Dear Editor,
I have never had reason neither do I have any intention of indulging in a dialogue that borders on ‘buse out.’ Hence the reason why it took me some time in making a decision on whether I should respond to the letter written by Claudia Theresa Heywood, ‘My daughter rejected offers to go abroad because she wanted to serve her country’ (SN, November 24).
In a previous letter Ms Heywood wrote “my anger burns in my breast and I must speak lest I implode.” Well, my letter it seemed brought about that implosion. I felt her anger in that passionate reply. Had she not mentioned my name I would not have believed that that letter was a response to mine published in both SN and KN on November 22. I was disheartened and taken aback by the level of her misconception, moreso that she declared she was “also a graduate of the University of Guyana.” Almost everything I said was taken out of context, turned inside out and upside down, which made me wonder. I recognized her daughter’s outstanding achievement, commended her and accorded her due respect; my letter was crafted in good faith. No personal criticism was directed at her or anyone for that matter, but Ms Claudia Heywood didn’t take the time to fathom what I was saying, or how else could she possibly arrive at such ridiculous conclusions – non sequiturs.
My letter contained in essence objective and generalized observations; the questions asked were not confined and directed to her (daughter) but were open; being the valedictorian, speaking on behalf of her fellow graduates they were channelled through her. How on earth did she contrive to conclude my letter was attacking her daughter.
I said in my letter: “This letter highlighting the valedictorian’s situation is unfortunate and did not make for pleasant reading.” Most certainly, no sincere Guyanese can feel a sense of comfort upon reading that one of our young brilliant minds, a top student from our university is not able to get a respectable job one year after graduating and with 41 applications sent out! That indeed is a sad state of affairs – to me at least – and it is also very unfortunate. Is that something for me to rejoice about? Lo and behold Ms Heywood accused me of describing her letter as unfortunate, says further “Sir, you gave yourself away! This is no time for pleasantries. If you desire pleasant reading check the kids department (fiction section) at the National Library.” This talk about giving self away, pleasantries, kids department and fiction is a whole lot of piffle – rambling thoughts – which clearly does not fit in. Unemployment, creating jobs – this is a critical area, a failing which the government must take a whipping for. May I say further, there are a host of other things amiss and adrift, that are even outrageous and scandalous, are totally unacceptable and should be fought tooth and nail; I wish to let that be known.
Ms Heywood considers my question “How do you see yourself in the service of your country?” as insipid. She says, “How can one serve if one is not given the opportunity to serve?” This question has been repeatedly asked the world over by speakers giving the charge to graduates for them to ponder; it is more of an abstract question. I am not an apologist for the government, so when she states, “the truth is out and no meandering on your part will erase it,” I’m baffled; it makes no sense to me, none! I endeavour to exercise independence of thought, to see things through mine eyes, always have. And was there a need to remind me who wrote the letter? I think not.
Nowhere in my letter can it be found where I despise our young brilliant minds, as Ms Heywood suggested. I would not do such a thing; they are the ones we will ultimately have to bank on, hence the reason for us shaping and guiding them towards a firm path. And for all the tea in China I cannot understand how she arrives at saying, “I am neither ‘feeble’ nor ‘spineless,’” and probably only heavens knows how she got the impression of me saying that her daughter and others had been stubbornly rejecting job offers; this is so abysmally absurd, it doesn’t warrant attention.
Well I took my time and read Ms Heywood’s letter, and with this letter I too close this issue. The venom and passion that flowed from her pen did not make me bitter, for I’m sure if she had properly grasped my honest and frank point of view, then her missive would have been structured differently, but rest assured I did learn something, yes siree! I did, and it’s sad that she didn’t find anything I said of any value, but as they say it is better to be disagreed with than to be misunderstood.
Best wishes to Ms Heywood and her daughter.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
