Independence Day; 26th July 2009

My tiny nation, Maldives is celebrating its 44^th Independence Day today. Some of us say it’s our 1^st Independence Day. Some of us say, this is not independence because he or she is unable to grab a beer as a start of the day. (All these are taken from Twitter). For many, independence is meant in different other ways.

Since this is my blog, this is strictly for what I think about Independence.

Myself, without anything else in my life, I am INDEPENDENT. For a girl my age, I live a very independent life. I live with my brother and sister in law with minimal “unnecessary” control over me. I finance myself with a good saving every month. My parents and I am in excellent contact with minimal influences. So yes, I am independent.

But of course there are contradictions. I have been watching the state TV today, and they have been picking up professions and talking about how independent they are being on their job. What’s with Musicians and actors? What would their independence be? Sex videos? Or perhaps dirty songs? Totally irrelevant on this occasion as there are only their perspective limitations and nothing else limiting their creativity and talent.

Well, talking of independence on job, there goes a long hmph from me. I work on Human Resources, or should I say the most valuable asset anyone could have. Throughout my career, there have always been influences on who is working for you. You bosses control and keep an eye on who they recruit. Unethical decisions on promotions, recruitment and dailies are my day to day decisions mainly because there is a greater power above me.

So there goes one yes for independence and one no for independence. Now let’s see if you are really independent from a 360degree huh?

I heard on the radio today, “your independence comes with boundaries, boundaries that are to be respected”. I assume that these boundaries are religion, economy and culture. The radio quote is very diplomatic indeed. We live in independence with certain limitations. “In my opinion”, every human being will have his or her limits and boundaries and that doesn’t mean that you do not have independence. Just because you can’t have things beyond your culture, religion and social values that don’t mean that you do not have your independence.

So, given the circumstance that I am independent and dependent at times, proves that there are times when nature allows you to be independent and there are times when nature does not allow you to be independent. However, if you feel you have the chance and choice to be much independent in the next door or the other shoe, you have the right to walk from dependent to independence. This is pretty much independence to me.

Independence comes with great responsibility. As a whole, that is our situation today. If your parents think, you are not responsible enough, you do not have the independence. If you boss thinks, you are not responsible enough, you do not have the independence. If your lover think, you are not responsible enough, you do not have the independence. If your nation thinks, you are not responsible enough, you do not have the independence.

So, for all those who are responsible enough in the eyes of the rest of the world…wish you a very happy independence day! For others, let’s hope for independence to hit you soon.