Dear Editor,
Over the Christmas weekend one of the local television channels provided, for family entertainment the movie ‘The Sound of Music.’
It is a story set in Austria during the German occupation, with all its tension. What remains memorable is Julie Andrews’ songs, her listing of her ‘favourite things’ and the theme song “The hills are alive with the Sound of Music.” It was something that reminds us that there is more to music than the sounds that originate from the Big Apple, from Bollywood or from Kingston, Jamaica, something more calming; something that reminds us of a civilized approach to life.
“The Sound of Music” was, for me, welcome entertainment. It prompted me to wonder about those supposedly intelligent persons out there who are indicating by letters to the media that “Guyanese must let go of the last vestiges of our colonial servitude;” who are suggesting that removing hats as a sign of politeness is a purely European convention and who comment that “we worship British English as being ‘proper’ English, not realizing that it is not more legitimate than our own Creole.”
All this to disagree with a Stabroek News editorial on the need for a dress code. That editorial had pointed to what might be isolated presidential sartorial solecisms and wondered whether they are part of a trend towards a re-newed laissez-faire approach to official dress.
The dress code, it said, is intended to convey a correct image in the conduct of state business.
But one of those writers suggests the purpose of a dress code is and always has been to keep the lower classes in their place. What nonsense!
It might very well be a deliberate attempt to establish distance from the British English that our newest and most modern five star hotel has been unfashionably named Buddy’s, willing perhaps to operate without any dress code that will impose restrictions on the lower classes. There must be a less inelegant name than Buddy’s that the owners can choose that might reflect quality and class. But then again that might not be the direction some would wish us to take.
The purpose of any code, as I understand it, is to establish some sort of order. Without codes there would be the absence of uniformity and, consequently, chaos, confusion and indiscipline.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Guyana does not operate in a vacuum. The country is a part of an international community, which has established codes and expects its members to observe those codes.
Fortunately or unfortunately, those who represent Guyana in those international fora will be understood only if they speak proper English. There is a time and there is a place for how we speak and how we dress. There is a time when crudity must give way to elegance.
The simple fact is that we must not excuse away crude behaviour.
We must not pander to the uncivilized and the barbaric. We must not seek to gain petty political points by lowering the bar on standards.
Yours faithfully,
Marcus
