Dear Editor,
Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel prize in Economics and author of Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow said the following about truth and falsehoods, “A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth. Authoritarian institutions and marketers have long known this fact.”
In the coming days, weeks and months Guyanese and many others will be told countless sides of the situation, referring to the current state of affairs in Guyana. The situation is not an overnight occurrence nor is it disconnected from past actions and our collective history.
Politicians, supporters of political parties and media outlets will share their versions of the situation, putting particular spins, emphasis and focus on different issues and topics. All these are attempts to win our support; make us believe what they want us to believe; convince us that they are right and those who disagree are wrong; communicate they are better than the rest to lead Guyana; and demonstrate that the situation is not their fault, it is the fault of the others.
As we experience these efforts it is important to ask ourselves a couple of questions: (a) is this how I feel or is it the way I am told/asked/paid to feel? and (b) am I satisfied with the direction of Guyana or do I believe we can do and deserve better?
You decide, don’t let someone else do it for you.
Yours faithfully,
R Small
