Elections 2010 Plato's allegory of the cave and tz election

[m_kishuri]

The cave is the world

The fetters are the imagination

The shadows of ourselves are the passive states which we know by introspection.

The learned in the cave are those who possess empirical forms of knowledge (who know how to make predictions, the doctors who know how to cure people by using empirical methods, those who know what is going on, etc.). Their knowledge is nothing but a shadow.

Education, he says, is, according to the generally accepted view of it, nothing but the forcing of thoughts into the minds of children. For, says Plato, each person has within himself the ability to think. If one does not understand, this is because one is held by the fetters. Whenever the soul is bound by the fetters of suffering, pleasure, etc. it is unable to contemplate through its own intelligence the unchanging patterns of things.

No doubt, there are mathematicians in the cave, but their attention is given to honors, rivalries, competition, etc.

If anyone is not able to understand the unchanging patterns of things, that is not due to a lack of intelligence; it is due to a lack of moral stamina.

*Wandugu wapenzi, ikiwa imebaki siku moja tu kabla ya uchaguzi wa Taifa, nawaombeni tujaribu kwa kadri ya uwezo wetu kuwahamasisha watanzania wenzetu kwenda kupiga kura. Nimetumia hiyo allegory ya PLATO kama mfano wa kuonyesha kwamba sisi ambao tayari tumeishaona mwanga, tunajukumu kubwa la kwenda kuwamhamasisha wenzetu ili watumie haki yao ya kiraia ya kupiga kura.
Tutoke nyuma ya Computer screen ili tukawahamasishe wananchi, haswa vijana na wakina mama, ambao ndio wanaokabiliwa na matatizo mengi yanayoletwa na viongozi wabovu.
Tukumbuke kwamba sisi ndio the Civil Society ya nchi yetu, na hivyo tunajukumu kubwa la kuwaamsha wale ambao aidha wamekata tamaa au hawaoni umuhimu wowote wa kupiga kura, kwamba hii ndio nafasi ya pekee ya kuleta mabadiliko ndani ya nchi yao. Sio kazi kubwa sana; Tuanzie majumbani mwetu (haswa wale walio karibu nasi),halafu majirani zetu, kwenye makundi ya vibarazani, na kwenye kona ambapo vijana wengi wasio na kazi hupendelea kukusanyika.
"Penye Udhia, Penyeza Rupia." Kama unauwezo, basi penyeza rupia ili kuwahamasisha wale walio karibu nawe ili wakapige kura ili kumchagua mgombea wa chama chochote wanachopendelea. Tuwakumbushe wenzetu kwamba kama haupigi kura, basi usulalamike.
(NO VOTE, NO GRUMBLE).

 

[Sikonge]

HEAVEN OR HELL.................

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator..

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven.."

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell..

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says,
"Yesterday we were campaigning. Today, you voted.."

Vote wisely on October 31, 2010