Religion and Other Matters

As those who had followed my career will know very well, religion has been something very close to my heart. Partly this is so because I was educated in a Muslim country and a lot of my education had to do with learning the various aspects of religion. But I think even after my somewhat long career as the President and despite my many public lectures and speeches on the subject, the Maldivian public seems to be extremely literal when interpreting my utterings on the subject.

Take for instance the recent saga about a Buddhist temple being constructed in a resort. Now whether this is true or not, I do not see its relevance to the integrity of the Muslim faith nor to the religious sensibilities of Maldivians.

Some might say that this is a game that I started, way back in the '70s... when I saw the potential of how it could be utilised to one's political advantage. And I guess it has backfired and now any Tom, Dick and Harry is trying to capitalise on religion as a tool for manipulating public opinion.

Anyway, I will leave you today with G-Law No. 2

G-Law No. 2

Preach the Need for Change,
But Never Reform too Much at Once

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level poeple are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel a gentle improvement on the past.