BEGGARS CAN NOT BE CHOOSERS
Outline:
·
Introduction:
Thesis Statement:
Beggars relinquish their ability to choose because they rely on others for
their survival.
·
The concept of choice is
integral to autonomy. Beggars, lacking the means to determine their fate,
cannot be considered true choosers.
·
Beggars essentially barter
their autonomy for the resources they solicit.
·
Over time, beggars become
so reliant on their benefactors that their autonomy in all aspects of life
diminishes.
·
This dependency dynamic
mirrors international relations, where weaker nations often seek assistance
from stronger ones, resulting in a loss of sovereignty.
·
Such states find themselves
unable to protect their interests and instead become subservient to more
powerful nations.
·
Pakistan exemplifies this
pattern as a classic case of a beggar state.
·
Way out: Although
reclaiming lost autonomy is challenging, it is not insurmountable.
·
Conclusion: The loss of
freedom of choice is not irreversible; with effort, it can be regained.
There is an inherent reason in
the saying of the Prophet (PBUH), “A hand that gives is better than a receiving
hand" Pearls of wisdom are hidden in this Hadith. It tacitly criticizes
the act of begging because begging makes one dependent on others. This
dependency entails the loss of freedom and liberty. A beggar loses his freedom
to choose what is best for him. He surrenders the right to complain or argue
regarding the donation he receives. Very often perils of begging also include
exploitation by the hands of the donor, On a national level, exploitation is
commonplace and routine. Donor states in return for the paltry sum of aid,
often extract more benefits from the done state. They wield such control and
influence over weaker and dependent states that dependent states cannot choose
what is better for their national interest. They effectively become client and vassal
states of the stronger countries. In such a scenario evil nature of begging
becomes evident. In short, beggars are not the choosers because they are
dependent on others for their living and sustenance.
Choosers are those who are free
to choose and decide their course of life. On an individual level, if a person
is poor but he labors hard to earn his living, he is certainly a chooser. He Is
self-reliant so he can choose the best for him and his family. He cannot be
dictated to by his contractor or employer regarding his matters. After work, he
can spend money where he wishes and he can fulfill his needs in the way he
finds appropriate. On the contrary, a beggar's life is always contingent on
alms. He has no control over others who may or may not heed his begging call.
As such a person is not self-reliant, so he only believes in fate or luck. He
abandons his own choice and leaves all to the lady of luck. He cannot decide
what is best for himself or his family. His judgment is not free. His choice is
not independent. He becomes subservient to the orders passed by others. He
loses both his personality and faith. A beggar cannot choose and decide
anything with liberty and freedom. So, he is not a chooser.
The beggars exchange their
freedom of choice with the things they beg for. Though, all people have their
needs their modes of fulfilling those needs are different. Those who earn for
living are different from those who beg for a living. Those who eat and work
hard lose nothing. But beggars lose their freedom of choice. Engineers,
doctors, public servants, teachers, and laborers earn their living in exchange for
their time, service, labor, and knowledge. On the contrary, the beggars have
nothing to exchange except their freedom. So, to survive and fulfill their
needs they willingly surrender their liberties and rights. The donor then exploits
them. Finally, beggars are left with nothing.
Once begging becomes a habit, it
becomes more difficult to avoid it A beggar gets himself entangled in the
cobweb of begging. When he realizes that it is usually too late, he decides to
get rid of begging but he cannot do so. He cannot implement his decision
because his power to choose and decide is already lost. His self-hood is
already shattered. The more he tries to unchain himself, the more severe
becomes the tragedy. Donor or lender becomes a spider who strips off all
liberties from his prey. Gradually, beggars become so dependent that they
cannot even think to live their own lives. They become so dependent that their
freedom of choice regarding all spheres of life gets completely lost.
On the national level, weaker
states often ask for help from stringers states. They can beg for various forms
of help from the stronger states. Aid is one of the most common forms of help
being asked for by the weaker states Disasters, wars, and the outbreak of
epidemic diseases can put an unbearable burden on weaker states. Rather than bolstering
their finances, they seek to short and quick fix. They make a global begging
call. Rich countries come to the rescue but on their terms and conditions. For
instance, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2011. The USA provided
most of the aid. But this aid was conditional. They placed a condition that
only USAID workers would decide where the aid money would be spent. They
prevented the Haitian government from having any say in this matter. As a
result, USAID only developed those areas that were owned by American fruit
corporations while completely ignoring the worst-hit areas of Haiti. Haitian
government tried to exercise their own choice but their effort was of no avail
because they were beggars who begged for American help and not the choosers.
States beg for loans and debts
too. Most of the weaker states often face a balance of payment crisis. Their
budget balances are usually in deficit. As a quick fix, they beg in front of
rich states like the IMF and World Bank. Rather than beefing up their resources
they chose the short-cut measure. After this flawed choice, they gradually lose
their freedom of choice. Debts are often conditional which curbs various
liberties of the debtor states. They are effective tools to enslave a nation as
Adam Smith, a former economist, has said:
“There are two ways
to enslave a nation, through war or debt."
Greece and Spain are a few of the
most recent examples falling prey to their lender states and agencies. Two
decades ago, Greece begged the European Union and IMF to lend money to her.
Certainly, the loan was coupled with stringent conditions. To fulfill those
conditions, Greece had to beg for more loans. In this manner amount of debt
piled up to such an amount, that It became unbearable for Greece to repay those
loans. As a result, Greece had accumulated so much debt that exceeded its
overall GDP. At the end of the day, Greece has neither freedom of choice nor
money to repay its debts.
Trade is usually a mutual
commitment and agreement. But under New World Order it has become more
discriminatory towards poor states. The weaker and poorer states have to comply
with certain conditions set by stronger states to trade with them. They beg to
strange states to ease those conditions and restrictions. But those concessions
are also conditional which effectively curbs freedom of choice of the begging
states. GSP status for preferential trade with Pakistan was accorded by the European
Union in 2013. But this status is contingent upon Pakistan’s compliance with
twenty-seven conventions. Pakistan's freedom of choice has been curbed in
return for trade with Europe.
States also beg from stronger
states to provide them security against some enemy state. Such security help
often comes with a price. A state that has been provided security by some other
state becomes a vassal state. It relinquishes its freedom to choose the best
policy for its national security. Ukraine is a pertinent example in this
regard. NATO has provided security for Ukraine against Russian threats after the
loss of Crimea. Now Ukraine wields no power regarding its state affairs. They
cannot choose where to deploy the army or where to carry out military operations.
NATO decides everything and Ukraine cannot complain because she is a beggar
state and therefore cannot be choosers.
Pakistan is an archetype in this
regard. Pakistan has become a habitant begging state. Despite being one of the
most resource-rich countries in the world, it is one of the most indebted
states. Since 1998, Pakistan has been continuously borrowing from the IMF. IMF
offers only conditional loans. One of the most prominent conditions is
compliance with IMF’s structural adjustment of program (SAP) SAP contains
various general measures that cannot be applied to all states alike. But IMF
does not recognize this criticism because it is not at the receiving end. But
those countries that are at the receiving end have to surrender their freedom
of choice to fulfill IMF’s pre-conditions. Pakistan does that too. The present
Pakistani government has slashed subsidies on social welfare programs,
increased taxes manifold, and increased petroleum prices to appease the IMF Not
only the government of Pakistan but also the people of Pakistan have lost their
freedom of choice. No matter who they elect for government by their votes,
policies remain unchanged. All governments would have to repay previous debts.
To repay previous debts, they have to take more loans. To take more loans, they
would have to comply with the conditions attached to the loan. In this manner, the
vicious cycle will continue and Pakistan will continue to suffer unless
self-reliance and self-help are adopted by Pakistani authorities.
Freedom of choice lost once is
not lost forever. To reclaim freedom is a difficult task but not an impossible
one. Nobody fails until he accepts failure. Therefore, it is never too late to
make amends.
On an individual level, a beggar
should abandon begging and adopt a healthy lifestyle. It would be difficult at the
start but gradually contentment and a satisfied soul will compensate for all
hardships. Through struggle and hard work, he can earn money and retain his
freedom and liberties. He can only then relish the sweetness of freedom of
choice.
On a national level states should
utilize their resources to avoid dependence on others. Pakistan should
capitalize on both its natural and human resources. It should import technology
to extract its natural resources. After extraction, they should turn them into
finished products to fetch high prices internationally. Along with that
Pakistan has to train and educate its population for the modem needs. Educated,
skilled, and prepared human resources can help to create native technology and
local machines. Those machines can be utilized to extract natural resources and
produce value-added products. Those products after export will generate large
revenue for Pakistan. By adopting this line of action, Pakistan can turn the vicious
cycle of begging and depending only into a virtuous cycle of independence and
prosperity.
To conclude in all fairness,
begging is an evil that pollutes the self-hood of a beggar. The act of begging
enslaves the beggar both mentally and physically. He cannot choose what is best
for him. Even if he tries to choose what is better for him, his effort bears no
fruit. On a national level perils of begging are more acute and evident. Lender
and donor states wield influence over the debtor and donated states by
exploiting and blackmailing them. Stronger states curb freedom of choice and
prevent it from being exercised by the weaker states.
As a result, the beginning states
become poorer and weaker with no liberties left. If states want to decide and
devise their policies freely, they have to avoid begging bowl syndrome.
“Act of begging is
not just sin but a criminal act, punishment of which Is incarceration of
personal liberties."
(Bertrand Russell)
