Dear Editor,
While living abroad in the mid seventies, I faced and witnessed the many ugly faces of prejudice. And even though this ugliness is countered with kindness, understanding, respect and even laws, prejudice persists. These two contrasting attitudes are ingrained in all of us. I, unwittingly, fell victim to my prejudice and ignored that kinder side that is also present in all of us. I will tell you one of my shameful actions. It is about one of my high school classmates, Maureen.
You see, Maureen was a big girl – a really big girl. One could see her from any point in the school, and she always looked big. We called her Brrrppp. Yeah, and we all laughed. Maureen just smiled. When she wanted to play the violin, we told her she wouldn’t know which of her chins to use to anchor her violin. Maureen just smiled. We told her she would wake up on both sides of her bed. Maureen just smiled. When Maureen jumped into the Berbice River, it rained in Georgetown. Maureen just smiled. We told her that she used to hide hot dogs in her many chins. Maureen just smiled. But there in a foreign land, I realized how, in Guyana, we mistreated and bullied Maureen, an innocent child who had to endure her classmates’ taunts every day. Realizing my unbridled meanness, I wanted to tell her I was sorry. Years later, I returned to Guyana and went to see Maureen.
When I got to Maureen’s home, I found out that Maureen had passed away; Maureen died in childbirth while singing praise to her Lord. Today, I still feel ashamed of how I abused a kind and blessed soul, needlessly. I did not try to justify my action by saying everyone did it. And even though I have modified my behaviour, I am ashamed for what I had done. Most importantly, I was angry that no one had taught me and my other classmates that we were bullies and should not get our laughter at the expense of another. Now this is a sin that I have to bear. And why, you may ask, am I telling you this?
This is my declaration of support for the re-election of President Granger because he is a good man. President Granger was not born a Brigadier General. It is said that in solitude one realizes his true mettle or gets a glimpse of his true self. Did President Granger, as a young soldier in the night jungles of Guyana, determine who he wanted to be? He had to make choices. He chose to embrace his good side that led him to this path that will result in a second term as the president of Guyana. President Granger was true to his office and his country and did not pursue any personal gains. And when I say that he did not pursue any personal gains, it should not be taken as mere words or empty rhetoric. I tell you because we, Guyana, Guyanese, are fortunate to have President Granger as this election’s presidential candidate. Let me tell you a story narrated by Joseph Harmon.
In the late 70s, the government’s auspicious Christmas fete highlighted the theme of the group Earth, Wind and Fire. President Granger, then a Brigadier General, standing amidst billowing banners in this surreal world, was nauseated by its insensitivity and tastelessness. Brigadier General Granger departed saying that “people are hungry, and this is what we are doing”? President Granger’s words show his selflessness. After the last election, he told his supporters to be moderate in their celebrations. And that Sunday morning after the election, President Granger, unknowingly to his security detail, left in his old car with the first lady to give thanks to a higher order, his Lord. We all want a good leader, and President Granger is a good leader. But let me ask you; are we worthy of such a good leader?
Will we show that we who vote for President Granger are the better people because of our good character, good behaviour, good deeds and respect for even those who will squander their votes on an opposition who did nothing to show his concern for Guyana and its people? Let us get it right by keeping our priorities in perspective – our country and its people are more important than our individual wants. Let us stop thinking about what we want from Guyana and focus on what we want for Guyana, our Motherland.
With President Granger at the helm, we must show that we are worthy and grateful for a leader who is humble, just and capable. Like President Granger, we should honour our Motherland and respect each other, our forests, rivers, land and clean skies. Each of us must have a moral compass to guide us. We have to learn what is right and what is wrong. We have to learn morality so that we don’t continue to abuse each other as I abused my classmate, Maureen. Too many of us, from the birth of our nation to this day, have suffered unjustly; we need to learn how to respect each other and show each other kindness and understanding. Saying these things makes me remember the past.
Yours faithfully,
Stanley Niamatali
