Our Tolerance of Comical Illusions

A universal consensus reached by most people of the world is that elected or ‘referen-dumb-ly’ appointed rulers of the world confuse, mislead and lie to their citizens. Massive state mechanisms, primarily the mass media and political coercion stamp shut open dialogue and alternate ideas from the public. The only superpower in the world claims that it is fulfilling its majority’s wishes but does exactly the opposite. A third-world plutocratic state wishes to better its citizens living standard by investing in a policy that benefits only a privileged elite. In the world of fiction writing, such deception is the norm.

The French play writer Pierre Corneille, author of ‘Le Cid’ completed a play called ‘L‘illusion Comique’ in the 17th century illustrating the Platonic argument of material reality as an illusion covering the ideal world beyond. The main character, Pridamant regrets banishing his only son and journeys to a magician ’Alcandre’ to find out what befell the youth after he left home. Alcandre conjures illusions, repeatedly putting the father (and the audience) on guard to distinguish the real from the illusionary, in which the son is a rich man, dressed like a prince, then is murdered and then miraculously is found alive again, dividing up a pile of gold with his murderers. Finally, the magician tells Pridamant that his son is an actor and all the events have been theatrical performances. The play within a play fools not only Pridamant but also the audience.

Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentinean writer wrote an article in 1955 also called ‘L‘illusion Comique’ but does not mention Corneille’s play in it. In fact, the entire piece explains certain events concerning the three-time President of Argentina, Juan Peron.

Borges alludes to the kidnapping and reappearance of Peron in 1945 and how no one had thought of investigating the kidnapping or pursued legal measures against it. Peron later intended to resign from the Presidency but it was well known that this was only a political act to eliminate his opponents. After mass demonstrations for Peron to remain in power took place, he publicly addressed his followers but never bothered ‘to renounce his renunciation, or perhaps didn’t do so because everyone knew he was going to do so, and it would have been a bore to insist.’ Borges states that, ‘everyone (except, perhaps, the speaker [Peron]), knew or sensed that it was all a fiction.’ For Borges this is not only the absence of sophistication in common people but Coleridge’s ‘…“willing suspension of disbelief” …’

Audience members in a theatre know that the characters in front of them are not in a different time or place but willingly ‘submit to the pleasure of a fiction.’ Borges summarizes that ‘the lies of a dictatorship are neither believed nor disbelieved...their purpose is to conceal or justify sordid or atrocious realities.’

There is little shame in admitting that this same comedic fiction is played by governments today and it is absurdly swallowed by the masses with great fervor. Here are two present examples.

In March 2006, the U.S. Congress appointed a bipartisan panel called the Iraq Study Group (ISG) to assess the US-led Iraq War. In December ‘06 the ISG released its report and recommended that the U.S. must eventually end combat operations in Iraq and help in training Iraqi troops. It also mentions that, ‘By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments...all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq.’ It sensibly opposes an immediate pullout from Iraq and most sensibly presses for diplomacy with Iraq and Syria.

A month later, Bush announced his plan for deploying 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq. An unidentified government official also said that Bush is going to ask Congress for $99.7 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for the rest of 2007 and more than $145 billion for 2008. Furthermore, Bush has said ‘These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory…We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies.’

Pakistanis are living under a military-feudal-industrialists triumvirate and know that its government could care less about the conditions of the hungry, unemployed citizens of Larkana, Kalam or Dera Ismail Khan.

The sale of Buddo (Dingi) and Bundal (Bundaar) islands in Sindh to the Dubai-based Emaar Properties proposes to construct a city called, ‘The Diamond Bar Island City.’ According to the floor-plan, it is going to be a 12,000 acre model city comprising of 15,000 housing units, hotels, offices, shopping and business centers, a golf course, hospitals, schools, resorts, a free trade zone besides a 1.5 km long bridge to connect the new city with Defence Phase-8.

Interestingly, in exchange for developing the Diamond Bar Island City at an estimated cost of $45 billion, Emaar Properties would get 85% profit from the project.

Both islands possess rich flora and fauna of the Indus River delta. Endangered marine life like Green Turtles use the islands for breeding, migratory birds are present year long and one of the last remaining healthy mangroves in our region are also present here. Nearly 4,000 to 5,000 fishing boats use Korangi and Phitti creeks, located on both sides of the twin islands as passages to the open sea. The WWF website includes the area in its list of 200 eco-regions, places ‘with exceptional levels of biodiversity, such as high species richness or endemism, or those with unusual ecological or evolutionary phenomena.’

Emaar Properties has also announced three other projects in Pakistan at a value of $2.4 billion. All three are expected to complete in the next few years and are meant to set new standards in retail property within Pakistan. This all in a country whose State Bank Governor recently claimed, ‘Higher food prices will likely push Pakistan’s inflation rate above the country’s 6.5 percent target for the 2006-07 fiscal year.’ Already, the past few years has brought wonderful economic gains and prices of flour, sugar, milk and lentils has risen by 100%, 122%, 66% and 68% respectively. Property values have skyrocketed to a point where only expatriate Pakistanis can afford them via conversion of their dollars, pounds or dirhams.

This is how Borges ended his article: ‘Happily, for the enlightenment and security of the Argentines, the current regime has understood that the function of the government is not to inspire pathos.’

American and Pakistani rulers know that it is unwise to arouse feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow. But the question remains: with the free-flow of information today and with the simple uncovering of ‘comedic fiction’ policies meant only to delude and aggrieve the vast majorities of the world, how long can we tolerate such actions?