I was truly taken aback by a letter in the SN (February 22) captioned ‘Mash often falls within the Lenten season.’ The writer stopped short of making the call to Mash organizers and planners for us to have the float parades out of the season of Lent. I presume that was the main aim of the letter, but the writer, who I believe is a Christian, did not seem bold enough to make that call – they did not even want their name to be published. Can we ever get anywhere with this sort of attitude?
Yes, Lent is the most special time in the Church universally. It is a sombre time when the faithful are called to do penance and deep reflection, and participate in meaningful yet relevant activities. One may question Mashramani float parades and such, as a type of activity to be engaged in during Lent. And, if I understand the writer’s intentions, I will agree that Mash should not be observed during Lent. Though Ash Wednesday and Republic Day are immoveable days and dates, the observances like the parades and celebrations for Mash should follow the same trend as our brothers and sisters in Brazil, Trinidad and other Latin America and Caribbean nations.
Since we began celebrating our Republic and Mash anniversaries some 40 years ago, Mash has been celebrated and observed during Lent half the time. In the next 68 years or so, Mash would be celebrated during Lent 38 times. I strongly disagree with the scenes and behaviour of persons during Mash and the parades. I am shocked at the huge number of alcohol and alcohol-related functions and activities during this time too. But I can never recall this government invoking the presence of the Almighty; not in Parliament, not at a State function, not at a public gathering, not at a political meeting or rally, not even in their speeches or manifestos. Are we therefore a nation really under God? Do we stop and think why, maybe, the most powerful nation on earth has ‘In God We Trust’ on their currency notes or why every speech ends with ‘May God Bless America’? Or how the entire government worships annually and celebrates the awesomeness of the Supreme Being in the National Cathedral in Washington and the core values of ancestors and religion coin and shape the mighty laws of that great nation? Guyana has more churches, mandirs and mosques per square inch than any other nation on Earth so why then are our actions always to the contrary to our beliefs and values?
Is it any wonder that our nation is suffering so much for the past 40 years?
Yours faithfully,
Leon J Suseran
Editor’s note
There have been many state occasions when this government as well as its PNC predecessor have had prayers offered by representatives of the three major religions, and contrary to what Mr Suseran claims, this is routinely done in Parliament.
Guyana is a multi-faith nation and of necessity, therefore, under both the first constitution and the current one this is a secular state.
