Dear Editor,
I have just returned from the 16th
Visual Arts Exhibition Awards Ceremony for Senior High Schools at the Mall at
Marathon where I was invited by Pamela Chandler, Senior Education Officer – Art
and Design, to be the Guest Speak on the topic “Exploring the Wonders of Art
and Design”. I am very happy and proud to report that the students’ work was
absolutely fascinating and their musical talents awesome. I must commend them
and their teachers for a magnificent job! Unfortunately this is the last day
for the exhibit and for those persons who were not able to view it, you will
miss a definite treat!
I promised the attendees that I
would sit at my computer forthwith and pen this letter expressing my extreme disappointment
(but not my surprise) at the fact that there was NOT ONE POLITICIAN in
attendance to show their support for the students and their talents, and to
encourage their efforts. Let me hasten to say that I was not present at the
Opening (if there was one), but if the amount of applause I received on
pointing out this blatant disrespect is any indication, I doubt if any of them
were present then either!
I am proud to be a Bahamian. My
husband and I pursued careers in the arts because we recognized the absolutely
important role the arts play in any society and have spent our lifetime nurturing
this belief. When I viewed the quality and diversity of the art work that was
on display today and listened to the passion of the student artists who spoke
with such pride, I was so encouraged because it reinforced for me the forever
brightening light of hope at the end of the dark tunnel of ignorance in this
country.
These students need support,
encouragement and understanding. They need an environment where their talents
are nurtured and opportunities are laid in their path to pursue their dreams.
Gone, thankfully, are those days when our parents would admonish us to ‘look
for a REAL job’ if we expressed an interest in an art career. Art is as
essential as our other basic human needs for food, shelter, clothing and
community. In these modern times there is ample evidence to support the
importance of grounding our Bahamian society in our art, culture and heritage. I
contend that politics does not run the country – art and culture does – and unfortunately
the politicians just don’t get it! Because they do not understand the power of
what art, culture and heritage can bring to the table, they ignore it and carry
on with the same ol’ same ol’ business as usual. Well I, for one, do not intend
to let such a sorry state of affairs pervade our country. I will continue to
speak out and I encourage others to speak up too!
It is time for a reality check: Wake
up Bahamas and see what you lookin’ at! If you truly believe in The Bahamas for
Bahamians you should start listening to those Bahamians that can ‘learn’ you on
how to do it right! It is time for the ‘powers that be’ to give Art, Culture
and Heritage the respect it deserves, and for the record, this does NOT include
imposing Mardi Gras and Carnival concepts on our home ground to dilute the power
of junkanoo! It is so sad to listen to the boasting about a million dollar
festival based on ‘other people tings’ to contaminate and dilute OUR culture, instead
of sitting around the table and strengthening the power of our own junkanoo!
The question we should be asking instead is: ‘How can JUNKANOO be an economic
engine to power this country and its people right across the board?’
Bahamians are geniuses – plain
and simple - and we need to truly take stock of what we can bring to the collective
table for our own benefit. Yes, a behemoth hotel enterprise can provide
hundreds of jobs, but what truly are the social benefits in the long run if we
are not at the same time developing our social consciousness, improving our
minds and providing opportunities for the advancement of our people? Success
through self empowerment can strengthen our pride and self respect and
reinforce the foundation of our communities. Yes, it takes time and hard work, it
takes a vision and a passion along with perseverance to succeed, but we MUST
pursue this path.
After 40 years of Independence we
are still looking outside the country for whatever type of ‘saviour’ we can
find to create jobs. Yes, jobs are needed but we also need to believe in
ourselves first so that we can have respect and pride in our own abilities and create
our own opportunities. The answer lies right here amongst the Arts because Art
is Life, and if we would only embrace our own culture and heritage, we can make
a difference in our social and economic landscapes.
We spend time talking about the
level of crime in the country and plaster this negativity all over the front
pages of the newspapers, social media and the airwaves, giving it pride of
place. Why aren’t we allocating POSITIVE stories to these choice spaces instead?
I would like to challenge all the media houses right now to see which one has
the gumption to take the risk of relegating the negativity in this country either
completely out of public view, or confining it in a smaller space to the back
pages! It is not surprising that more and more persons have indicated that they
have no desire anymore to listen to, or read the news because of its
concentration on negativity.
Have we stopped to consider what
social consequences this constant diet of scandal, crime and sensationalism is
producing? Although this approach allows the media houses to take their
increasing income all the way to the bank, it also demands that they keep looking
over their shoulders whilst doing so in case someone is trying to rob them of
those very funds! This is where this path has taken us, focusing on crime and
hopelessness rather than successes like the ones demonstrated by the students
today. Instead of merely reacting to crime, why don’t we examine, question, and
evaluate the root causes of these challenges, brainstorm creatively how they
can be addressed, and properly implement a strategy?
Respect is a two way street and
it does not come automatically – it has to be earned. So if we disagree with a
government policy we have the right to express our views without fear – that is
why we live in a democracy! No one person has all the answers and no one person
can be an expert in everything. Since politicians are the ones that we put in
the driver’s seat, I would like you to seriously ponder what exactly they are
experts in. As a matter of fact, do they even have a learner’s permit?
It is obvious that we need to
work together to move forward – it has to be a team effort. A leader cannot
earn the team’s support unless they are ready to ‘hear’, not just ‘listen’. As
Bahamian we ALL have a part in this play and we all deserve a voice on a level
playing field, but in the first beginning, Bahamians are not even invited to
become a part of the team. They are expected to stand quietly by whilst the
bulk of our country’s income is allowed to flow away to other jurisdictions.
Yet when the situation becomes dire these same hard working citizens are
commanded to stop the hemorrhage! This is not the way to earn respect.
Are we willing to take back our
country? Are we willing to provide talented students with the respect they
deserve by providing opportunities for them to support themselves through hard
work and dignity? Let us commit to work together to make this country
productive again for us, the people. We can do this by encouraging basic, simple
entrepreneurial enterprises using the resources we have and reinforced by with
the creativity of our people. Otherwise, rest assured that as Rome burns and
the emperor fiddles, the people will continue to suffer!
Yours truly,
Pam Burnside
