Random Reflexions

You know, there is absolutely no excuse to be so utterly gullible. My friend noted that ever since the election, Mr. Pass, the omnipresent messenger from the unknown of the mobile phone world has been missing in action. During the run-up to the election Mr. Pass made several appearances on my mobile phone as well.

"Maumoon has chartered a flight to Singapore leaving tonight!", Mr. Pass informed.

"Maumoon meeting with 2/2 to bring martial law", Mr. Pass warned.

Was anyone expected to seriously believe any of these concoctions? They served a purpose of novelty and as such each message was meant to be taken with a bag of salt. At least, that's how many took them. But the same cannot be said for many others.

But enter the realm of word-of-mouth gossip and you'd have some entirely more potent. This is something to stand in awe of. The sheer power of word-of-mouth gossip to make our logical faculties malfunction is incredible. Especially in a post-election atmosphere.

In the past few days several people have told me that Gayoom left the then presidential palace at Theemuge with much of the furniture and electrical appliances such as air-conditioners. One even went as far as suggesting that Gayoom had wiped the palace clean of the expensive goodies. Another was very angry when he said that before Gayoom left the presidential office he had wiped some shit on the walls of the building.

Yes, there I was. Standing in awe, shocked at the power of stupidity.

People are demanding from the current administration inventories of previous presidential residence, retreat and office. Some people are losing sleep over it. This is a matter of national import. We need Gayoom's underpants accounted for before he strikes again. What if he steals the walls and concrete work of the palace next time? These things belong to the people who have not thought about where Gayoom is stuffing all the goodies yet. (Psst. They were especially designed by Ikea to collapse and fit into a briefcase. What? Yes, all of them.)

I tried to imagine all this. I really did. And it occurred to me that Gayoom has invited these accusations upon himself. Three decades of plundering and robbing the people of this country has labeled him an ordinary, bank-robbing, striped-bodysuit wearing criminal. Now that he's powerless we imagine him being involved in other mundane acts of depravity - stealing air-conditioners (they were really big ones, I was told). Criminal behaviour is in his blood. People have no doubt that Gayoom could sink low enough to remove appliances and spray shit in the office. Yes, Gayoom is capable of any sordid act we can think.

Just ask Mr. Pass. He seems to know everything.