Dr. Khalid Al-Saleh
By Dr Khalid A Al-Saleh

are hearing great promises these days, the days of getting ready for the National Assembly elections. There are tens of candidates promising us reform, as if reform is a readymade item successful candidates will deliver to us. If reform was this simple, we would be the most developed country today, but we are still hearing promises, and our movement is still very slow and not up to our aspirations.

Reform principles are based on imperfection, as there is no perfection and will never be. So, the most active people adopt the rules of critical thought and improvement, but the less active adopt the rules of statements and sometimes swearing and defaming. This is the core difference between nations -nations that are living in the renaissance era and those living the pre-renaissance era.

The human being, ever since he started living on earth, continued to develop. He was during the first stages of his life slow - sometimes very slow. The difference in humanity came with the critical mentality in the 16th century, as scientists of the European renaissance era reformed intellectual views, as they benefited from the fall of Constantinople by copying ideas of great nations that succeeded before them in liberating the mind of the human being headed by Arab and Muslim nations.

The movement of growth and civilization was quick during the recent history of human beings, and man walked on the Moon and made Earth a small village surrounded by endless waves. The secret of man's success in development was his ability to use his brain in order to improve his surroundings. He did not use slogans as tranquilizers, and did not base his values on his personal needs; rather he took a path with clear signs and everyone had a role in it. These are the nations we see today having success factors or moving towards them. But nations of backwardness have those who continue to make statements and promises without having clear action plans.

Once again, this is the core difference between people, as whenever the critical mentality disappears, and the more people shout and attack, and whenever pessimism and frustration spreads, it indicates the people's failure and laziness, and finally being behind the movement of civilization. The large amount of promises is not an indication of man's wish to work; rather it is completely the opposite. Also, attacks and screaming are not a sign of man's keenness on reform, but to the contrary.

Critical mentality is what we need today, a mentality that analyzes reality and uses proven scientific information to carry out its executive duty in full; an optimistic mentality that believes imperfection is the nature of life. So do not get angry when you see the defect - rather work on mending it with the least loss. A mentality that loves freedom, believes in human rights and respects every living being, because it is Allah's creation.

How can we instill these principles in ourselves, while most of us are full of anger and pessimism? How can we start correctly, while many of us are looking for temporary relief from anger instead of looking for a work plan based on development values, with patience and improvement of performance. This is the next challenge.

We have in Kuwait neutral scientific and intellectual leaders, and we need to listen to them. Leaders who do not appease, respect other opinions and believe in success values away from allotments. The successful leader is one who believes in the abilities of his citizens. With those leaders, the reform wheels start moving, and the more the leaders seek the help of these intellectuals, the more they guide us on the right path of reform.

Nations are led by its scientists and neutral experts, and the clever ruler is the one who gets his strength from them, not oppresses them, and their credibility and frankness must be respected.