Dear Editor,
As a member of the so-called "articulate minority" I found it downright arrogant for Minister Pickersgill to dismiss our criticism of the People's National Party (PNP) like that, as though the validity of a statement is based on how popular it is. I also found it arrogant that, based on the phrase "articulate minority", he thinks the majority of Jamaicans are inarticulate, or stupid.
But I reflected on what he said, and maybe there could be a little hint of truth in what he said. He may not have said this explicitly, but it seems the majority of Jamaicans vote for their party, right or wrong, don't care about what's happening around them, or just are focused on trivial things.
Remember when Vybz Kartel was on trial? A whole lot of his fans were gathering left, right and centre at the courthouse, chanting "Free Worl' Boss!" I was afraid that some riot would break out when he was found guilty (thank God nothing happened). Yet, with the issue with the purchase of Outameni by the National Housing Trust (NHT), where are those people now, especially that most of them probably pay money to the NHT and are waiting for a house? How do they feel about their money used (or abused) like that?
Furthermore, the KSAC wants to name a road in Easton Douglas' honour in St Andrew South Eastern, and the PNP supporters in his former constituency of course welcomed it; the same NHT chairman who had a great thing to do with the purchase of Outameni. But when this was brought to the PNP supporters, they still insisted that the road be named after him, as though they don't care about the Outameni issue. This is not the only example of die-hard PNP or Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) support.
I'm afraid to say this, but I agree with Minister Pickersgill on the minority being articulate, but that's it. I'm unhappy about that but the politicians are not. Why? Because that's how they stay in power, by encouraging die-hard support and keeping us all ignorant.
So, I'm calling on all Jamaicans to stop with the die-hard support for their party and hold their leaders accountable. And those who don't care about what's happening around them should start because as Pericles said, "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." If we can't do those, then I'm sorry to say this: we really do have an inarticulate majority!
Hal Lewis
The changing of values
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As a member of the so-called "articulate minority" I found it downright arrogant for Minister Pickersgill to dismiss our criticism of the People's National Party (PNP) like that, as though the validity of a statement is based on how popular it is. I also found it arrogant that, based on the phrase "articulate minority", he thinks the majority of Jamaicans are inarticulate, or stupid.
But I reflected on what he said, and maybe there could be a little hint of truth in what he said. He may not have said this explicitly, but it seems the majority of Jamaicans vote for their party, right or wrong, don't care about what's happening around them, or just are focused on trivial things.
Remember when Vybz Kartel was on trial? A whole lot of his fans were gathering left, right and centre at the courthouse, chanting "Free Worl' Boss!" I was afraid that some riot would break out when he was found guilty (thank God nothing happened). Yet, with the issue with the purchase of Outameni by the National Housing Trust (NHT), where are those people now, especially that most of them probably pay money to the NHT and are waiting for a house? How do they feel about their money used (or abused) like that?
Furthermore, the KSAC wants to name a road in Easton Douglas' honour in St Andrew South Eastern, and the PNP supporters in his former constituency of course welcomed it; the same NHT chairman who had a great thing to do with the purchase of Outameni. But when this was brought to the PNP supporters, they still insisted that the road be named after him, as though they don't care about the Outameni issue. This is not the only example of die-hard PNP or Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) support.
I'm afraid to say this, but I agree with Minister Pickersgill on the minority being articulate, but that's it. I'm unhappy about that but the politicians are not. Why? Because that's how they stay in power, by encouraging die-hard support and keeping us all ignorant.
So, I'm calling on all Jamaicans to stop with the die-hard support for their party and hold their leaders accountable. And those who don't care about what's happening around them should start because as Pericles said, "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." If we can't do those, then I'm sorry to say this: we really do have an inarticulate majority!
Hal Lewis
The changing of values
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