We don’t think. We don’t read; but we react and react with heated emotion. More often than not our substantially irrational reactions are aired over the various radio frequencies for the nation, and in some instances, for the world to hear our tirades.

Talk Show host Jeffrey Lloyd has, on numerous occasions, admonished his listeners to read and think carefully about what they read or have acquired through hearsay. He especially urges Bahamians to purchase a copy of the Constitution so that they can speak and react intelligently on matter pertaining to our country.

A few days leading up to the 2007 General Elections Mr. Lloyd almost pleaded with listeners to read the Constitution because so many of them had been calling into his show to voice their serious concerns about who would become the Prime Minister if something happened to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Many callers had been sucked into the emotional appeals of PLP marketing agents to think that Mr. T. Brent Symonette would automatically become Prime Minister if something hampered Mr. Ingraham’s ability to lead the country.

The fact of the matter is that if citizens of this country who spent so much time calling into the daily radio talk shows took a few minutes to read the nation’s Constitution they would find that the office of Deputy Prime Minister does not even exist in our Constitution.

Chapter six of the Constitution deals with the Executive. The tenure and functions of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers are explained under articles 74 – 77. If the Prime Minister is unable to perform his duties “the Governor-General may authorize some other member of the Cabinet to perform those functions (other than the functions conferred by this Article) and that member may perform those functions until his authority is revoked by the Governor-General” (The Constitution of the Bahamas, Article 75).

All too often we are pulled into a vortex of ignorance and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Once you would have learned to read, it is your responsibility to arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can.

I am not suggesting that you become a bookworm. But instead of relying on talk show hosts to fill your void, pick up a book or even a magazine and become enlightened. We have so many “Bible-totters” in this country who can spew out Bible verses at the drop of a hat, but how many of them know something as fundamental as what rights they have as a Bahamian?

At some time in your life you should be able to talk intelligently about things pertinent to your existence in your own country. We should not rely upon the individuals who discharge political dribble for our unhealthy consumption every five years to give us this vital information.

The rhetoric that they release is usually so skewed and biased that we must not allow ourselves to swallow and digest the misinformation with such ease. However, they continue to throw this diatribe at us because they know that so many of us will accept it without question.

The twisted words and ideologies will continue to churn their way into our consciousness if we do not step back and look at the situation with reason. It is only in reasoning, in thinking, that we would better be able to make decisions and judgements about our existence.

While I recognize that much work is needed in this area of critical thinking, it is not too late for you to begin moving in that direction. This week I challenge you to examine very carefully every word you hear and every action you see. Do not take anything you hear for granted.

Scrutinize everything around you and be sure that your opinions have been formed by careful thought and consideration based on your investigations and evaluations and not shaped by some radio personality or newspaper editor. Wake up and smell the coffee, then think about it for a while.

About the author: Joye Ritchie-Greene is an Educational Consultant, Writer and Martial Arts Instructor. She is the owner/operator of The Bahamas Martial Arts Academy; president of Time-Out Productions; and is also a columnist for the Freeport News. She has a B.A. in English and an M.S. in Human Resources, resides in Freeport, Grand Bahama with her husband and enjoys playing tennis. Joye can be reached at joye_hel_ena@hotmail.com