Is Optimism and Pessimism a new way of dividing ourselves? Using and rather than versus in that sentence is important because it expresses a true paradox, a dose for human existence, and perhaps political progress. It could be of great benefit if the “false statement” of North South, Moslem Christian, and Military Civilian dichotomies is finally replaced by profound truths of Pessimism and Optimism. 

Niels Bohr, the Noble Prize-winning physicist, offers the keystone to build on: “The opposite of a true statement is a false statement, but the opposite of a profound truth can be another profound truth.” Bohr defines a concept that is essential to thinking the world together – the concept of paradox. Truth is found not by [splitting our country] into either-ors but by embracing it as both-and. Truth is a paradoxical joining of apparent opposites, and if we want to know the truth, we must learn to embrace those opposites as one.”

It is sad when those we look up to are invariably the ones with warped mind of either-ors. Other reason for not using versus has something to do with unhealthy tendency that competition usually generates among God’s children. I mean the bitter rivalry that seems to be suppressing the innate dignity of every human being. This is because competition is a secretive, sum game played by individuals for private gain. But unless they want to remain at the bottom of totem pole, women and men must accept such imposition on their thinking.

Of course, there are forms of conflict more creative than the win-lose form called competition, alternative which academic culture knows little of. Consensual decision-making comes to mind, in which all can win and none need lose, in which “winning” means emerging from the encounter with a larger sense of self than sinking into melancholy at each defeat, or result to killing in the name of competition.

It is on the above premise I welcome new ideas but reject narrow-minded thinking. Some Nigerians are in the habit of flipping their inchoate “positive patriotism” by persecuting people they call cynics – for mere criticizing the government. I think the trait of a true patriot lies in naming and claiming one’s integrity rather than accusing one’s “enemies” of lacking the same. Their own attitudes make them flippant at best and ignorant at worst. The adjective “positive patriots” seems to me as false and unnecessary self-congratulatory. Besides, does a child need to shout in the open market in order to proclaim her love for a beloved mother or vice-versa? I also think it is perpetual ignorance to be contented with one’s knowledge, for the knowledge to be acquired in this world is much more than what can be acquired in a lifetime.

They often display such parochial idea those before them had projected into Nigerian society. They frown at anyone who dare criticize the government of the day. They argue we should all start writing good things about our rulers irrespective of their shoddy performance. They “whine” about the fact that all pessimists should be “wiped out”. They want us to sleep and put our heads in the same direction. No, the rule of the so-called democracy frowns at that.  Like infatuated lover, they are compulsive in their chewing words, and so unable to see the danger in a society gradually heading towards a one party state. They have forgotten that not all pro-government writers are saints and that not all critics are devils. We can certainly find genuine patriots in between the groups.

“Positive patriots” who live in Nigeria can even be taken seriously – in principle – than the ones who had run away and now being nursed by rich adopted mothers. Or how many American or British patriots ran away during their nations’ turbulent periods, and then engaged in praising their governments while in self-exile? The advancement of these two “heavens” where our “positive patriots” seek refuge – economic or political – are built with the help of writers who expressed their displeasure with veracity and therefore helped turn the tide of American and British opinions against rulers whose “patriotism” lack fervour. “I cannot think of two many people who would desire to have someone “Love” them who never actually spent time with them, but only loved me from afar,” says pnkee2000@aol.com in response to my “I love Nigeria: What does it really mean?”  

Consequently, I shy away from those writers whose inordinate intention is to destroy or cause chaos in our land. These people are in the same league as “positive patriots” who are probably on a revenge mission or seeking cheap recognition. I believe they are not different from soldiers who constantly chewed the same “patriotism” while losing their virginity to their motherland. Of course it is reasonable to write pleasant things about one’s country, but not at the expense of falsehood; not when our rulers are not serious about governance; not when ordinary woman and man do not enjoy basic things of life in our land.

And their treatises are so full of lampoons that ironically question their own motive against the “cynics”.  In fact, a cynic can literally be regarded as someone searching for an honest thief who had stolen a chicken. A woman or man who calls gari and ogbono by their real names cannot be regarded as a cynic. Nowadays, it is even difficult to figure out the real objectives of most critics. But one thing is clear: every action is motivated by gain. “Extremist-Extremist” among them would even contend this simple and clear statement.

For instance, it is a mundane description of the situation when educated and intelligent people use the word cynic anyhow. I think Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonja-Iwela’s statement “All we need is courage, stamina and positive reinforcement so that we can continue to prove the cynics wrong” is cogent enough even without using the word cynics. Our public officials should cultivate the habit of embracing the paradox of life without bitterness. We don’t need to kill or renounce the subjective self in us. It is a profound truth necessary for connectedness with our communities. Subjective self inspires us to appreciate the objectivity we are preaching.

What exactly is my main point you may quip. Though I don’t have intense likeness or hatred for anything, I do believe strongly that embracing the opposites – pessimism and optimism – could help us overcome our own prejudices. Hence, we would be able to see that our honest differences are a progress in our efforts to building pleasant communities for our children’s children. However, to think I am spreading pessimism means you are yet to grasp the heart of my message. What we are saying is to incorporate the paradox of optimism and pessimism for our salvation. One-way optimism could be as disastrous as pessimism we so much loathe. 

Surely optimism provides energy that keeps or helps human beings through the tempestuous journey of life, but it has no extra ordinary power to bring success into our lives. For example, many of our elders had died chewing optimism in their lifetime without seeing such hope manifested. What is optimism based on? Is it the ability to see the bright side of life irrespective of glaring doom about to happen? Yes to this question puts pessimism in an awkward position, which gives us reason to suspect that a pessimist lacks fortitude or always allows her deep thinking to overwhelm her vision.

But is it a false or true reaction for Nigerians to be angry and disconnected from their rulers who care less about their welfare? This illustration may help us further: If a ship is in a very bad condition and there is likely of it being capsized, wouldn’t it be better if the captain accepts the profound truths of optimism and pessimism instead of embarking on a foolhardy journey based on optimism alone? Paradox of optimism and pessimism can help us to reclaim selfhood, confront fear and thinking our society together.

Although the profound truths of optimism and pessimism can never offer us ultimate certainty, it can rescue us from self-deception if we are willing to submit ourselves to its scrutiny. It can make someone to understand “where the mysteries lie rather than someone who mystifies.” That phrase comes from an essay by one Parker J Palmer. When I read it, I realized that great things disappear in the face of both absolutism and relativism. We can definitely advance our knowledge through conflict – optimism and pessimism.

The classical example of “the glass is half empty/full is another simple way of dealing with profound truths of optimism and pessimism. Depending on how one looks at the data, it is one way or the opposite. Those who are hopeful/optimistic see it one-way (half full); those who are defeating/pessimistic see it the other (half empty). One can never prove the other side wrong because the data can support either view.

Therefore, Nigerians who are spitting it out on those they call “pessimists” are yet to reach higher love to see that profound truths are paradoxical in nature. Interestingly, most of them bath in the paradox of optimism and pessimism but too obsessed with the echo of false statement – “positive patriotism” – to notice its nurture on their own lives. It is the paradox of life that allows one to live everything. Another alternative would be an unlived life; a life lived in denial of the tensions that paradox brings.

The critics of the government as well as pro-government writers should achieve the highest form of love, love that allows for intimacy without annihilation of difference. What is important for us is to start putting a great thing at the centre of our attention instead of a cynical diatribe against human progress, because in terms of ultimate truth, a dichotomy of optimism versus pessimism has little meaning. Some writers criticize not because they hate their country but because they love it so much to let it descend to its lowest form.

I give the last word on this article to Florida Scott-Maxwell, who, writing toward the end of a long and well-lived life, speaks with authority: “Some [uncomprehending] law holds us at a point of contradiction where we have no choice, where we do not like that which we love, where good and bad are inseparable partners impossible to tell apart, and where we – heart broken and ecstatic – can only solve the conflict by blindly taking it into our hearts. This used to be called being in the hands of God. Has anyone any better words to describe it?”

Robot  Villager

# 1 Is Optimism and Pessimism a new way of dividing ourselves? Using and rather than versus in that sentence is important because it expresses a true paradox, a dose for human existence, and perhaps political progress. It could be of great benefit if the “false statement” of North South, Moslem Christian, and Military Civilian dichotomies is finally replaced by profound truths of Pessimism and Optimism. Niels Bohr, the Noble Prize-winning physicist, offers the keystone to build on: “The opposite of a true statement is a false statement, but the opposite of a profound tru...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 12.01.2006 19:17

Bayo	# 2 Man.....you've earlier written something about this issue.....why are you still beating a dead horse? Posted by Bayo| 13.01.2006 18:42