Leading The World Again [Archives:2000/40/Viewpoint]

Once I was driving from the Yemen Times office heading home, when I was met with a familiar scene to us, but rather strange to logic. I saw two cars blocking the road completely, while their drivers were out hugging each other and shaking hands. Must have been two long lost friends. Perhaps too excited to remember that they shouldnt block the road while they find out the latest about each other.
A few minutes later, they broke off smiling, and each went his own destination. I continued after the halt, but it got me thinking.
We dont have many escalators in buildings in Sanaa. The one in the Sanaa Trade Center is one of the few. Its not often that I go there, but when I do, I always see people of different ages going up then down the escalator, fascinated by its mechanism. Some others are too scared to try it even once. I see that very often and I am sure you would if you go there as well. Theres no harm in what they do, but it always leaves me thinking.
Again I was driving along the 60-meter road last evening. When I reached the junction of Hadda road and the 60- meter road, the signal turned green for me, so I proceeded happy that I didnt have to stop for the traffic signal. Suddenly, when I was in the middle of the crossroads I found the cars from all the other three directions started moving. Something must have gone wrong with the automation in the signals because all four directions went green simultaneously. Things came to be under control when the traffic police took charge, but it left me thinking.
These three examples and many more are common in our daily life. However, they set me thinking whether we as a society have been pushed too early into the world of technology, without sufficient experience or supporting background. It seems that we have grown as a country a little too soon when it comes to modern aspects of life. Cars, traffic lights and escalators, elevators, computers and other devices are not that difficult to handle.
Still we happen to always misuse the technology science has brought to us. The average lifetime of electrical devices, especially cars, in Yemen is less than one fourth of what it is in the developed world. There are still regions in our country, which dont have the most basic facilities such as electricity and water services.
How are we supposed to have entered the 21st century and compete with other nations when the rate of illiteracy is as high as 70%? Its not fair to push us into the next century when we havent yet learned the lessons the last century tried to teach us.
Yet, time does not wait for anyone. As long as we belong to the world, we have to live like the rest of the world. We cant isolate ourselves from the ever-advancing technology and stick to our old familiar methods. The only solution for this is awareness. It is knowledge. If only we try a bit harder and focus as our ancestors, we can do it. In the old times we used to be the ones to lead the world. Will time take its turn and we find ourselves ahead again?

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