Dear Editor,
Like Guyanese all over the world, I was devastated by the recrudescence of violence in Guyana. Those living there are not only shocked. They are scared and rightly so, because when life is considered so cheap that gunmen kill at will, how can anyone not be frightened? Perhaps this is a wake up call for all Guyanese and those who care about Guyana.
For too long, Guyanese and others have indulged in allocating blame. May I suggest a moratorium on blame? When we blame, we are using violent communication. All human beings like to blame and it is a way of denying one’s own responsibility and covering up one’s reluctance to do anything to help the situation.
When the Nazis wanted to kill and torture Jews, they blamed the Jews for everything that went wrong in society. The same process was practised in Rwanda and nearly a million people died.
Perhaps the best response to the violence is for all Guyanese to unite together and work to help each other. We are all human and none of us is perfect. Mistakes have been made and will be made but blaming gives some people an excuse to perpetrate violent acts and feel justified in so doing. I think, and this is only a suggestion, that there should be a moratorium on blaming. Media, please heed. Blaming merely discourages or upsets those who are trying to do what they can and it is a cover up for inaction by those who are doing the blaming.
Instead let people come together in goodwill, talk to each other and share their hopes and needs with each other. Members of the political parties could meet, put aside their differences and concentrate on what they have in common – a desire to help all Guyanese- and work to do so. People from every walk of life could meet and concentrate on the needs and hopes they have in common and plan ways of how they could live in harmony, caring about the welfare of each other. Perhaps a watchdog could be appointed at each meeting to alert whoever slips into the blame game.
It was Ann Frank, a Jewish girl who died in a concentration camp, who said that no one has to wait a single moment to start making the world a better place. I do not say that violence will stop immediately. I am saying that each Guyanese could start making a difference.
I know that there will be people who will say that what I am suggesting is pie in the sky, that it won’t work and it is possible that they may be right but criticism is as valueless as blaming.
It is wonderful that on World Women’s Day of Prayer which is on March 7, people all over the world will be praying for Guyana. Perhaps, with the help of God, Guyanese of whatever status will take up the sacred task of preventing violent acts against each other.
Yours faithfully,
(name and address
supplied)
