How can anyone, at this point, muster up any joy to celebrate Christmas? Grief reigns supreme as Guyana mourns the loss of five servicemen in a helicopter crash amidst the backdrop of unsettling and dangerous times for our country.
As information slowly trickles its way down, imaginary difficulties become easier to conceive. We feel despair and it’s almost natural to have heightened sensitivities to those who carry on as per normal. Wondering to ourselves sometimes even if we are living in alternate universes.
It didn’t help either that false reports of the helicopter being located prior to it actually being found made their way to us through several media outlets only to later be deleted (state media being one of them).
As so many of us remain on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what and if anything comes next, filled with anger over the security of our loved ones, I implore you to not let it consume your rationality and common sense.
If we must share news, let us first ensure it is from trusted and credible news sources. This might be a hard thing to decipher, but we should let this be a lesson to narrow it down to those with a reputation of limited retractions.
If we must be angry, ensure that anger doesn’t fuel the nasty demon that is xenophobia. As Guyanese, many of whom have made our homes elsewhere, we know all too well what exclusion feels like when we are merely trying to provide for our families based on circumstances beyond our control.
When we seek answers ensure they don’t further rip an already tattered social fabric that always seems to cut across racial lines.
As we look to our neighbours for outrage and shared solidarity be mindful that so many of us are already buckling under immense pressure from day to day stresses. Those who manage to muster a few moments of peace should be allowed to have it.
As we cope and grieve in our own way as a nation, may it strengthen us as people with one destiny.
