There are women in seats of power who sit with men in seats of power and some of those men display anti-women behaviour but some of these women never call them out on their conduct. The abusive and the abused appear to be in a toxic embrace in a system that is not even about keeping up appearances anymore. These women who sit with such men are often silent perhaps because they believe it secures their places in positions of power. Or maybe they are afraid of also being abused. Or perhaps their motives and goals are all about self.
But it is not the women to be blamed for these men’s words and actions. There are men in positions of power who also do not hold other men in positions of power accountable for their toxic behaviour. The pillars of the patriarchy stand strong here. Shaped by it, beaten into it and too haughty to see the errors in their ways there is no end. This toxic system in which we live is upheld every time women are blamed for their own abuse and when men are excused for perpetuating abuse. The outrage is sometimes loud but brief.
It would serve women well to stand together and hold men in positions of power accountable every time they expose their vile behaviour. However, women are not to be blamed for these men’s behaviour. It is not the women who slip poison on their tongues resulting in them saying vile things and it is not them who fold the fists of these men so that they can punch on others. Here in these 83000 square miles, where there are threats from a foreign nation to invade 61600 of those square miles, it is not just that a Vice President of a country can call a member of parliament a low life and there is little outcry. When the disrespect is blatant even for women in positions of power it shows that the simplest of us may stand no chance if we become brave enough to challenge the corruption and deceit that is blatant. Born and bred in a “cuss out” culture there is no example set for our children when people of influence cannot cordially resolve issues but instead choose to resort to degradation. But I supposed it is to be excused depending on who it emanates from. And I suppose it is grooming the next generation to be just as foul and hateful. What shall we do with a generation of uncouth, selfish and vile people who are not held accountable for their actions? Perhaps we are comfortable with sinking further into depravity. For here in this country, there is a large section of those ill-informed and illiterate who will worship those who disregard them or treat them poorly.
It is not just that there is no collective outcry that women have been publicly abused by those sitting in seats of power. The dildo comment in the National Assembly we have not forgotten. Threats of bodily harm we have not forgotten. Who is the beast in this land and who are the real low lives? For when common sense is put to work and it is on truth we stand the lowest of lives are really the ones who constantly play in the faces of the people; the ones who have the power to change the course of this country so that all will be fairly treated and all can prosper, but refuse to do it; the ones who sit on bags of money got from corruption. The thieves in the streets see their bars and their coffins are closed but the ones in suit and ties can gloriously steal with no consequences.
It is not just all the organizations who believe they stand on some moral high ground but reveal themselves to be bought and biased. The ones who will let some who incite racial violence go unchecked but will go after the necks of others for speaking truth. The ones who claim to be apolitical, but their political horns continuously show. These private sectors, ethnic relations, and human rights organisations in name but little actions for the benefit of the collective continue to fail us. The ones who claim they care about racial unity, peace, and progress in this country, but their silence is loud when they say nothing about human rights violations against certain groups or individuals. We have not forgotten how women were treated in Mocha and the silence was loud. These people who claim moral high ground have no legs to stand on. They cannot be trusted. They are not to be taken seriously when they on rare occasions decide to put out statements because the wrong side offended. No organisation is independent that constantly shows their puppet strings that are pulled by dirty political hands.
Guyana continues to sink into the depths of depravity even as a fastest growing economy and imminent greatness is boasted about. But the threats we face are not only from outside forces such as Venezuela. The greatest threats to Guyana are within these 83000 square miles, when those in positions of power can be openly abusive to the people of this country and therefore weakening the collective making us vulnerable to the outside enemies.
The selective outrage of those who have deluded themselves in believing that they are better than the others because their blood perhaps is blue and not red is loud. The outpouring of filth from those who believe they will not die, is alive and well. The ones who delude themselves that they are the gods of men, and they have the right to denigrate those who dare to challenge them is not unseen.
The low lives of this land are not those who stand on truth, justice, and righteousness. It is not those brave enough to stand in protests when our people are wronged and hurt. It is not those who refuse to sell Guyana. It is not the average citizen who just wants enough to live a decent life. Who are the real low lives?
