Country’s image more fragile than male ego? One country finally opens up

Osama Rahman [OR]: We all want to know one thing and I want to get right to the point. Why is your image being tarnished so easily? Do critical words really take away from how far you have come since you were declared a basket case by a racist, mass murderer?

Chapasthan [C]: I want to say something. Can I?

OR: Yes. That is the entire point of the interview.

C: Well, first of all, let's talk about how successful I am in my field. As a country, I have climbed up transparency ladders, meaning I am less corrupt than ever before. I have also vaccinated everyone who knows how to use a smartphone and has internet. I now earn more than I used to. And I am growing every day, being well-fed by nutritious investments.

OR: Okay. But can you answer the question about your fragile ego and fragile image?

C: Can I say one thing first? Please, let me say it. Look at how well the women here do in schools. Look at how well we treat guests who are forced to take refuge in our country.

OR: Well, considering how less free the country still is for women and how you are literally on an eviction drive against your first refugees, after giving them citizenship apparently, guess there is a lot to look at.

C: Listen, we are here to talk about my fragile image, so let's stick to that. My image is not fragile. It cannot be easily sullied. But with concentrated effort, anything can be tarnished. I am only trying to prevent that from happening.

OR: But if your people voice disapproval about something you are doing, shouldn't you at least allow that space of dissent to exist? Isn't that a democratic right?

C: Excuse me. Excuse me please. What is democracy? Something the west taught you? Look at America. Look at the space for freedom of speech there. It exists when it suits them. Do you remember how everyone was critical of the massive rallies by Trump supporters? But then the massive rallies after Biden's victory were not even highlighted? The west is hypocritical. We are not.

OR: So, what does that mean? Are you saying you are not democratic?

C: No. Listen. We have many critical thinkers in our country. Many of them are critical of what we do. Are they all in jail? No. Are they still being allowed to be critical? Yes. But sometimes, some people cross the line. How would you feel if someone talked bad about your parents? How would you feel if you gave someone food and they kept saying it tasted bad? This is not about my image. This is about being ungrateful.

OR: If it is about being ungrateful, then why do you keep bringing up your image and how other people's words are tarnishing it?

C: I am not saying words are tarnishing my image. But there is a conspiracy to tarnish my image none the less. Look we want to be represented well on the world stage. We need Western powers to praise us, so they are more willing to give us aid and trade benefits.

OR: But you are a country. Your image cannot be tarnished. What good you have done will be remembered, while your bad can also be highlighted. Why can't you allow it? Why must you constantly resort to gaslighting your people?

C: Gaslighting? I gaslight my people? MY PEOPLE? I don't want to continue this interview further. Please meet me outside. *dials 999*