Cheap personal attack, Mr Thwaites
Published:Sunday | November 4, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am very disappointed with Daniel Thwaites' personal attack on the academic circle ('Patwa queen too long on the throne', Sunday Gleaner, November 4, 2018), particularly Professor Carolyn Cooper.
Instead of addressing the issues raised by Cooper on the importance of Jamaican Patois, he attacked her writing style and what he termed "academic activists who represent no one and are usually best ignored". I beg to disagree with Thwaites' view that academic activists represent no one.
Academics have done more work at representing the masses than his colleagues at Gordon House. Their representation is evident in their research and writing in history, culture, linguistic, migration and politics. At the centre of government policies are the works of academics.
Cooper has done more at representing and advocating for the poorer classes' language and music than Thwaites' weekly political hogwash. Thwaites seems to be an aspiring politician; he was very active in Central Kingston, perhaps with hopes of replacing his father. Thus, we can acknowledge that he is a politician at heart.
Academics are not into public praise or acknowledgement. We prefer to be ignored. Tennyson Josephs, in his article, 'Scholars' peril', rightly argues, "Whilst the politician is moved by public adulation and is given to boasting and bravado, the intellectual seeks neither popularity nor public fawning. He is judged by the clarity of his analysis, the veracity of his suppositions, and the integrity of his mind."
Cooper's mind is free from Thwaites' weekly political agenda and ad hominem.
ONEIL HALL
UWI, Cave Hill Campus