Maq Masi Blog

The world spins its own strange tale, a rhythm both chaotic and mesmerizing, demanding that we dance even when the steps are not of our choosing. Life, it seems, has its own tempo, indifferent to whether we stumble or glide across its ever-shifting floor. And then there are the systems—the human-made constructs meant to bring order but often creating confusion, forcing us to navigate through their twisted corridors of fairness and folly.

Take, for example, the education system. A child, bursting with creativity, is told to color within the lines, to measure their worth through numbers and grades. The system praises memorization over imagination, rewarding conformity while stifling curiosity. And then, the same system spits them out, asking, “Why don’t you think outside the box?” A paradox built to frustrate even the brightest minds.

In the labor system, essential workers who keep society running often struggle to make ends meet. They toil endlessly in undervalued jobs, while the wealthy thrive off decisions made in boardrooms, oblivious to the hands that sustain them.

Justice is, perhaps, the most glaring example of life’s strange rhythm. It is blindfolded, holding her scales, but it’s no secret that money often tips them. To seek justice, one must first have the resources to afford it—legal fees, court costs, and time away from work. For the wealthy, justice can be swift and merciful, a problem solved with the flick of a pen. For the poor, it is an uphill battle, often abandoned halfway for lack of funds. A single mother stealing food for her hungry child is condemned as a criminal, while corporations siphoning billions in tax evasion are applauded for “financial ingenuity.”

Even adopting a child, a process built on hope, is riddled with conditions imposed by society and the system. Ethnicity, race, and cultural background are scrutinized, shaping the approval process. Despite endless paperwork and emotional investment, there is no guarantee of success. Similarly, studying law—a rigorous and expensive path—offers no assurance of qualifying as a solicitor or barrister. You must dance to the system’s rhythm, endlessly auditioning until you succeed or collapse under the strain.

Love, too, is subject to society’s bizarre choreography. While love is said to transcend boundaries, systems and societal norms place conditions based on ethnicity, race, religion, and socioeconomic status. Relationships that challenge these invisible rules are often met with resistance, causing fractures in families and communities. Even in adoption, a loving home is sometimes overlooked if it does not align with predefined racial or cultural expectations.

And then, there is the system of borders and nations. A person fleeing war or famine is reduced to a “migrant,” their humanity overlooked, their dreams dismissed. Meanwhile, the powerful debate their existence in air-conditioned rooms, deciding who belongs where as though the earth itself has gates and keys.

Life demands our participation in this surreal theater, whether we like it or not. The stage is uneven, the script unwritten, and the rules ever-changing. But in this chaos, there are glimmers of resilience. Communities unite to challenge oppressive systems, individuals rise to demand justice despite the odds, and voices emerge to question the injustices that have long been normalised.

Here’s a replacement that reflects the idea of collective effort and the challenges of systemic change:

The world’s rhythm may be strange, and while no one person can rewrite the entire dance, together, we can create steps that challenge its injustices. By advocating for an education system that nurtures creativity, a labor system that upholds dignity, a justice system that serves all equally, and a society that values love and humanity, we can begin to shift the tide.

The question is not whether we can change the rhythm alone but whether we can move together—raising awareness, engaging leaders, and inspiring collective action—to create a world where fairness and hope become part of the melody.