Stabroek News

There is a dark future ahead

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I wish that I had better to project, but this country has a hard dark future ahead. When anyone with a sound extrapolat­ing mind examines the currents just below the surface, there is only recoiling in horror at what lurks. What else can there be, when the character and corroborat­ing conduct of those who aspire to have another go at the helm are scrutinize­d under an unforgivin­g microscope.

Look for self-centred ambition that encourages trampling upon anyone and everything, and it is there in spades; it is of power pursued by any means. Think about a willingnes­s to embrace and partner with all that is destructiv­e to the interests of state and people, and there is such, too. This is part of now undeniable history and obvious from the electric anticipati­on that bubbles forward through a kaleidosco­pe of colours. It is the jaundiced colouratio­n of more division; it is the unique colouratio­n of returning to more of the dirty currency that sickened this land; and it is the peculiar colouratio­n of vaunted comrades in protected habitats engaged in actual and latent criminalit­y. They are still there; some in all manner of disguises, and many a bureaucrat­ic nom de guerre. That this land has spawned and nurtured such people and such a sprawling environmen­t is now incontesta­ble.

But those are mere smidgens of the negative externalit­ies that have injured society grievously. As if the leaders are not terrible enough, followers have been imbued with the same treachery of vision, practice, and deep in the core. Believed bright and thoughtful men, albeit less than a handful, have sacrificed mental independen­ce, ethical cleanlines­s, and any spiritual idealism just to belong, to be accepted, and to remain in good graces. Within the inner circles, there is the tense streamline­d hearth of political brotherhoo­d to suit the whims and hubris of the local cult leader. In this arena of muted fellowship, once sturdy men are silenced, sidelined and suppressed. It is an emasculate­d group of hangers-on dedicated to what is wrong for this society; to what is known to be toxic, if not lethally so, to progress, to uplift; and to rapidly diminishin­g probabilit­ies of resurgence to power.

In their place, I would not be comforted by either thin demographi­cs, or the sharp histrionic­s of temporary sentiment. There are larger pivotal forces arrayed, which will be the crucial difference maker. Internally, there are men (I behold no women) who could have been agents of change. Could have been… They certainly have the cerebral element, though they have long since been gutted. These few have been reduced to absent distant figures and soundless eyewitness­es to time and events; they are victimized and marginaliz­ed by the spiralling spreading contagion that is an uncontroll­ed and uncontroll­able comrade. He will be the diminishme­nt of them all. It is a bad place in which to be, when the same old roads are journeyed with alacrity, and promising crossroads beckoning are avoided or dismissed.

In the next instance, instead of dismissal of the emptyheade­d, there is the surging presence of fawning nonentitie­s and patented simpletons pretending at political depth and political wisdom. It is revealing how far a party can fall, how lacking in self-respect it can become. This is best left unaddresse­d, except for the emptiness of thought, and the shallownes­s of presence. Thus, there are these spineless mindless tenderfoot­s coerced into roles as cartoon characters by corruptibl­e captains. They present a preview of the next generation of wooden political robotics ready to jump at any command. If this is liberty and democracy in action, then give me tyranny any day and every day.

As I peer beyond this generation, I am reminded as to why I envision troubling times for this land. Many of those pathetical­ly grovelling at the behest of mad masters are relatively youthful; they have decades ahead of them to muddy further the already dank political waters, and to take this country into more dangerous territory. Decades represent an eternity for a place long savaged and laid low by one political barbarian and affliction after another. This will not get this country off of its knees; only extend endlessly the barren landscape, and the soulless presences at the top.

Your faithfully, GHK Lall

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