'We Mashing as two' Frankly Speaking A.A. Fenty Stabroek News February 25, 2000 With apologies to the Mashramani Committee's official theme for this year's celebrations and in the knowledge that this item will do little to promote "unity", I recount some unfortunate scenarios of Republican divisiveness and division. There he was, without the Presidency for more than seven years, but with consistent presidential bearing, Hugh Desmond Hoyte paying homage to the flag on Tuesday at midnight at his 1763 Monument Square in Georgetown. The President of much of Georgetown, was at his party's flag-raising ceremony, one of two such ceremonies. The official flag-raising ceremony, with more military pomp and sobriety, was held in the Parliament compound, presided over by the real elected President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. Incidentally, Tuesday last was Mr Hoyte's second visit to the Square in a week - the first being when he participated in the funeral of the infamous slain desperado. On that occasion the same national flag he paid respects to was seriously desecrated. We "mashed" as two too, over the death of that desperado. One segment of Georgetown played up the police/army blunders over the fact that a killer-machine fugitive was taken out. What a triumph for bandits everywhere as the outraged silent majority allowed certain tele-activists and politicians to hold sway, in terms of exploiting the issue. Of course, and unfortunately, the most significant Mashramani manifestation of "mashing as two in two thousand" was the PNC "Float Parade" on Republic Day to counter the Mash Committee's national event. What was the reason and rationale offered for this undesirable division? Well, I didn't get it too clearly myself, but I'm told it ranged from the allegation that Minister Dale Bisnauth once declared that Mash was really the domain of one segment of the population to not promoting any togetherness with a government which was "against" "their" workers, "their" supporters, "their" people. After all, Mash was originally "their" thing, "their" creation. Would you still ask: Who's to blame? However, on Wednesday afternoon my heart swelled when I saw the hundreds of thousands opting to "mash as one" with the official floats and parade instead of "mashing as two" with Dessie's Sophia Posse. As even Ras Leon Saul, out of Canada, explained, mashing with the formal, organised parade does not indicate agreement with any government. It does mean you're asserting your love of country and, presumably, Republicanism. Again, even on CN Sharma's dubious voice of the people, a panellist was constrained to ask: Just what example does this "Mashing as two" set for our children? Who's emphasising division, then blaming others? What's next? The TUF, WPA and GGG holding their own flag-raising? The people's majority will reject the dividers! The Arrowhead desecrated, minds soiled Perhaps I could have foregone this record of my utter disgust at witnessing our most significant symbol, the Golden Arrowhead, being desecrated by being draped around the coffin of ‘Blackie' the bandit. So overwhelming is the denouncement of this travesty - from far and wide - that much more need not be said or written. The day of reckoning will come for those who sanctioned that outrage. Especially at the political/electoral level. But the spectacle of young Guyanese school children viewing the bandit was especially revolting to me. It's the democratic right of any parent to take his or her children to any funeral. However, it's a different matter when teachers allow curious young minds to be soiled by the viewing and adulation of an avowed crook whose trademark was gunplay and absolute violence. In life, whether in America street or an East Coast village, those same children would have been in grave danger when that desperado was "working"! My only consolation is that there is a mighty backlash in store for the perpetrators of that unsavoury celebration of a crook. The silent majority don't protest in the street, or at funerals; they don't vote for calypsoes; they don't call in to regular TV "shows" to say regular things; they don't go on Justice For All or Nightly News. They make their views known when it matters most. (Elections won't solve anything? What's the fundamental alternative?) Do people really vote to "share power"? The power of a judge Forever my pre-occupation and wonderment: the rule of law enables a judge to grant injunctions and other rulings which result in (i) the city being "occupied" by the vendor army; (ii) government being unable to appoint or employ; (iii) football executives functioning; (iv) murderers virtually defying the state's right to punish them and (v) the police being hobbled frequently in their pursuit of criminals. Should this be so? Are the alternatives to "law" worse? Help me, please. Until... 1) Noticed a short letter in another paper stating that the senior army man was in Eccles long before the bombardment began? That's his right - freedom of association. Should more be made of it? 2) Incidentally, do you know where the bandit's cell phone was actually found? 3) Yes, let's find out where the weapons came from and where the loot actually went. (Remember now, those facts must be verifiable.) 4) Congrats to the teachers and designers who put the nation's children out for Mash 2000. Lots of great quiet creativity there - and "young calypso". 5) O.K. check me last Friday, I did state that the offensive calypso would prevail. And I still say that Kendingo's and others were better in most respects. The Monarch's piece will soon fade away - except on certain programmes. 6) Could you imagine what the tele-activists have in store for Georgetown before elections? 7) Start lining up for when Elections Top Man Stanley calls for elections workers. 8) Now let me sit back and listen to others tell all about Wednesday's Mash. 'TIL NEXT WEEK!