Dear Editor,
Since the announcement of May 11 and the formation of APNU-AFU coalition I’ve heard and observed so many twisted tongues, turncoats, two faces, bare-facedness and forked tongues, as well as so much naked hypocrisy to spin you dizzy and confusing you about what to believe in. I tell you truthfully, I’ve seen folks who have switched and ditched allegiance and beliefs just like that. Some have got skins thicker than a rhinoceros, and it renders them devoid of shame. The worst comes from those silent pious ones. I’m not saying that one should remain bigoted, or blindly steadfast in the light of new and progressive concepts, but shouldn’t honesty and decency also be a guiding principle?
Observing all the above mentioned, makes me reluctant to enter discussions these days, for you can never tell when everyone seems to be wearing a mask. As I have said before and still maintain having experience as proof of evidence, people do not exercise maturity, and are not impartial and logical, if your views are not in sync with theirs. If they are not, then you are spurned, and become their enemy. Editor, I have to say that we haven’t changed much in 50-60 years in our political thinking. It is so sad to see that after all those years we remain a nation divided – Indians versus Africans as if it were meant to be interminable.
As I look back, during the heyday of Rodney and the WPA, some people were afraid of attending their public meetings because they were scared of being seen and branded as WPA. Today after some thirty-five years I’m witnessing the same thing happening for the same reason – is this change? Every time this season comes around we always somehow lose courage, integrity and the voice of reason. The same is true on the radio, where almost any topic is discussed by announcers except political issues – no matter how objective or general the matters, or how negatively we are affected by it; it is still treated as taboo. Why? If things have changed then why the cageyness and fear if we are encouraging openness, exploring new concepts and groping for a higher and better arrangement? What’s wrong with allowing different opinions? Come on! ‘Let a thousand flowers bloom.’ You hear announcers berating ‘John public’ for some lawless, inconsiderate or inappropriate conduct, but remain scared to do the same when it involves a top functionary. And I’m not saying they should go out on a limb and mention names; just make as per usual genuine observations as a concerned citizen. They have a powerful medium at hand, and they should let those high officials know the law fits them too.
And just why do we work so assiduously and efficiently on perfecting things injurious to us as a people, knowing this is what we are bequeathing to the following generation? Look at what’s happening with the Rodney Inquiry. From the very start it was like an abomination visited upon us; it is being kicked about, mocked, used, abused and ridiculed from all sides. There are those bent on dragging Walter Rodney through the slime and mind into ignominy; a discarded intellectual god! And all that just to assuage their own ego and calm their soul.
How then do we seek truth? Small wonder that we are telling our young to look beyond the past, and look far forward, as if young people should not have anything to do with what took place before they came. Then how must they appreciate the collective wisdom and contribution of our elders gone, of the foundations they laid? How can they analyse and get this nation in proper perspective? They will need something of the past, to show whence we came, where we now stand and whither we go. Who would disagree that the past ought to be used in a progressive and non-prejudicial manner, so that we may be able to avoid the pitfalls encountered by those who went before? What was done – bad or good – was done, no one can change that. Why then do we encourage young folks to read, research, and have an inquiring and independent mind?
I tell you the frame has been changed not the picture; we need to find something higher and more noble to hold on to. Just look at how some politicians are racing to show their pro-American bias in their every move; the way they go about their campaign, even scripting their speech in the same way, and with similar fanfare and paraphernalia. That makes them feel proud; no wonder our young people today crave everything American. See and hear them in action, they don’t miss a beat: “Terrific Tuesday”, “Throwback Thursday”, “School’s Out”, “Under the Weather”, “The party’s off the hook”, “Halloween”, “Black Friday,” etc. Listen to some radio announcers who are overblown with their American accents; there’s a particular one who takes you over the brink by even laughing in American accent! Not to mention that all our DJs are either Jamaicans or Americans. There just isn’t any passion for this land, and though there are some smart ones who say nice things, they don’t mean it one bit; it is just that it is a nice thing to say.
Our people have deliberately and brazenly tossed aside ingenuity, originality, creatively, settling for any American carbon copy, no matter how odd, irrelevant or ridiculous. Look how we have come to bastardise ourselves in the name of becoming Americanised, even though as one Jairo Rodrigues noted, “We can sway with the wind, we are creative and artistic without even knowing”. But you know what? Who cares? We are happy this way, so what! I’m good, you are good, we are all good – hooray!
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
