Dear Editor,
“Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given, and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all past generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.” — Karl Marx, 18th Brumaire. Cheddi Jagan’s West on Trial draws from historical foundations such as slavery, indentured labour, colonialism, World Wars I and II, post-independence struggles, neo-colonialism, and the rise of American imperialism. As a seven-year-old, I witnessed Princess Margaret’s 1958 visit to Guyana during a school trip to the Botanical Gardens. By eleven, the Cuban Missile Crisis dominated headlines, and at twelve, the Christine Keeler/John Profumo scandal broke in England. These events, among others, left indelible marks on my young mind, shaping my perspective and future.
Today, what historical forces are shaping our future generations? Jagan’s notion of the West on Trial seems outdated; the West now stands condemned, not merely accused (although we must acknowledge that at the time of its ‘trial’ the West was also committing atrocities in places like the Congo and Indonesia in the 1960s). The ongoing tragedy in Gaza—33,000 confirmed dead, with more casualties buried under rubble and 60,000 injured—illustrates a stark genocide that will decisively shape future generations. In this era of global visibility, we witness simultaneous crises in Ukraine and Palestine. Yet, the international community’s disparate responses to these tragedies reveal a troubling double standard. The sanctity and rights afforded to one group are starkly denied to another. How can this be justified? Our history as descendants of slaves and indentured servants, familiar with revolts against oppression, resonates deeply with current global events. Guya-nese remember the revolts of 1763 and 1823 as pivotal moments of resistance. Similarly, should not the Palestinians’ fight for freedom be recognized rather than punished?
The rationale for such disparity in global solidarity might require insights from psychologists like Freud or behaviourists like BF Skinner, possibly pointing to a distorted form of Social Darwinism that justifies these horrors. For Guyanese, Palestine’s struggles offer profound lessons. As a nation that has overcome the genocides of slavery and indentureship, we must honour our shared experiences of oppression and ensure that our burgeoning oil economy enriches rather than ensnares us. As the Bible says, “Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse.” Let us heed the words of Rabindranath Tagore: “Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might” (Gitanjali). In recognizing our interconnected struggles, may we find the strength to advocate for justice and humanity universally.
Sincerely,
Rohit Kanhai
Executive Member
Working Peoples Alliance
