OUTLOOK — By Ali Al Matani — The containment policy pursued by our country to attract some of those who are singing out of the tune and sending negative signals about home abroad may be misunderstood as unnecessary softness towards their inappropriate attitudes that are not in line with the main path of our country. This softness in handling those who push on the government to get some personal gains, high positions in public service, rewards or material incentives to stop their behaviours, may be misunderstood as a weakness on the part of the government.
Based on the consideration that the state is bigger than these cheap bargains — as seen by public opinion — this matter needs to be revised and reviewed to abolish all fears that everyone who can play this hateful game with the state may get a high position one day. There is no doubt that containment policy pursued by our country is not a new one, rather, it has been followed since the commencement of our Blessed Renaissance to include the political opponents during the years before Renaissance. This policy has been followed locally to reunite all tribes, ideologies, sects and communities in order to build our nation together.
But this policy cannot be applied in the 21st century; and with persons who can be considered abusing home abroad; gibberish through media platforms and portray our country as a primitive state. It is unreasonable after that to have those people rewarded by high positions in the government. Shouting in talk-shows and writing in foreign newspapers describing our country improper descriptions to get a reward eventually is a blatant attempt now.
To pursue this old policy today is something in vain and doesn’t reflect the real position of Oman; the great state that can't accept this exposed blackmail by some teenagers.
These practices have no end; every time an opponent individual or category is satisfied with a reward or a job, another one raises to walk the same path in a huge greed in positions or jobs they don’t deserve for sure. Those opportunists depend on deceiving people as if they are political activists. In fact, they are no more than anarchists with no cases to defend or national demands to pursue; they try to ride the fast train of wealth.Many of those who are keen on the interests and future of our country are afraid of the writers and journalists becoming opportunists in order to be contained by our policy of containment to gain rights they don’t deserve.
The question that arises now is what makes the government dragged behind those big-mouths and follow whoever speaks inside and outside Oman to bring him or her into its arms again with a new high-profile position or a membership of committee.
What those talky persons are doing is an evident sign that our society is developed and matured one; it is a great social mobility. Strengthening state institutions, establishing values of people's participation and opening dialogue channels are better than appeasing those who may see that as a weakness and not a containment policy practised by a mighty country.
Appeasing policy is not always correct. This way of putting an end to this phenomenon may hurt the prestige of the state by the hands of people who don’t recognise gains achieved. Those people look only to the empty half of the glass and see through black glasses; some of them are motivated and moved by suspected hands that have no interest at all in our stability, progress and prosperity.
The state is bigger and greater than some individuals; whatever their strength is. This is a fact that no one can deny or deform to absorb and contain who are combative to the system.
Of course, opening windows to everybody is granted and it is essential to the internal dialogue in family; everyone has his opinion and situation within the legitimate dialogue, and according to the agreed lines that shouldn’t be overtaken to achieve illegal gains or personal interests. Nations are not for sale by demagogue jargon in foreign media or embassies.
We hope that these words are understood with the national perspective; to know well who is baby-smiling and stabbing from behind.
