Politics: Culture of fear and silence
There is a culture of fear and silence that has set in around this election, and it’s sad. Some of us have similar to difference views on how we want a society to run and who we want to run our society. This here should not bring about fear or silence in democratic election, because it defeats it very purpose and meaning.
I am an AUM supporter, and I have been vocal about it, and sometimes I point out some of the failing of AUF party from my perspective. As a result, I’m often told, I can’t say that, I must hush my mouth and that I’m going to get into trouble. I refused to be bullied into silence. If a candidate or a party don’t want anyone to say anything about them as public representatives then they should not be running to be our representative. If I stray into candidates personal life, using scandal and defaming them then I respect being told, I must hush mi mouth… dat er guh get in trouble sort of comments. If you are an elected representative or running to be one and you are doing or had done things that affects the lives of the people who you were elected to serve then I have every right as a born citizen of this country to be vocal about it on all levels, and I would not be deter by fearmongers whose only wish is to silence me to promote their own ends/agenda.
This is a democracy and not a dictatorship. If the majority of the people chose to elected a government who they believe is looking out for their interest and trust and feel that they are going to serve the country in a way that benefits all, we all have to respect that even though some of us might not like it or see it that way, likewise if they don’t trust that they are serving in the people’s best interest we should be able to speak out about it, and let them know that is not acceptable. Our vote would show them who really have the power, and that is we the voters by a majority.
This coming election has energized the populace. If you want to be apolitical that is entirely your choice and business, and if you want to vocalize your views again that is your choice and business. If we the people have a choice then we should be able to be as vocal as we wish to be, and if we don’t, let it be our choice, but no choice should be made out of fear of any kind. Fear and silence of being ostracize or criticize negatively have no place in a democracy.
Denise Crawford
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
