The State of Politics: Straightness or Bend Up
“Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at
another.” - George Herbert
How would you describe the state of politics globally? There are many troubling signs on the political platforms of both developing and developed societies. There appears to be a vacuum of political leadership globally with regards to civility and decorum. It is a fair assumption that general elections will be held in Jamaica in 2020. As a result both the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition, People’s National Party (PNP) are both conducting what many term soft campaigning. The political climate is simmering; campaigning will turn up a notch or two when the elections are announced. Over the years the Jamaican electorate has not demanded much from the nation’s politicians. For the most part the voters are caught with the same bait over and over again. We have seen personal attacks on politicians from both sides of the political divide. It appears that serious issues, such as crime and violence, the state of public health, education, roads, justice, and inflation are of little concern to the Jamaican voter. The state of politics in Jamaica is worrisome at times, as there is never a dull moment. Disturbingly, we have seen personal attacks on politicians. Former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson had personal attacks made against him which questioned his sexual orientation. Patterson declared in a radio interview with the then Breakfast Club’s hosts Beverley Anderson-Manley and the late Anthony Abrahams: “My credentials as a lifelong heterosexual person are impeccable. Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller also faced personal attacks which questioned her suitability to become Prime Minister which were grounded in her scholastic pursuits. Interestingly, former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding in an interview on BBC Hard Talk in 2018 stated his opposition to homosexuals serving in his Cabinet. Jamaica is a homophobic society. How we choose our words and the language we use can and does incite public anger and violence against the marginalized subsection of the population. In the United States of America, one of the candidates for the Democratic nomination Pete Buttigieg is an openly gay man having come out in 2015. Pete is the current mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as well as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. Elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, he is serving out his second and final term. Pete is a graduate of Harvard University and an Oxford Rhodes Scholar. The United States of America is clearly a different space than that of Jamaica. The USA is much more liberal and as such have passed legislation geared at providing protection for those disadvantaged in the society. Undoubtedly, the individual who is quick to speak disparagingly about his fellow Jamaican will not take that chance in the United States of America. The twin monsters of intolerance and discrimination reared its ugly head over the weekend at a People National Party campaign held to introduce and give support to their candidate, Dr Winston De La Haye to the St.Catherine East Central constituency. The hierarchy of the PNP was out in their numbers to prop up their candidate. In what is now being described as political intoxication three members of the PNP top brass made what many now view as homophobic remarks against the JLP’s Alando Terrelonge, the current Member of Parliament. Horace Dalley: “PNP straight, we nuh bend up, bend up.” Mark Golding: “Terrelonge, when him see the straightness of the man who's coming against him, will be wobbling and quaking.” Dr Dayton Campbell “The little fake Rastaman weh name Terrelonge ..., all me hear him talking about is toxic masculinity. Me ask him, ‘A wah dat?’ Every day him get up, him deh pon ‘toxic masculinity’, and I don’t know what is that.” The People’s National Party has since apologized to the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine East Central; Mark Golding also apologized via social media.
Popular Culture
@WayneCamo
How would you describe the state of politics globally? There are many troubling signs on the political platforms of both developing and developed societies. There appears to be a vacuum of political leadership globally with regards to civility and decorum. It is a fair assumption that general elections will be held in Jamaica in 2020. As a result both the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition, People’s National Party (PNP) are both conducting what many term soft campaigning. The political climate is simmering; campaigning will turn up a notch or two when the elections are announced. Over the years the Jamaican electorate has not demanded much from the nation’s politicians. For the most part the voters are caught with the same bait over and over again. We have seen personal attacks on politicians from both sides of the political divide. It appears that serious issues, such as crime and violence, the state of public health, education, roads, justice, and inflation are of little concern to the Jamaican voter. The state of politics in Jamaica is worrisome at times, as there is never a dull moment. Disturbingly, we have seen personal attacks on politicians. Former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson had personal attacks made against him which questioned his sexual orientation. Patterson declared in a radio interview with the then Breakfast Club’s hosts Beverley Anderson-Manley and the late Anthony Abrahams: “My credentials as a lifelong heterosexual person are impeccable. Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller also faced personal attacks which questioned her suitability to become Prime Minister which were grounded in her scholastic pursuits. Interestingly, former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding in an interview on BBC Hard Talk in 2018 stated his opposition to homosexuals serving in his Cabinet. Jamaica is a homophobic society. How we choose our words and the language we use can and does incite public anger and violence against the marginalized subsection of the population. In the United States of America, one of the candidates for the Democratic nomination Pete Buttigieg is an openly gay man having come out in 2015. Pete is the current mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as well as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. Elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, he is serving out his second and final term. Pete is a graduate of Harvard University and an Oxford Rhodes Scholar. The United States of America is clearly a different space than that of Jamaica. The USA is much more liberal and as such have passed legislation geared at providing protection for those disadvantaged in the society. Undoubtedly, the individual who is quick to speak disparagingly about his fellow Jamaican will not take that chance in the United States of America. The twin monsters of intolerance and discrimination reared its ugly head over the weekend at a People National Party campaign held to introduce and give support to their candidate, Dr Winston De La Haye to the St.Catherine East Central constituency. The hierarchy of the PNP was out in their numbers to prop up their candidate. In what is now being described as political intoxication three members of the PNP top brass made what many now view as homophobic remarks against the JLP’s Alando Terrelonge, the current Member of Parliament. Horace Dalley: “PNP straight, we nuh bend up, bend up.” Mark Golding: “Terrelonge, when him see the straightness of the man who's coming against him, will be wobbling and quaking.” Dr Dayton Campbell “The little fake Rastaman weh name Terrelonge ..., all me hear him talking about is toxic masculinity. Me ask him, ‘A wah dat?’ Every day him get up, him deh pon ‘toxic masculinity’, and I don’t know what is that.” The People’s National Party has since apologized to the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine East Central; Mark Golding also apologized via social media.
Popular Culture
Notwithstanding the apology, Jamaican popular artistes have made many
hit songs feeding off the fear of the populace homophobic fear which advocates
for harm and even death to those perceived to be or known to be homosexuals. Sadly,
we have had documented cases of Jamaicans suspected of being gay who have been beaten,
murdered, humiliated, bullied, jeered and discriminated against. The society continues to ignore the side of
masculinity which is rather toxic and divisive. Many in the society thought we had
past those days of abuse. Many Jamaicans were shocked to have heard the verbal
abuse from our politicians against another politician over the weekend which speaks
to the state of politics in the society. There many other forms of
discrimination which are prevalent in the society. Discrimination such as those
along gendered lines, misogyny, age discrimination, physical disability and
colourism are just a few. Is it too much to expect more from our political representatives?
Perhaps, it is situation of pondering to
the lowest common denominator in the euphoric nature of the moment. Intolerance
and discrimination have no place in a civilized society. The remarks made on
the political platform were most distressing especially coming from a former Minister
of Justice. The People’s National Party has since apologized to MP Terrelonge for
the incident. However, despite this the conversations have continued on multiple
social media platforms. Twitter in particular became ignited as discussions and
condemnation competed for tweets on this popular social media platform. The
society can rest assure that our politicians will soon again become
politically intoxicated as the date for the general elections draw nigh. One ought not to be discriminated against, more
so on the grounds of sexual orientation as this is a human rights issue. It is clear
that we have not learnt from the past as we continue to make the same mistakes.
Until we demand more from our politicians we will continue to have these
moments made for apologies.
In the words of Toni Morrison, oppressive
language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than
represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge...it must be rejected,
altered and exposed.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and
social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect
culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com@WayneCamo
#homophobia #politics #society #Jamaica #discrimination #justice #intolerance
#masculinity #gender #humanrights #misogyny
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