Dear Editor,
President Obama, in a speech to the students and faculty of the University of Cairo in the summer of 2009, said: “The ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose… These are not just American ideas; they are human ideas. (applause) And that is why we will support them everywhere (applause).” In another part of this speech he said: “So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power(applause). You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion (applause); you must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make a true democracy (applause).”
Editor, as 2011 begins, we see the great revolution of Egypt unfold for the world to see, with cries which echo the words of President Obama, delivered right in Egypt. The revolution has driven a brutal dictator from his $71 billion (US) thieves den in 18 days of sacrifice, as a result of courage and devotion to their country by the youths of Egypt. God bless them and the support they received from
all over this planet and by the most powerful man in the world, President Barack Obama, who stood steadfastly with this peaceful revolution.
The Egyptian masses showed the world that the principle of “ahimsa” fashioned by Mahatma Gandhi over 90 years ago, still is a working model for the removal of oppressive regimes; ahimsa is a non-violent method of opposing tyranny but in a peacefully aggressive confrontational model. It worked for the Mahatma in India; it worked for Martin Luther King in the USA; it worked with peaceful candlelight demonstrations which brought down the repressive communist regimes in Eastern Europe; it worked in Serbia in removing the terrible tyrant Milosevic by a serious student movement. The people of Egypt have shown that the principles of Ahimsa are still alive and working for the positive changes which many on this planet are demanding.
For us here in Guyana, change in our lives can only come with the unity of our nation and a vision of prosperity for the future and that is why we must all go out and get registered to vote in this upcoming election in order that we select only those who really care for us and our children’s future. We need not go into the streets like in Egypt because we have the right to a free and fair election process which President Cheddi left behind for us. On election day, all who have the right to vote, should get up with a smile on their faces and a determination to see a real change. Our ahimsa is the peaceful right to vote and bring necessary changes to our political landscape.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi(Joey)Jagan(Jr.)
