The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.

Friedrich Nietzche

What Are You Going To Do About It?

Moving to the developed west from a “third world” country (why did they skip number two?), I was fascinated by the shame and offence surrounding corruption. Corruption scandals still existed, but the general population and media reliably responded with indignation, and the authorities followed up with real consequences – at least some of the time.

Where I grew up, blatant corruption is not even a scandal. When it comes to light, the general population reliably responds either with country-wide resignation or anger, the media reports in a such a careful manner so as not to offend anyone of importance. The authorities are the ones most likely perpetuating the offence, so consequences to the guilty are non-existant. On the other hand, consequences to the most vulnerable exist in a too painfully real manner.

This corruption is not based on dictatorship, but on mass-participation of many groups and factions, whose boundaries are drawn based mostly on religion. The people in each and every single group love to blame the corrupt politicians, who are definitely deserving of it; nevertheless, the people at every level of society participate themselves in corrupt behaviour. You cannot get by without engaging in some sort of corrupt transaction, because you will be lacking for a job, for electricity or for water. You must pay some corrupt official to get some document moving. For small corrupt deeds, the average person is scarily nonchalant.

The major perpetuator of corruption, though, is the manner in which we are raised. It didn’t manner which corner you came from, how educated your family is and how honest your parents are, there is always this one individual they held in very high esteem. An esteem so high, it bordered on worship. No one ever spoke ill of him or criticized his conduct – they are almost all men.

These politicians and religious leaders at the top are merely the symptom of a culture too comfortable with corruption. Once one of them dies, another one will surely pop out, and will be kept on top by the solid belief that he can do no wrong. It is important to point out that there are people who do not participate in this idiolisation. They are, however, in the minority, and are generally kept down.

For the last two years, my home country plunged in an existential crisis; hunger and poverty are spreading. Despite all the misery and corruption on display, the same old men sit at the top held in great esteem by their corner of the country. I have no hope because I know how the struggling people at the bottom, still look at their designated leader, and cannot bring themselves to condemn him.

All systems, however, break down when hunger becomes too real.