Frankly speaking...
Stabroek News
April 20, 2001

Crucial and trying as these times are, here I am asking my editor for time-out today. Two reasons stand out: scores of persons are writing quite competently and persuasively on almost every aspect of our current challenges; secondly, being so disgusted with the tactics of the major opposition loser, I am tempted to be guilty of what the notice to readers on Stabroek's letter pages warns against. That is, I really don't wish to be "strident or repetitive"; to write "racist insinuations, extended personal attacks, tendentious and provocative phrases or inflammatory allegations."

I know the Stabroek's significant contribution to the type of Media Code recently fashioned and which would gain acceptance in more well-ordered, civilised societies. I therefore appreciate why the editors would wish that contributors like me act our age and act responsibly. So for today, just a few paragraphs of comments beginning with my lead caption.

God doesn't sleep

'God doan wear pyjamas' is an old people's proverb alluding to the fact or belief that the omnipotent God doesn't ever succumb to full sleep, even as he reportedly rested on a Seventh Day in the beginning. In other words he is forever up and about, knowing our every deed, thought and word. He is not easily or ever "fooled".

So I am moved to repeat that, whilst not being religious myself, I know that the Christian God will not be misled by the mouthings and activities of those who use his name; utilise trumped up causes; sing hymns at funerals or in any other way set upon their real or perceived "enemies", thinking that their "prayers" will be answered by this same wise God. No phony pastor, no vigil or religious lamentation on knees on the street, or even prayers for victory at elections will impress the ever-waking God if the cause is unjust and the reasons for protestations fake or manufactured.

Additionally, if his earthly son for a while was an agent of change, both of them would champion the cause of the oppressed - of all races. That is why I found M.L. Hackett's Monday letter (SN 16-4-2001) discussing the Christian church and its apparent surrender to some racist ideas, provocative reading. Like Martin Luther King, M.L. Hackett advises our Christian ministers here that "not only must they speak out when their own `race' is being marginalised and discriminated (against), but they must also speak out when other `races' are being beaten and robbed."

The new breed of political hustler-pastors on the poison TV Channel should consider the late Martin Luther King's words: "In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." Alas, the preachers of hatred masquerading as "television personalities" and advocates, being agents of political agendas are incapable of fair judgment and reason. Frankly Speaking, these individuals can now be likened to Shakespeare's Mark Anthony's brutish beasts who, based on recent verbal evidence would applaud the attempt to burn down that fine Christian Edifice, St George's Cathedral.

Happily perhaps, even for those misled Christian protesters, their God just doesn't sleep. He'll probably show them the right way forward soon. When they allow the new government to function free from intimidation and under His watchful scrutiny.

I share the feeling...

I don't share any "pain". Sometimes though, every now and then, as one who was occasionally "on the inside", I know how the real, older savvy PNC leadership feels.

They, more than most, when they allow their inner beings and conscience to be honest with themselves, they know, that because of the race vote and other reasons, their PNC would never have won any elections on its own. Their present leader always concedes that their own members could never win him or them any national elections.

The brutal truth is that that party has never won any fair elections in these parts. The 18-30 year olds won't appreciate that. Even they won't want to accept that their party - the PNC - cannot now win an election still. Except it merges with the PPP at elections time. So who would want to accept that their "own" can't be President, etcetera, etcetera? They must therefore invent excuses like rigging and disenfranchisement.

Don't you too share the feeling? Well then let it be known that political authority is not all. Social and economic empowerment is better! Ask certain Indo-Guyanese who made it between 1964 and 1992!! Strive for that.

Peace, until...

1) Who made the first attempt to set fire to another Kissoon building on April 9 before the main store?

2) Any human's death diminishes me. Including that of Donna McKinnon's. After the funeral demonstrations and the grief subsides, just consider who or what created the conditions for that working class lady to be out there to witness a fire. We all have the right to want to see but those who would exploit this death should think about it. Who spawned the circumstances? Who really is to blame? I trust the real killer is caught.

3) Arise out of the wheelchair Robert! Gail's neck-brace is off! The effect was great RHO!

4) Does healing and reconciliation mean no prosecution in the polling agent torture cases? The East Coast beatings?

4b) I know six ministers who should have been rested or given new jobs.

5) Did `Sixhead' Lewis say all those things?

6) Strange but interesting suggestion by a SN letter-writer on Wednesday: Let the British, American and Canadian missions here contact their Ports-of-Entry, cancelling visas held by known mischief-leaders here. There is precedent, the writer explains. Great stuff! I wish it could have happened!

7) Dr Noel Blackman was an original `REFORM'. Like Mr Hoyte's City Council's citizens of quality of 1986, Blackman served as best he could, but could take just so much of the internal bickerings that saw the Georgetown Hospital accommodate rats to bite baby's fingers. He left.

Even now, as he supports his local leader, couldn't he appreciate just what his NBTV is doing to this society? Mr Godard, President Bush, have a word with your citizen.

8) Many efforts have been made to re-write and distort past political history. Some of us must not allow current and contemporary happenings to be distorted. The interpretations will be many.

'Til next week!?