Democracy and our Cry for True Freedom

In the late 90s, when democracy finally came to my country and when the citizens heard about it, to everyone, I guess it sounded like the new promised land for us. As the definition that was given to it, it will be a government for all the people and controlled by the people, but with the look of things, that is just a mere definition, and I can boldly say that since democracy came into this country, it has not really favored the masses, but only some sets of people.

We were told that in a democracy our voices will be heard loud and clear, and we will vote in whom we like to be our leader, but this only looks good on paper as the most appealing thing for a country to have but not applicable in real life when we talk about it. And we can all see that it is not for the people but only for those who are at the top.

Where I come from, democracy sounds like a blessing to us because during elections we can all go out to cast our votes and speak out freely sometimes, but in reality is this freedom really free? Because when I look at it, I can see that my people are still suffering from injustice, bad roads, poor health infrastructures, bad electricity, a skyrocketing unemployment rate, insecurity, poverty, and a lot of things that are still trapping a lot of citizens down. Our elections are always filled with a lot of propaganda, “change promises," and a lot of fallacies that they have been saying since 1960—change that they promise, but we never see that real change because after that person that wins the election takes over, we will never see that green light of those fake promises, and then, the common man begins to marvel if his vote and voice really matter or if the election has been rigged as usual.

Democracy gives hope to all of us because it makes us believe that real change is still a thing of reality, maybe one day. But in a lot of countries like mine, the hope is just going down the drain because of the constant level of disappointment. A lot of people have now developed political apathy because of fear, desperation, and even doubt. And when you ask some people, you hear them say that it is better to pick the devil that you know than to vote for whom you do not know.

So, since democracy came into my country, it has only been a thing of benefits in a way that it has prevented us from something like full dictatorship; people can move freely and have a dream of a better and brighter tomorrow. But the bad side of it supersedes the good side because it has given enough room for corruption, personal interests, and greed, which has made these people in power less considerate towards the masses.

And do I feel a military regime of government will work better? Well, maybe if we look at what is currently happening in Burkina Faso,it is favouring them, but at times power in the hand of a wrong man can be so disastrous. And nothing like a full monarchy, because this will not give people total freedom. But I will still stand and go for democracy, not the one we have now but a true democracy as the definition of democracy implies, a democracy that is for the people: the one that will listen when the masses are speaking, the democracy for the people: the one that will do what we want, we the citizens are asking for, and a democracy by the people: the one that is governed by those who have the true mind of a human being and human feelings. A democracy that is not based on tons of lies and fake propaganda to deceive the people.

And to end this, democracy goes far beyond the day of election. Democracy is the people, and if you and I are not doing well under it, then what is the essence of it? A real democracy will not fail the people; it must move from speeches to action. This is the only time you and I can call it democracy.

Thank you for reading.

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