Dear Editor,
I have been hauled over the coals, and my cartoon labelled “racist” and anti-social by indignant individuals (Sunday Stabroek 15.6.08). Aside from the allegation that my cartoon was “racist,” the question I am asking is, would you or would you not? One eloquent and enlightened mind did address that question but not to the extent I had hoped for. It seems very likely that Barack Obama will be the first black man to be the president of the most powerful nation on earth.
East Indians and Africans and other races of this fair land of Guyana will agree that it was believed to be almost impossible, nay, inconceivable that a black man would be President of the United States of America. Well it seems very likely that we will be (happily?) mistaken, and to boot, he was not brought to that position by a black vote, no sir! Barack Obama was given that vote by a wide cross-section of different races who, to my layman’s thinking, have broken away from mind-sets, deep-rooted prejudices, and traditional patterns of social behaviour and doctrine.
It is a welcome change which brings a hope that long-established, wearisome status quos will be overcome – perhaps for the greater good which we all long for.
It represents what we in Guyana should readily adopt – a race-free, unbiased, colour-blind election.
Whether or not Barack Obama wins, why can’t we?
Yours faithfully,
P Harris
Please provide us of how many Indian, Africans, Mixed Races, Amerindians and the remaining races voted in the last election.
I am not interested here is “This town has a large Indian population and the PPP win there”. I am interested in the real hard facts.
I want to know how many Indians voted for the PPP in Region 4, how many Indians voted for the PNC in Region 4, how many of Indians voted for the AFC, etc.
And, likewise for the other Regions.
HARRIS, you are pandering to ethnic insecurities. It is a lot like Freddie Kissoon who stipultates the same thing without providing a shread of proof of who actually voted for the AFC.
Give me a break. There are some Indians who state openly that they would not live under black leadership. You guys make accusations about racism against blacks with absolutely no proof, but get into a huff when someone touches that sacred cow.
Go to the Guyana Websites that are not protected like this one and see what comes out of Guyana. You have people using the “N” word to refer to African Guyanese and using all the Southern Racist stereotypes as naturally as if they had been born in a white neighbourhood in Alabama. Please!!!!!!!
No, the majority of Guyanese Indians are not racist. Yes, at the bottom of the social pyramid, African and Indian Guyanese get along remarkable well. The problem occurs at the point of distribution of resources and power. And quite a few of the congregation at the nucleus of this centre are racist, are prejudiced, and would move mountains to prevent a black man who does not shuffle and genuflect before them to ever lead Guyana.
You guys need to cease allowing facts to get in the way of your spinning. Walter Rodney was supported by large sections of the black intelligentsia in his confrontation with what is ostensibly described by many like “AFINAM” as a “black Government”. Eusi Kwayana, an Africanist, spent his entire life confronting this black Government. Buxton, the Gaza Strip of Guyana, was a thorn in the side of this same “black government”. There is absolutely no reciprocal developments on the other side of the political or ethnic equation. There is a great comfort level among the few and influential, and maybe some degree of same among geographic sections lower down in the social order, with the reality of being “pon tap”. That is our politics, and it is reflected in the haste to silence any illumination on sacred cows.
Harris has a good point. Those who want to preserve the racist status quo will attack him
AFINAM, assuming I’m of indian descent, and knowing that voting was anonymous, how could you tell who I voted for. The only method of trying to do any ‘racial profiling’ of a vote is to look at it by area! So what you have requested would never be possible.
I hear you my brother, guyana should take a page from the u.s elections.
Good points Mr Harris. If only we could have a race free, color blind elections. But is it possible?????
The United Stated gained independence centuries ago, yet this is the first time that a black candidate is near to the presidencey (and it’s not guaranteed that he’ll win).
Where does that put us in Guyana? Unless an Obama like candidate suddenly appears on our political scene, we’re doomed to go a long way down the years voting race.
I strongly feel that if a real charismatic leader comes into our political scope only then we’ll vote outside of our race base.
Paul, I understand your utopian dream, and I hope it is realized sooner rather than later.
Anyone that knows you, knows that you do not have a racist bone in your body, and that the cartoon was meant for some soul searching, (as most of your cartoons do) and asking pertinent questions of all races and their need to be tolerant of each other.
I think your cartoon was on point, and made a few feel nervous about their own prejudices.
Change is afoot it’s just a matter of time. Guyana’s racist history will eventually come to an end as new young voters come into view. Patience folks…. racism is no longer the boogie man it used to be, the world is getting smaller and smaller everyday and kids can no longer see the logic. The Television and the Internet will become the great equalizer as people learn more about each other.
Are some of us dreaming?Is it the first time Guyana will be having young people to make a difference?
As long as the PPP and PNC stay alive we will all vote race.
The AFC made it because of the frustrations these two other parties offer to the few who think away from race.Nothing more for them(AFC).They’re cash strapped.
Nonetheless,I agree with Harris that we shouldn’t be so race sensitive.
The IAC hadn’t something along time ago to “look good.”
They actually made us East Indians sound like a pack of insecure people suffering from a REALLY LOW SELF ESTEEM.
Well I AIN’T IN THAT.
We had an Obama his name is Dr Walter Rodney and guess what happen to himand who did it
YES WE CAN!
GUYANA HAS HAD:
1 Chinese President
2 Black Presidents
1 White President
1 Woman President
2 Indian Presidents
Unlike America that has had only Whitemen as Presidents.
Since there has been two Black Presidents what exactly was the point of the cartoon?
THERE IS NOT POINT IN THE HARRIS CARTOON OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT INDIANS ARE RACIST.
WHEN We include Sam Hinds after the death of Cheddie Jagan we see that Guyana has had 3 Black Presidents.
Guyana has had more Black Presidents than any of the other races.
Although the online version seems edited and I have no print copy, I recall reading of a statement by the Hon. Pres. (via the Chronic), where he offered that while the cartoon might be applicable (paraphrasing here) to older people, young Guyanese have ‘moved on’. Isn’t this the exact point Paul is making through his cartoon of an older woman?