Challenges for open debates are currently in fashion, the way open letters appeared to be a few years ago. They pop up every other day, from strange corners of the country, with all kinds of people daring each other to answer questions in public. Politicians issue these challenges on television while campaigning, spokespersons of political parties laugh them off during televised debates, and other assorted groups respond with their own challenges because they recognise the value of publicity this garners them almost immediately. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, it never moves beyond that publicity.

I don't remember the last time a politician accepted a challenge of this sort, nor do I remember the last time anyone in power cared to explain his or her actions to the public. These are men and women supposedly elected to represent us, to be our voices in Parliament and speak on our behalf. It's interesting how the only things that matter are their own voices though, the minute their names appear on embossed nameplates outside large government offices. Those who scream the loudest during an election, retreat into cocoons of silence after election results are announced.