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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 To the Editor,
As of recent, there have been tremendous arrays of distracting incidents, comments and behaviors veering focus from one societal issue to the next. Further complexing is the silence of authoritative bodies who should be vocal in stating facts to dismiss opinions, feelings and even more so propaganda. The chaotic and highly aggressive atmosphere felt within our country, more specifically within New Providence, has direct correlations to the sided and irreverent commentary being blasted through nearly all social media platforms like wildfire. When there is a blatant dehumanizing of any grouping, demographic or community; that is a direct gut punch to evolution and progression towards community building and nation building.
SASH Bahamas, an organization focused on breaking down barriers of stigma and hate, is appalled at the total disregard for basic humanity as gossip has turned into character defaming, cyber bullying and now verbal and physical attacks. Hate crimes are not limited in nature to a specific community and, if not brought to light and rectified, can snowball into riotous acts of rebellion without warrant or provocation. We are far from an uncivilized, uncultured society. Our varying viewpoints, opinions and intolerance of issues have divided us into gangs of ‘know-it-all’ teachers and prophets spewing venomous and unwarranted messages of hate and jadedness.
If we are to believe that everyone is entitled to an opinion and a personal stance on matters, then why do we attack when those views do not align with our own? If we are to believe that everyone is entitled to the freedoms and liberties afforded to us all at birth, then why do we strive to take that right away from so many individuals whom we consider kin? If we are to believe that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers then why drag them through the mud at each and every juncture of intolerance and dislike?
Our culture is one of hope, happiness and hospitality. It is who we are and who we will always be. If “It’s better in The Bahamas,” then why have we allowed Nassau to get so negative? Why have we allowed the social structures to become so unsupportive? How are we even surviving with church, state, community and family all in dismay and at odds while fighting to validate their opinions and hate fueled agendas, all while pointing fingers at communities as the problem?
All of these Wikipedia-esque definitions of life, morals and values have got to stop. The sensationalizing of serious issues, while distracting us from true social issues, has to cease. Our country is losing drastically with every hateful message posted and shared, with every great mind running for the border in fear of persecution because they are seen as different in an already conch-salad bowl of minds and personalities. Conformity is no longer acceptable when conforming stagnates creative expression, and authentic lives are not being lived.
The call to action: Educate our country, exemplify leadership, and believe in brotherhood and sisterhood. Our communities depend on it. I dare not repeat the clichéd “our futures depend on it” simply on the grounds that my tomorrow will not arrive until I get through today. If today I am taught to hate, I watch my leaders hate and I live in a hateful society, then based on societal norms I too must hate, today and tomorrow. If we are to see change and have change then we are to be the change.
Amard Rolle
Executive Director
SASH Bahamas
www.sashbahamas.org
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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