Dear Editor,
Just my opinion and it may not be acceptable to a number of people. That others may hold a different opinion is okay. Expressions of differences should not be stifled. However, the ability to do so is not licence to critique or offer suggestions or advice on matters that one may not be so qualified to do.
Recently, social media in the local Guyanese communities became hotbeds for unwarrantedly harsh criticisms along with wildly reckless and unfounded accusations of racism. The object of this lashing out which has become endemic to Guyana, is a piece of artwork by a young painter, Courtney Douglas. Courtney was badgered and vilified. The young man understandably shaken, emotionally battered and bruised, ceded his artistic freedom and worth, to the collective onslaught of a group of social media bullies and hooligans.
In a social media posting, Courtney stated that he made a mistake. He has since reworked his painting and offered an apology. While we are all cut from different cloth, Courtney is no different from the rest of us in that we all have human feelings, frailties and emotions. Some are stronger. Others are not as resolute. At the personal level, many of us would have stood our ground, but we are not Courtney Douglas. I think that the only mistake this young artist made was to submit to the sentencing by a horde of social media miscreants. He apologized for something that was perceived in the minds of others. This, in my opinion, is perception borne out of ignorance of the subject and compounded by political and social mistrust.
His piece was a reflection, a collage or composite of three real life situations where Guyana’s First Lady, Arya Ali was photographed doing humanitarian work. Life imitates art and art imitates life. How different is reality captured in those photos from what was painted? The way I see it, is that this brouhaha (like the proverbial tempest in a tea cup) is tangential to what the young artist set out to showcase. It also reveals a deeper issue; one that is symptomatic of the malice and bitterness that reside in the hearts of so many.
While there may be a genesis for that malady, the vocal expressions against the young artist speaks to a venting of pent up feelings that is unhealthy, toxic and vexatious to the goodness that resides in all of us. Sincere apologies to Courtney for the actions and words of my fellow Guyanese. Stay strong, stay resolute and keep on painting young man! I pray that God allows us to come together in spite of the colour of our skin, the texture of our hair, our political leanings or beliefs, and that this ado may be the impetus that drives us to recognize our similarities as opposed to our differences; to accept it and foster better relationships among all people. No one has superiority over another except by God consciousness.
Thank you,
Jay Mobeen
