By Bu Keshmah*

A person enthusiast about the elections asked "Bu Keshmah" about his opinion regarding participation in the electoral process. This man mentioned all the pretexts he could think of to convince Bu Keshmah that participation is not only the right thing to do, but also a duty. He then said that abandoning this right to vote will lead the country to a catastrophe (as if the country's situation is perfect), adding that those who will boycott have lost the political compass and they lack cleverness and shrewdness, and they are acting very childishly, because he claims that whoever boycotts the elections is a deserter at least and their offence may be deemed betrayal and treason.

Bu Keshma left him say everything he had in him and get everything off his chest, and then told him that he would begin his response by recounting a story that happened with his family. My wife used to suffer from our children's acting out and complains he said, as well as their constant demands to order in delivery and buy food from restaurants. All of her tricks didn't work to convince them of the benefits of homemade food, until she came up with an idea.

She called them to help her in the kitchen while cooking and gave each one of them a task, such as washing the dishes and other tasks. Her plan worked and the kids believed that they effectively participated in cooking, and they were pretty sure that the meal wouldn't have been done without them. At this moment, that person opened his mouth and upsettingly said: "I speak to you about politics and you tell me a story about cooking and your children!". Bu Keshmah replied: "Didn't you hear about the political kitchen?"

I will explain to you, Bu Keshmah said. The situation is similar to what's going on now. If you and other people who are going to participate in the nominal elections think that you constitute a part of the political cooking process, or you think that you are its pillars because "you are the source of the legislative authority". You are wrong, because in reality the people in power and the government are the ones who decide the political meal and its ingredients and choose the type of fire on which they cook it. They also decide when it starts and ends and add the peppers and flavors. They, as well, decide who is going to sit at the dining table, who will eat and who will be forbidden to have a bite of the meal.

The role of participants is limited to washing dishes until their hands get worn out. Their role will be limited to chopping onions and garlic until their unpleasant odor sticks to their clothes. And since these people believe that they are taking part in the political meal, they are as a result responsible for its flavor. They can't even criticize it whether it came out brunt, salty or bitter. How can they criticize a meal they cooked? They will promote it as being the best meal ever and claim that it had the best flavor.

The oddest thing of all is that they may not even be invited to attend the dinner. Even if they get invited, only the leftovers will be offered to them. Here, the pro-government citizen said: I no longer have any appetite for politics and food.

*Bu Keshma is a simple and ordinary person. He has a sharp mind, white heart and awaken conscience. He feels bad for what the county of a million palms has come to.

Arabic Version