Before I started my job in Beijing, I went home for a few days to spend quality time with friends and family. I was lucky to have most of my friends in Male’ at the time and I spent most of my time with friends of all ages, going for coffees, shopping or just simply hanging out.

One thing that I noticed during my short stay was the level of frustration, which was so evident in the way everyone spoke. It doesn’t take a long time for one to notice, how fed up and absolutely de-motivated the Maldivian youth is. Almost everyone complains…nonstop!

We complain about the ever increasing crime rate, violence, drug abuse and social unrest. We grumble about the inefficiencies of the government, misuse of funds, favoritism, abuse and corruption. We also whine about the rising prices, housing problems, traffic, congestion and several other issues now so embedded in the system. We complain about “the system”. Now I ask, who really is “the system” that we so continuously whine about?

Almost all of us have responsible jobs in the government, private sector or run our own businesses. If not, we are either students or housewives and mothers who support the pillars of the society. Don’t we all in some way contribute to “the system?” How did the system get so frustrating? When did all this happen? Why did we do nothing about it? Why do we still sit and complain instead of trying to change something?

When I ask why we don’t do our bit to bring about change, many of us seem to think that it is the responsibility of the political activists, government opposition or political bodies… I beg to differ. I think it is the small changes that add up to bring about a significant change into the system, that we are all a part of.

Why do we never expose the big bosses at office who favors the pretty secretary? Why do we never speak of the projects that were handed out to any company we wanted, based on mere personal preference? Why do we take two-three hours for lunch while citizens waiting for all sorts of urgent matters waited at the reception in long queues? Why do we sit in the office and chat about Prison Break for hours while our work sits on a table? Why do we never report the neighbor who’s always high on an unknown powder? Why do we complain about the traffic and still own two cars on an island smaller than 2 square kilometers?

Do we really do our bit to change the system? Do we contribute in any way to improve the? Or do we leave it to the “involved” parties and sit at home complaining continuously to anyone who’d care to listen? Have we really made an effort to bring about change? It is time to step up and do something in your own little way, to improve the system that represents no one else but us! If not now, when? And if not you, who?

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