By Philip Suzara
Pondering… as I sit here at the edge of my mythical life pond.
One can see many things happening at the edge of life’s pond, as in any pond. Decisions are made there, life changing decisions, defining moments… to get in the pond, or not. The pond is encircled by its edges in different forms and kinds: straight, jagged, rough, rocks, pebbles, sand, soil, or mud. Very much like people. No matter the differences we have, we all belong there… around the life pond, inside, outside, at the edge, but there.
Nowhere Man and his courtiers have wreaked havoc on our blessed nation with their kleptocracy and kakistocracy. We learn of corruption in magnitudes unheard of that it renders the former despot akin to a petty thief.
Martial Law was, to a certain degree, propped up by bright technocrats who were co-opted by the despot. This is a departure from Nowhere Man’s coterie of friends and advisers with the presence of co-opted bright boys being the exemption more than the rule; the inept, they surround him, and are around primarily because of their loyalty - with their competence only being a bonus or an afterthought.
If our Nowhere Man wasn’t too tragic, he’d really be funny – the big joke, but tragic still is that the joke is on us!
Will it ever stop? Yes, I really think so, it has to end... it needs to end.
Hope should live on within the hearts and minds of those who desire to live and claim their space under the milieu they find themselves in. One should not be an alien on the ground whereupon he stands, it connects him/her in oneness with the nation!
The fans, groupies, supporters, and courtiers are starting to dwindle, not yet in hordes but in trickles. Reckoning happens individually to those who are discerning and slowly gets to enjoy a broader base because the “benefits” do not trickle down to them, the minions. It will be difficult to sustain when there is only a limited amount of butter expected to be spread on the breads of the multitude that awaits it. It is not enough and will never be enough.
The thinking ones, the ones who were mesmerized by his powerful bravado and promises and now awakened to his empty motherhood statements, they are now starting see his lies with the double standards he applies in their conduct of governance, he has compromised the democratic institutions that are the interpreters of the spirit of the law and the gatekeepers of such good governance.
“YOKONA!” was a sticker campaign meant to make people reflect and think about what has been, and is going on in our country with this new dispensation. It was also a catchall word that can cover anything that you wish to say “ENOUGH” to - I thought it was, at once, very
creative and strong.
Sometime last year, I came upon hearing a beautiful and powerful song “idontwannabeyouanymore” by teener Billie Eilish, a young and creative songwriter who is able to communicate the inner spirit of her genre – she is really good, she even connected with me.
If you read her words intently, you will find out that it is a narrative of one who has uncovered the real person and character of someone she had idolized and wanted to emulate.
I find this song now dwelling upon the Nowhere Man’s minions and courtiers, waking each one, one heart at a time; smarting up from the debacle they had foisted upon our nation and, from amongst his followers, the thinking ones who, with their integrity and intellectual honesty still intact, will come to the realization of the tragedy of their electoral choice. YOKONA!
Read on and listen to the words of Billie, one cannot help but think that she was talking about our Nowhere Man, his avid followers, and his courtiers - she is singing about Nowhere Man, his minions, and their realizations.
I really don’t know how his functionaries can go home, face their families, look them in the eyes and tell them that he did them proud.
Let them pray to their god and ask for more blessings for the conduct and discharging of their duties.
And pray tell me about that god that you pray to, because it may seem that the rest of us are children of a lesser god.
And please know that the rest of us know our God, deeply.
“idontwannabeyouanymore”
Don't be that way Fall apart twice a day I just wish you could feel what you say Show, never tell But I know you too well Got a mood that you wish you could sell
If teardrops could be bottled There'd be swimming pools filled by models Told "a tight dress is what makes you a whore" If "I love you" was a promise Would you break it, if you're honest? Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before I don't wanna be you, anymore
Hand, hands getting cold Losing feeling is getting old Was I made from a broken mold? Hurt, I can't shake We've made every mistake Only you know the way that I break
If teardrops could be bottled There'd be swimming pools filled by models Told "a tight dress is what makes you a whore" If "I love you" was a promise Would you break it, if you're honest? Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before I-I don't wanna be you I don't wanna be you I don't wanna be you, anymore
Dissecting this song would be akin to dissecting a frog – it dies.
While I love the lyrics and melody that Billie Eilish wrote for this song, I wish for you to treat yourself to a delight and listen to the version done by Sheldon Riley, a Fil-Aussie from Sydney on AGT. He propels the song to greater heights just like Disturbed did for Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence”.
You will echo the sound of silence saying I don’t wanna be you anymore.
Push back and shout YOKONA!
Pondering… as I sit here at the edge of life’s pond.
Philip Suzara
Creature of God. Child of the Universe. Global Citizen. Lover of Life. Freedom Fighter. Agent of Change. Lone Wolf. Occasional Consultant for Strategic Communications.
