The Death of Honor: When Corruption Becomes the Standard

I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, consumed by the questions that gnaw at my soul. When did we lose our way? When did integrity become weakness, and corruption become glory? Why do we hail the fraudster but mock the man who wakes at dawn to earn his bread through honest labor?

Once upon a time, honor meant something. Hard work was respected, and dignity came from the sweat on a laborer's brow. A teacher was revered for shaping minds, a craftsman was admired for his skill, and a bike rider was applauded for his resilience. But now, the world has turned upside down. The man who toils from morning till night is ridiculed, while the one who manipulates and deceives is celebrated.

Take Musa, for example, a hardworking bike man. He wakes before the sun, braving the dusty streets, weaving through impatient traffic, carrying passengers who barely acknowledge his presence. His hands are calloused, his clothes worn, yet his heart is full of hope. He is proud to earn a living the right way. But society sees him as nothing. He is invisible. He is mocked.

Now look at the fraudster. The one who lounges in luxury, who spends stolen wealth on extravagant parties, popping bottles in clubs while the sweat of honest men drips onto the earth. People hail him. They envy his lifestyle, imitate his arrogance, and wish to be like him. He is the standard, and in that moment, morality dies.

The poison has seeped so deep that even our leaders thrive on it. A politician embezzles millions meant for hospitals, roads, and schools. We see it, we know it, but instead of outrage, we celebrate him. We fight his battles. We defend his crimes, claiming he is "wise" for navigating the system. It is no wonder corruption remains undefeated, when the people no longer demand justice, why would the thieves stop stealing?

This is the tragedy of our time. We have become a nation that mocks integrity, shames humility, and worships deceit. And the worst part? We do not even realise how far we've fallen.

But this cannot be the end of our story. We must wake up from this slumber and reclaim our lost values. It starts with how we treat honest workers. It starts with how we speak about integrity. It starts with the stories we tell our children, stories that must teach them that honour matters more than wealth, that dignity lasts longer than temporary luxury.

If we do not fight for honesty, if we do not resist the urge to glorify crime, then we will forever remain prisoners of our moral decay. It is time to demand better. To respect those who work hard. To restore the dignity of labour. Because if we do not, the night will stretch endlessly, and these questions will haunt us forever.