Leave alone nations, even individuals do not often get a second chance. This nation is. however, fortunate. The dreams that had faded, the hopes that we found more and more difficult to hold on to, have now reappeared on the horizon of the 'achieveable.' Democracy is the first of those dreams that, having eluded us for so many years, now appear again to be around the corner. The relentless struggle of our people against autocratic rule and the commitment of all political parties to holding a free and fair election has rekindled the faith in our hearts that at long last we are about to get a representative gov ernment that was a cherished goal of our Liberation War. With the dream of representative gov ernment came the dream of social and economic wellbeing of our people, in December '71. we thought that as the flag of Independent Bangladesh unfurled over this beautiful land, so would the era of meeting the basic needs of our people. All of us would work together, dredge our rivers, sow our fields, build our factories, clear our slums—Joining hands In a show of patriotism that would make us the envy of the world. Instead we are the object of pity of the world. Years of undemocratic and unpatriotic rule has made destitutes of us all--economically, culturally and morally With our dreams of democracy and social Justice came that of an accountable administration. Because of the Intrinsic na ture of autocratic rule, the administration became as much an instrument of corruption as it was a victim of arbitrariness. Rules and manuals were replaced by whims and caprice. The merits of a protect was Judged not on how far it would serve the masses, but on how much of its funds could be syphoned off for the master. The servants of the representative government became the gatekeeper of the armed Intruder. An accountable administration neces sarily gives birth to our dream of institution building. The gradual erosion of Institutional autonomy, the decline of respect for professional ethics and the disappearance of a rudimentary respect for rules have led open old wounds, raise unnecessary and ir relevant slogans, bring forth prejudices that are best left buried and squabble over what happened and when, and who declared what? All these while the nation agonises over the future of democracy, of economic growth and of a peaceful society. The most popular lesson of history is that we do not learn from It. It may be popular but perhaps not altogether correct. Nations do learn from history —may be not quickly, nor thoroughly, but they do. And so must we. We must learn that a process Is to the near collapse of our autonomous bodies, banking and other financial Institutions and the local governments. Now that the realisation of these dreams seems so near, the question that lurks in the back of everyone s mind is: are we going to make good this second chance? Do we have the necessary breadth of vision, the strength of character and the courage of conviction to give to our people a decent life of freedom, and basic rights? Or are we going to go back into the past. more important than an event, that Institutions are more important than individuals, and that a civic society, by definition, must adhere to some basic ethics and norms for it to work towards collective good. We must also learn that a society is as much a set of rules and regulations as it is a set of examples. More precisely a set of examples of its leaders— in the professions, in education, in industry and business and of course. In politics. it is in this context of what we as a t»er»pte and all of us as individuals hare learnt from history and what examples we are to set now, that we must approach the elections. For us now. more than ever before. the coming elections must go beyond raising of funds lobbying for nomlnationa. and after getting them, doing everything — and I mean everything — to win The ejections. For us. above everything else, the election must be a commitment to serve the Ideals of democracy and the people of our country. When we tear down an opponent'* poster to put up our own. or rub off another s wall writings to replace It with ours, we erode democracy When we attack another* procession or prevent other* from holding their meetings, we destroy democracy. The bottom line is that democracy I* a total commitment. We either take ft tn Its totality or we don't. It does not come In parts Through our struggle of today, the dreams of 71 are back What should have been otw people s emancipation, remained confined io political Independence. We got our country but were unable to give It the shape we wanted. Now that the opportunity Is back surely we can hope to work together for the re emergence of those qualities of 71— patriotism. sacrifice, commitment, hardwork and discipline -that gave birth to our country. The reborn dreams require I he rebirth of those spirits. The writer is the Executive Editor of The Dally Star.