Dear Editor,
It hasn't escaped the attention of many that the podium at the anti-gay rally that was held in Half-Way-Tree recently was not graced by any politician of significance.
How was it that none of our politicians saw it wise to advance their political prospects by taking advantage of such an opportunity -- with so many thousands?
Perhaps more important is that many of us have been wondering why our politicians have been so silent in the raging debate about homosexuality? A careful look at this issue should make it clear why our politicians think that keeping their mouths shut is perhaps the best option.
Any politician who decides to take a stance in favour of the Church may find himself with some very uncomfortable labels. None of our politicians would want to be linked with this church effort that has religious fundamentalism, discrimination and even apartheid written all over it.
Some are scared that if they get too close to the Church, their foreign partners may not take too kindly to them. With all the talk of visa revocations going around, none of these politicians want to lose their access to heaven, or worse.
On the other hand, if any politician who wants to advance in today's Jamaica should be crazy enough to openly oppose the Church on this issue, that would be the end of him/her. For, to oppose the Church's anti- gay push is to automatically support homosexuality, and no aspiring politician wants that on his/her résumé. No Jamaican politician would want to be seen as bowing to gays.
Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
However, many of us think that our politicians (the ones of significance, I mean) should start showing some backbone and stand, either way, on this most contentious issue. Many are arguing that their silence on this important issue is a sign of weakness and immaturity.
That is why the position of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness is scoffed at by most. His assertion that he will go where the people decide is not helping the "strong leader" image that he is trying to cultivate.
Anyway, I can understand the position of the JLP leader and indeed all the other politicians who have remained so silent, because if they come out on either side it is likely that their careers will suffer.
As such, I know that many of them are desperate that this homosexual hullabaloo would just quickly go away.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Why our politicians are silent on this gay issue
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It hasn't escaped the attention of many that the podium at the anti-gay rally that was held in Half-Way-Tree recently was not graced by any politician of significance.
How was it that none of our politicians saw it wise to advance their political prospects by taking advantage of such an opportunity -- with so many thousands?
Perhaps more important is that many of us have been wondering why our politicians have been so silent in the raging debate about homosexuality? A careful look at this issue should make it clear why our politicians think that keeping their mouths shut is perhaps the best option.
Any politician who decides to take a stance in favour of the Church may find himself with some very uncomfortable labels. None of our politicians would want to be linked with this church effort that has religious fundamentalism, discrimination and even apartheid written all over it.
Some are scared that if they get too close to the Church, their foreign partners may not take too kindly to them. With all the talk of visa revocations going around, none of these politicians want to lose their access to heaven, or worse.
On the other hand, if any politician who wants to advance in today's Jamaica should be crazy enough to openly oppose the Church on this issue, that would be the end of him/her. For, to oppose the Church's anti- gay push is to automatically support homosexuality, and no aspiring politician wants that on his/her résumé. No Jamaican politician would want to be seen as bowing to gays.
Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
However, many of us think that our politicians (the ones of significance, I mean) should start showing some backbone and stand, either way, on this most contentious issue. Many are arguing that their silence on this important issue is a sign of weakness and immaturity.
That is why the position of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Andrew Holness is scoffed at by most. His assertion that he will go where the people decide is not helping the "strong leader" image that he is trying to cultivate.
Anyway, I can understand the position of the JLP leader and indeed all the other politicians who have remained so silent, because if they come out on either side it is likely that their careers will suffer.
As such, I know that many of them are desperate that this homosexual hullabaloo would just quickly go away.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Why our politicians are silent on this gay issue
-->