‘Pat ah tell kettle…’

03.OCT.08

Editor: My newspaper offerings occasionally lead to my crucifixion in the lynching chamber and or subjection to the tirade of the rouge rage. Now enters Mr. John Smith who with more than relish tongue lashes me almost interminably. No, I am not perturbed by his rebukes; they are well intentioned, if harsh. And, after all, old people say “yo’ can’t play mass and ‘fraid powder,” which incidentally is the case of the eloquent Smith, who refuses to practise what he preaches. Of course, I am but a conduit, which Mr. Smith conveniently exploits to fire at his real target, Ralph & Co who he accuses of, inter alia, malfeasance in government.{{more}} More about that later. First, though, I think it important that Mr. Smith appreciates a few things about my relation to politics.

Mr. Smith’s main beef with me is my refusal to “get pragmatically involved,” and, specifically, to joint the dogfight to wrestle power from an outfit pregnant with “political vanity”. Failing such, I should “shut up”, for talk is cheap. I do not share the view that everyone who disagrees with one or the other policy of government needs to jump up and form a political party or become a politician. Is an army made only of generals? Equally, I disagree with his contention that I could only contribute to change in SVG if I enlist in a political tribe. I am deeply convinced that party politics is presently the most divisive and destructive threat to SVG’s future. Then again, all men are corruptible, and power corrupts. And, I am not St. Richard, so why expose myself to temptation?

But above all, I have no thirst or desire for political power. And, there is no sense of inflated self-importance in me (the DNA of power-hungry politicians). Yes, Sir, I have no “perfect finger”; I have not been sent by God like a “King”; I have no need to be “the star” of any party, or for any “monument” honouring me; I have no wish to abuse the people nor their treasury. Clearly, I can’t even make a 2nd 11 to play in this dirty game.

Mine is the voice of a tiny screw in the grand machinery of our democracy. If I fall out, that’s of no consequence. If, however, a majority of these screws fall out, the machine will inevitably collapse, hence the relative significance of the minute role of screws like me. However, the incorrect placement of screws, or as old people say, “square pegs in round wholes,” always causes problems for any machine, government included. I think Mr. Smith would agree that some parliamentarians today have no business in the House. For instance, onetime preachers on becoming politicians lie blatantly, embrace infidelity as a virtue, or pompously brag of disobeying the law while threatening to run over policemen. In other words, both law and the unfit legislator suffer. You see how wrong screw placement ultimately ruins both the machine and the screw?

As qua supra, it’s apparent that while Mr. Smith trashes me, his quarrel is really with Ralph & Co. He has labelled the ULP totally unfit to govern, declaring that SVG under Ralph’s watch, “will go to hell in a hand basket.” From the alleged rape issue, to the economic mismanagement of the country, Mr. Smith, though peppering me for my perceived armchair theorist approach, uses a long handle bat to pound Ralph & Co. I am sure when Ralph unmasked him and put a face to his journalistic alias, “crapaud smoke ‘e pipe.” Our self-styled messiah denounces all questioning minds as “idiotic, backward, unpatriotic and even terrorist.” Cognisant of this, Mr. Smith demands that I live the courage of his (Smith’s) conviction, while he is happy with mere querulous babble. Incredible!

I also get the impression that Mr. Smith has a personal grouse against Ralph. If I am wrong, I sincerely and unconditionally apologise. If, however, I am right, this is unfortunate, as it clearly prejudices his judgment. I have maintained that it is a dangerous thing when “all politics is personal,” for then reason retires and the consuming passions of hate reign, seeking naught but vengeance. I vowed never to join the Ralph haters, and, unlike politicians, I keep my word. While Ralph firmly believes in his Aaronic role, the fact of the matter is he has failed miserably to unite the nation to follow him. Further, he continues to deceive himself that he is the Alfa and Omega as regards the future of SVG, and so refuses to see that it is only through unity the whole people would get to Canaan. United we stand, divided… It’s wrong steps like these I seek to highlight in the nation’s interest, as their effects could be disastrous. But I certainly have no personal issues with Ralph & Co. For me politics is a science, not an emotion.

And to end where I began. Mr. Smith claims that I should “put up or shut.” Yet, he is not putting up a clear case of do as I say but not as I do. Oh, and none of the excuses about being in New York will suffice. I am based in Germany and have committed my services to the PMC and other organizations working for positive change. Mr. Smith bellows to me about “too much long talk” but all he does is furnish badmouth against Ralph through berating me for inaction. Well, Mr. Action, I respectfully suggest you search yourself. You might just find that yours is a case of “pat ah tell kettle ‘e backside black.” So have the courage to live your conviction, Mr. Smith, or, …well, you know.

Richard A. Byron-Cox