Will I die for my country?

By: @Zamaradi_M

On our way to work with some colleagues we were talking about the current events. And nothing is more 'current' now than the Mtwara unrests. When it comes to politics I am just a tiny step above those who still believe that Mwalimu Nyerere is the president of this beautiful nation.

My point is, I do not know the political side of this issue or of any issue for that matter. What I have heard is that the citizens of Mtwara are protesting against the government's decision to build a gas pipe that will transfer gas from Mtwara to DSM where it will be processed.

These protests went as far as burning government buildings, torching cars that are owned by the government employees (I hope their insurance covers this) and worst of all people have lost their lives and some keep endangering their lives. This got me questioning, if it comes down to it, will I willingly die for my country? Will YOU willingly die for your country?

Depends, if they take all corrupt politicians and put them in one stadium (I am not sure they can fit anywhere else) I will happily wear a bomb and go with them. But wait, we can just put the bomb in the stadium, close the doors and save one good person. As Devi would say, why should bad things happen to good people?

And make no mistake though, if the country is invaded and I have to fight to save lives, I will fight.

May be I am a coward, a traitor, a disgrace to this lovely nation, but if I am to be honest, I will not die for my country. Besides, the after life freaks me out!

I respect the people who will and who have lost their lives in the names of their countries. I admire their courage and their unselfishness.

I think of dying for my country and I ask myself, who will take care of Mama Mkilalu? Will my fellow patriots look after my 3years old Tanisha? Will this country that I died for make sure she gets a decent education and a chance to a better life?

And then I ask again, what will my death accomplish? Will it be just another statistic? Will those corrupt leaders resign, or better yet commit suicide because I died for my country?

So. all these questions whose answers we will never know got me saying NO to dying for my country. It is just too much of a risk. I love my country. Instead of dying for it I'd rather stay alive and fight.

Why don't we go to school, study whatever it is we need to study and fight for our country in the safest way possible. And if we have to protest why don't we do it in a way that we will all stay alive long enough to see our children grow up and our parents enjoy their uzee?

Call me selfish and all the names you can think of but if I have a say in it, I will not die for my country kwa kweli. I just don't see the point.