When will they learn?

By Garth A. Rattray

Shortly after the passing of Ambassador Dudley Thompson, the Observer published an editorial titled 'Messrs Seaga and Thompson: from foes to friends'. The piece reported that the two former political adversaries eventually became friends and developed a "very pleasant personal relationship".

I vividly recall the awful days in the early 1970s when political rivalry escalated into bloody violence, but I was never aware that the two icons eventually developed a harmonious association or that they worked together to quell outbreaks of violence in the hotspots of West Kingston.

On the one hand, it was heart-warming to learn of this, but, on the other hand, it caused me to grieve anew for the many wasted lives and decimated families on both sides of the political divide and for the many young men who fancied themselves as political 'soldiers' fighting and dying for 'the cause' and for survival.

All over again, I lamented the resurrection and fermenting of obvious tribalistic tendencies, the same negative traits that allowed us to fervently participate in the cruel, infamous and ignominious slave trade. It was as if we had learnt absolutely nothing from our painful past.

It was back in the 1970s that guns became the weapon of choice in the quest for political dominance. They were employed for intimidation, for terrorism, for murder, for the settling of scores and for the acquisition of personal supremacy. Guns masqueraded as instruments of empowerment; usurped education and skills training, intelligent thought and goodwill, civility and patriotism, unity and national pride.

The insertion of the gun into desperate inner-city communities to disempowered, undisciplined, undereducated/uneducated, marginalised and hopeless youths, to individuals grasping at straws but acculturated into dependence on politics for survival, set our country spiralling on a path that took us into gangs and dons and the cheapening of lives. This destiny is far away from the island paradise that we could have been.

The more sensible community members tried in vain to convince warring political factions that the people they were killing one another over were not locked in mortal combat. In fact, they were probably sociable towards each other.

If only those misguided youths could have fast-forwarded in time and see the quote from (today's) Edward Seaga: "... A prime example of those periods in our development which have proven that in politics bitterness can be replaced by betterment through friendship."

It would have confirmed that, at the leadership level, political rivalry is not about oppression, maiming and killing, it is about ideas and ideals.

Facing the truth

Unfortunately, no politician has ever properly addressed the vexing and perplexing problem of the guns. Some have skirted the issue, brushed it aside or brushed against it by acknowledging some vague awareness of the existence of political gunmen. Others have denied any personal knowledge of any political gunmen. Yet others have made reference to thugs (political enforcers) that belong to the 'other side'.

However, no one has ever admitted knowing anything about guns or accepted any (indirect or direct) responsibility for acquiring, introducing or distributing guns into any community.

Perennially denying or obfuscating the issue of guns within garrison communities only encouraged rampant speculation that brought into question the character of several political representatives.

Unfortunately, therefore, the mere association with inner-city politics during the tumultuous and violent era of the 1970s, and into the 1980s, took some of the shine off a few of our outstanding, erudite, stately and iconic stalwarts that we hold in high regard today.

The peace seen during this last general election clearly demonstrated a maturing of the electorate. Hopefully, the realisation that violence is unnecessary, stupid, wasteful and ultimately self-destructive will spread to the other activities that plague and undermine our society.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.