to showcase their genuine abilities and pursue their passions.

Our political authorities are too preoccupied with placing the blame for the pervasive problems plaguing our country on individual citizens. In addition, there are still some common people who feel restricted by empty promises of the future. The same people show up to support the leaders who seem to be working together to obstruct any reforms that the country could try to implement. There are instances when someone has a really strong fundamental belief. They are unable to accept fresh information when it contradicts their preconceived notions. It would produce a very unsettling sensation known as cognitive dissonance. And because upholding the fundamental concept is so crucial, people will explain away, dismiss, or even deny everything that contradicts it.

With the way things are going in the nation at the moment, one would ask, is it the politicians whose moral fibre has been tarnished by money and self-serving ambition, or the people who vote to choose the responsible officials, rendering democracy ineffective? 

Among the most intelligent people in the history of Western culture were fierce opponents of democracy. One of the most esteemed philosophers, Socrates, held somewhat divergent opinions about democracy. According to Plato, Socrates was discussing—more accurately, lecturing—the nature of the ideal state. He once asks Adeimantus, his associate, who he would prefer to have in charge of a naval voyage. Is that a random traveller or a skilled, knowledgeable, and seasoned captain? When the captain is chosen as the obvious choice, Socrates asks, "Why would we let just anybody try to manage the ship of state?" applying the metaphor to the state. He continues by suggesting that the perfect state would be a totalitarian one in which the leaders had decades of experience leading before assuming entire authority. 

Even though distinguished philosophers have presented convincing arguments against democracy, we have also seen many examples of democracy's greatness in action, which further suggests that either we are unable to identify corrupt politicians from the past or we are never given the opportunity to vote correctly. I believe that the average citizen is only slightly satisfied with their situation.

We cannot expect change unless a revolutionary fire burns deep within each disgruntled person. We are neither suffering enough to warrant a revolution nor content enough to happily accept this situation of no progress. Furthermore, we can look at the current situation in which the youth queue up to go abroad for lack of a viable opportunity to do something in their own motherland. Worst is when the youth have to fight to go abroad and get killed in the country.