Dear Editor,
I read and re-read the very gentlemanly letter of V. Singh and was very pleased by it. I was pleased as a woman. I was pleased by the sensitivity and informed approach of Mr. Singh. He recommended respect for women, and self-respect of appointed officials as they communicate publicly. He expressed very great concern for the image of Guyana. Careless use of that image brings the whole country into disrepute. Mr. Singh is the very kind of person Guyana needs in positions of sensitivity. I am one of the Guyanese diaspora. I pity the desperation of any man who decides that dildo fame is desirable. If the context, if I am correct, is that the man is at the losing end of talk, the suggestion of a dildo lends itself to very wild physiological interpretations. If was meant to shame the woman, it accomplishes the opposite. Such a man sets himself up for very personal ridicule. Which man, honourable or otherwise, suggests such desperate technology as a dildo to a woman?
I live in a calypso society. No Trini politician would be so mad as to offer publicly this particular suggestion to a woman anywhere. The calypsonians would howl with delight at the ammunition put in their hands. There would be, not one, but many calypsos commenting upon his equipment, size, brand name etc. The most absurd justifications would be expressed for the ‘why’ of it. In the society in which I live, the calypsonian can break a politician or a political campaign. Any politician should avoid being classified as a dildoist. In this society, the latest virus mutant might have been called ‘The Dildo’ and this would have been an easy response. What would the female calypsonians have done in the face of such provocation? Such provocation! Surely, a Road March would have been created!
Consider respect for women. In any society, there are men who have been allowed to disrespect women in their own homes. They have heard their mothers and sisters insulted and cursed in the vilest fashion, and beaten also. Sometimes their fathers are guilty of this very poor male example. They have been disrespecting women for a long, long time. But they get into government and now what was hidden becomes public. They abuse women verbally and even physically. The man was always an abuser. This is not sudden behaviour. Now as our goodly old neighbor, in attempting political comment once said ‘the power fly down to their head!’ Never having had correction for such behaviour, they lack the social grace to apologise. They decide to brazen it out because they ‘in the govamint’. The dildoist gets away! He smirks and believes ‘he show she’! Public misbehaviour of one who wants to lead in society merits public correction. Anyone can speak without thinking.
Once the offence is known then apology must follow. Brazening it out points to weakness and confirms that what you may have is a political ruffian, a badjohn. What an example for the nation’s youth! The service attitude would be expected to be very deficient in anyone in public office who attacks on such a low level, females of the electorate when he disapproves of what he is hearing, or when he does not get acceptance for his own thought. Bad home training is the root of the problem, also poor political formation! Holding a position in the government is not license to spew rubbish. Where is the humility which is a necessary part of service to one’s country? The culture of Guyana will change as other nations are let in to help develop Guyana’s vast resources. The Trinis will bring the power of the calypso as social commentary. Down with suppliers of dildos! Blue soap for dirty mouths! Take advice from V. Singh!
So I say!
Sincerely,
Gabriella Rodriguez
