Cassandra's Candid Corner
Stabroek News
June 17, 2001

Perhaps we should commence today's column with an apology to his Excellency, the President. In a moment of irritation, even vexation, one sometimes loses one's manners. There was such a lapsus in decorum in last week's CCC, when the President was addressed as Jagdeo. The writer's pique caused politeness to fly through the window.

What's that you say? This column has never suffered fromcourtesy and comity in the past, so why now? Well, there is no image make-over, no developing Mr Nice Guy (I'd probably get a stroke if I tried), no icon preservation being attempted. Rather, it is a conviction that one should never disrespect those who are genuinely trying - even when they are very trying.

The fact is that we are seeing an instinctively affable young man age become world-weary before our eyes. Some-times one can discern genuine anguish radiating from his physiognomy. His body language expresses weariness, even defeat, especially after trying to deal with issues with a no- win outcome. The protests at Albion and the President's res-ponse thereto represent exactly such a scenario. In an effort to neutralise Ravi Dev's increasing influence in the area, the President of all Guyana had to attempt to placate and instil confidence in "his people". There was no way he could accomplish these objectives without getting the obvious flak. The immediate transfer of all ranks at the Albion Police Station (notwithstanding Laurie's lame ass explanation), the issuance of firearms to certain community members, and the support for armed community policing groups in the surrounding villages had to yield anger in an already tense situation. The claim that the President was condoning, even actively institutionalising vigilantism was always going to be the obvious reaction. Right away there would be (and there was) the accusation that the President was single-handedly castrating the Police Force and making it a willing tool of his Political Directorate. The argument, that the President hasthe constitutional right to intervene and correct disadvantages experienced by any and all Guyanese, just does not wash. Such action is always reminiscent of an "Operation Wallop", and of other coercive and repressive diktats by some of those who wielded unharnessed and unmitigated power in the past.

Yes, I think the internal issues alone which confronted the young President were like a baptism of fire; and neither he nor many of his advisors had any previous experience to rely on. Yet, up to now, he has not done too badly. You remember how many people were advocating that he bring out the army and declare a State of Emergency? Well, he didn't and that proved to be so right. In a nutshell, I suppose I am saying that since he is not an ogre and a despot, since he is not vile and evil, he should be shown every respect.

Speaking of respect, writers in SN's letter columns wanted to stir up debate on the use of honorific titles like His Excellency and the Honourable. Need I tell you how I'd vote? One thing is for sure, I will not address a known vagabond as "The Honourable". You must be respectable, if you want to be respected. We in Guyana tend to equate respectability with sartorial elegance, with status in society, with wealth. Virtue has no value. In fact, to be virtuous is to be derided. One Ed-mund H. Volkart, in a Modern Tribute to Ambrose Bierce, defined respectability as "The social status of people whose sins haven't quite caught up with them". Looking at many of the "respectable" ones in upper echelons of our society, I am convinced that any aspiration thereto would be a descent into respectability.

Let's carry this thought on automatic spouting of titles one step further. The National Pledge. At every Board Meeting or insignificant gathering there is always one enthusiast that reminds us of the need to recite the National Pledge prior to the commencement of the meeting. My gut reaction is always one of disdain. What are you asking me to do? Honour a multicoloured piece of cloth? Oh, I see, it is the symbolism hat I am honouring. I am supposed to be honouring the agricultural and forested nature of our country and the river and water potential as symbolised by the green and white. Well, I arguably do much more than the next man in terms of daily promoting and preserving those natural assets. Then comes the gold which represents the mineral wealth. So now I must worship and honour gold. Well, I don't even wear the stuff. Not even a wedding ring. So forget me honouring material things. The black border represents the nation's endurance. This is interesting. We are being asked to honour our own uffering and the collective endurance of perpetual pain and agony. How cynical; how absolutely insulting! I used to think that the red in our flag reflected the will of the working people, perhaps even a communistic equality. But no, it represents the "zeal and dynamic nature of the nation-building that lies before the citizens". Well, I honour that concept just by being here. When many of my colleagues cut and run, I opted to stay and bu'n. I help build my nation while others try to break it up and burn it down. I root myself in the soil of the motherland while practically all of my present local friends are preparing to leave, including those who are most vociferous about the need to recite the National Pledge. In fact, manywho have proven their loyalty to this country, not lastly by persevering during the early eighties, don't even know the words of the Pledge. But they love their country and cry openly when Guyana bleeds. They love their fellow citizens in a way that is simultaneously practical, emotional and spiritual. They don't need to parrot some nice-sounding words to prove dedication to Guyana's prosperity and happiness. Actually, the very fact that they are at the meetings of the Board of Directors, the Parent-Teacher Assoc-iation, the Sports Clubs gathering, etc. - all without remuneration - underlines their commitment. So, you pledge prattlers, give me a damn rest. If you want to say the Pledge, do it silently and on your own time. If it makes you feel so good, say it twenty times a day. And then ask yourself what you havedone today to implement that Pledge.

Finally, certain words and phrases have become standard ministry bureaucratese. Like "ah dun write de cheque, it should be by you dis afternoon"; like "we got fuh streamline dis organisation"; like "don't dig nutten, we wukkin pun it". Well, the SN headline day before yesterday quoted Ed Caesar (the only CEO dat ain't really the CEO) as saying dat he wukkin pon it - the abolition of corporal punishment in schools, that is. Well, my dear friend (and he is) I, for one, gun be watching you on this one. Don't entangle yourself in any debate and national discussion. Like Nike say:

Just do it. Happy Fadders Day: Thank you mudders for making us fadders.