HOPE FOR US BECAUSE OF US

Image from: donotgiveup.net

Amongst other related definitions, the Longman Active Study Dictionary defines hope as “the feeling of wanting something to happen or be true, and believing that it is possible”.

I hear a lot of talk and read a lot of writing instructing us to be hopeful regardless of gloomy circumstances. It is fast becoming a cliché, the expected statement of condolence. Unlike many people, I decided to give this concept of “hope” some thought. Could there be any progressive outcome from the feeling of wanting something to happen or be true and believing that it is possible? Does this not sound similar to a daydream or outright fantasy, castle in the air sought of thing?

I resolved to consider history.  The following are a few examples of individuals and people who hoped, and the outcomes of their wisdom or folly.

William Wilberforce 

Wilberforce became a member of the British Parliament in 1780. During, this period, Slave trade was a thriving business in the United Kingdom.  Slaves were taken from Africa and sold to plantation owners who used them for manual labour and treated them very badly. Weird as this might sound, it was lawful. As a member of parliament, Wilberforce was opposed to this practice and moved for its abolishment.  Though staunchly opposed, Wilberforce wanted slave trade abolished and believed it was possible. In 1807, Wilberforce and his cohorts achieved their goal, Slave trade was abolished.

Winston Churchill

He was a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and one of those who led the world to victory in the Second World War.  In 1941, he visited the school where he studied as a young man and the speech he delivered contained these words “This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never- in nothing, great or small, large or petty- never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy”. This could be considered more of persistence, but at the root of such a mindset is hope. 

African American people

 
The story of the African Americans and their struggle with racism has been over flogged and I don’t intend to go over it. However, I could not help but notice the moral of their story. Racism was not what the African American Civil rights activists wanted. They wanted freedom and equality. They believed it was possible and did not relent until it happened.

For the sake of length, I have kept these historical perspectives brief and to the point. However, I hope my point goes home that “Hopelessness does not pay”

You know how circumstances can be beyond our control. Stuff happen. Even in a democracy, with established systems and protocols of justice, injustice happens and in many instances the oppressed can do nothing. Knowing your rights is sometimes not enough. Everything could be outside your reach. However, the blow of defeat only hits when the feeling of wanting something positive to happen and believing that it is possible goes away. Hope is sometimes all we have. If we lose hope, we are giving up the only thing we have.

Art Williams said “All you can do is all you can do, but all you can do is enough.” If hoping is all you can do, do it. Not against the vague definition of hope that goes around these days, but against the dictionary definition of this precious English word- wanting something to happen and believing it is possible.

On our National scene, as Nigerians we are set to throw in the towel, to give up (whatever that means to a nation). I want to suggest we result to a feeling. Weird as this may sound considering the fact that far more advanced solutions have failed. History however proves the proficiency of hope. Let’s give hope a chance.

Regular men and women in Nigeria, the power of governance might not rest in you bosom as it should, every bad thing you have  complained about might be turning   worse, even the unity of you great country is being threatened. It is all happening fast, you have long lost grip. Don’t lose grip of the feeling of wanting something positive to happen and believing it is possible.

I once heard a respected Nigerian, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru say, “Losing hope means you have accepted things that are wrong to be right”. Imagine a Nigeria where bad roads are eternally the norm. Can you fathom a country where terrible health care services, poisonous drinking water, a growing gully between the very rich and the miserably poor, scarce electricity, troublesome unemployment, and corruption inclined public officers,  become the normal practice, FOREVER? Allow the dread that comes to mind make you cling tightly to hope.

Things are bad and seem to be going worse, but the feeling of wanting something positive to happen and believing it is possible is something we cannot afford to lose. Let us never say “All hope is lost”.