WIRED NOT TO BE A COMMON MAN

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Greetings to you all brethren living in blessed Lunga!

If the legendary tale is true that Lucheleng'anga (presumed to be Jesus) stamped his footprint on a rock at the banks of Bangweulu in Kasoma Bangweulu's village, then somewhere in Lunga is Bethsaida (House of Fishing); and so, some of you are busy in our developing Magdala (Place where fish is processed.) 

What a privilege to know that despite the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, we can still share thoughts about how we want to spend the remainder of our lives! It's indeed a privilege that in His wisdom, he created that part of the world, so different from others, and designed it so special for our inheritance.

Some of you might have read my thoughts before about those who are happy to be called Apamwambas while they define us as grassroots, commoners, or simply common men.

Oh yes, we might have grown up being told some people are supposed to be up there and look down upon you.  Sounds true on face value, doesn't it? You may even argue that from time immemorial, it has been so! 

Indeed, it has been.  Question is; who said YOU should be among the grassroots and not UP there? Why are YOU a common man when others are not? What makes a common man?

Here is why you probably bought into and settled for the idea of being a common man.

There is always a group of people considered opinion leaders. These could be film and fashion stars, musicians, politicians, church leaders, newscasters, sports stars, other newsmakers, etc.! Whatever these people do is considered approved, well and normal. It is looked at with envy by those we call "laggards", in marketing. For the uninitiated, laggards are people who will only buy into an idea after everyone else has tried it and succeeded. They do not want to take any risks. They will watch others take calculated risks and rise while they look out for misfortunes to befall risk-takers. This is what makes them laggards and stashes them under the common man bracket. 

This is the main reason why YOU are probably in that set (that is if you have consented to that definition). Other reasons sound plausible but the above is one of, if not, the main one.

You may argue that so and so has not provided you with similar opportunities like those enjoyed by opinion leaders, you may blame your place of birth (Bethsaida or Magdala in our case), government, weather, in fact, everything and everyone! The only person you do not blame is YOURSELF!

 However, the buck stops at YOU! Yes, YOU are the reason you are considered a common man, grass-root, or whatever demeaning status people have pinned on your person. It is a known fact that no one can make you inferior without your absolute permission.

 You can get anywhere at whatever level you want just like those that you follow and respect. There are ways of doing this that we have all come to learn. One of them is to work with others. Join Lunga Development Association and enjoy a pool of brains thirsty for phasing out the grass-root mentality. You are part of the solution. You have the power and capacity to distinguish yourself.

Grassroots! Common man! Nobody! These words make my blood boil! No one deserves to be in this class! Not now! Not in Bethsaida! Not in Magdala! And it should not be YOU!

 Imagine, for a moment, a political somebody kneeling for power from you in 2021 and you, later, still buy the notion of being treated a commoner by the same person!
OMG! Let me rest my case here.

Comments

FRIENDS OF LOWER ZAMBEZI said…
To be a commoner is the greatest of all compliments: the apamwambas being adrift in a sea of neoliberal Godless capitalism. Who wants to be there? Do they aspire to be like Louche Lungu? He will soon be back to selling beer under a compound hut. Blame Sata for this.

Rest easy my fellow commoners: we don't recognize the British Crown - it came and went, though we appreciate the BSA Company for sending the slave traders packing and bringing some discipline to the Awemba and other chiefs who conspired in that business; we are part of the Guardians of Eden - though with chiefs who are increasingly ill-disciplined; and the state gives us no rights over wildlife and imprisons our wives and children for 7 years for snaring an impala! And if you are from Barotseland, you will rancour at Kaunda's treachery. But, he learnt from the British who gave him an American-style constitution without controls over the power of the executive.

A commoner? God Bless him!

To be a commoner is the greatest status we can ever achieve.
August 2, 2020 at 11:39 AM
Kunda londa said…
From that perspective, you may be right. The notion I would like to break here is that we have individuals who have resigned themselves to fate. They lack self confidence to aspire for greater things of life. I believe everyone has the potential and usually, with little initiative, the capacity to upgrade themselves and live a full, enjoyable life. It is with that in mind that I would like to motivate young people to take it upon themselves that they hold the key to a better standard of life. Poverty is a disease with known panacea. No one is born with everything including high positions. They all work for what they have achieved; maybe with an exception of those from royal families.
August 2, 2020 at 1:36 PM
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