THE EDITOR, Sir:
JAMAICA, IF we care to admit, is in more serious trouble than we dare to imagine. Notwithstanding our economic woes and a debilitating crime pandemic which threatens to overwhelm us, we are being deluged daily by a surfeit of negativism by a disconcertingly strongly cabal.
This group of disparate personalities includes those pesky repeat callers who impose themselves upon us daily via the Talk Show circuit. Always claiming to be speaking on behalf of the perennial "poor black people" of this country, this group also professes to know what is best for the Jamaica people. However, I would suggest that these persons be avoided like the plague.
On a certain Talk Show, grossly over-rated, but frequented by these characters, the oft repeated portrayal of utter despondency, economic inertia and abject hopelessness, ostensibly representing contemporary Jamaica, usually so depressing that many persons, not sufficiently focused, might be induced to either give up or drown themselves in liquor or the sea, for that matter.
According to these people, everything is wrong with Jamaica! The economy is in limbo, they claim, and the education system and quality of life of the citizens have regressed. Yet concomitantly, we are often regaled with tales of supposedly exemplary governance during those 'glorious' colonial days when tyre-shod and bush-tea drinking happy natives led 'idyllic' existences.
SOLUTIONS
Frankly speaking, we must find solutions to our myriad problems and hold our governments to their manifestos. Indeed, as responsible citizens we owe it to ourselves and to our children to express our opinion on government's performance and to become integrally involved in effecting regime change when they fail to deliver. But, we should endeavour to do so with civility and within the parameters of our constitutional provisions. Yet, in our political deliberations, the Talk Shows, which should demonstrate some semblance of responsible leadership in terms of public opinion management, have themselves become (some more than others) disgusting soapboxes where the right to freedom of expression is wantonly abused.
A prime example of this abuse is demonstrated daily on that aforementioned Talk Show with the full complicity of its 'esteemed' host. On this programme the commentary largely embellished pseudo-intellectual matter, in actuality, is fraught with crassness, haughty insolence and vain grandstandings.
Patronised frequently by this infamous cabal and sometimes with a few spokespersons of dubious interest groups as guests, the moderator usually takes the lead and, at his garrulous best, marshals the whole sordid performance. Every national pursuit is scoffed at and the body politic is maligned. Attempts at objective analyses of the economy and other societal problems are seldom indulged and finding or identifying solutions correspondingly, are not their responsibility, they usually claim. However, they seem quick to second-guess and become cynical when any suggestions of growth in the economy are advanced. In fact, they will arrogantly dismiss any such claim even in the face of concrete evidence. It is in situations like these that one is left to contemplate: In whose interests do these people really speak?
COMMON PASSION
Every average Joe (and those not so average) finds ready accommodation on this programme, so long as he exhibits some discernible anti-government or anti-establishment bent. Then he is given license to behave as disgustingly as ever. Interestingly, nearly all the contributors to this programme share a common passion that of an undisguised aversion to black leadership and a penchant to trivialise the academic bona fides of the intelligentsia. Hence the daily invective and vitriol heaped upon individuals with African antecedents who occupy high political and professional positions of authority.
From where I sit, the daily fare on this programme, in essence, seems to be the propagation of national self-contempt and self-doubt in our people's abilities to fashion and effectively manage and maintain social and economic institutional structures thus effectively stultifying the national will. In the meantime, assorted, localised, neo-Jeremiahs are allowed to ride rough-shod on the airwaves doing injury to the national psyche by imposing their value judgements upon a largely uninformed and politically polarised listenership prone to confusing opinions and hard empiricism.
Despite myself, I listen to these people sometimes, but, I am eternally wary of, and affronted by anyone who is wont to scandalise my ethnicity, disparage my self-worth; who although unsolicited, purports to be speaking on my behalf, besides, claiming to being able to decide for me what is good for me.
This is the 21st Century Jamaica where people struggle and survive. But contrary to popular perception, they are not as politically unsophisticated as they are thought to be by some.
NET IMPACT
It would be rather instructive if an objective analysis of the net impact of these Talk Show denizens were done as I am of the opinion that the efforts of these people would be proven counter-productive. Because, instead of resolving to "winning friends and influencing people", they are in fact, being overbearing, rude and offensive thus alienating quite a number of persons inclusive of non-voters, uncommitted voters and even potential converts from opposing political camps. A word to the wise is sufficient.
I am, etc.,
E. REDWAY
St. Catherine
