If I were to post this editorial on Facebook, it probably would not get many likes and shares. In fact, it would probably be read and dismissed as not being juicy enough, if it was read at all. What is it about our people that makes us hold on to and spread gossip more than the good news of the Gospel? It is difficult to be a serious journalist in Anguilla, because most people are not interested in finding out the truth. They are simply contented to feed on the manure that others are more than willing to dish out to them.
I was extremely bothered, over the past few days, to see and hear the statements made by the Comptroller of Customs – indicating that his Department has found that some food imported into Anguilla is not fit for human consumption – being twisted beyond recognition and used to destroy public confidence in establishments owned by Chinese residents. I have seen Facebook posts and WhatsApp messages cut and paste from different sources to create a single message purporting to emanate from the Comptroller of Customs – and attributing words to him that he did not say. I have heard media personnel feeding the propaganda machine without fact-checking or any regard for the reputations they destroy. I have seen fake articles, created under names that seem like reputable news sources, suggesting that the Comptroller of Customs is being pressured to cover up what has been allegedly discovered in relation to Chinese establishments. I have heard people everywhere condemning Chinese business without one iota of evidence that it was them who were importing the food of which the Comptroller spoke.
Has anyone even considered that perhaps businesses which we consider local may be engaging in the practices the Comptroller spoke of? Is it easier to assume that the culprits cannot be “one of us”? Unfortunately, Chinese businesses have been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion as a result of those who are geniuses at fabrication, innuendo and rumour-mongering. How easy it is to ruin a reputation! Those of you who have fallen prey to the gossip, and have played your part in spreading it, must remember the saying: “today for me, tomorrow for you.” Just as easily as the reputation of Chinese businesses can be destroyed, so can yours. We must do better than this! Do your own research, rather than swallowing everything you hear. If you did, you will easily find out what the Comptroller said or, more importantly in this context, what he did NOT say. You will learn that the allegation of the use of embalming fluid in the preservation of meat in Chinese supermarkets is just that: an allegation from an unknown source. As a people, we must do a better job of elevating ourselves, our knowledge and our expectations of others – rather than allowing ourselves to be led like blind mice behind whoever is playing the sweetest tune on the gossip flute. We so love a juicy story that we have little regard for whether or not it is true or who it may harm.
Contrary to the old nursery rhyme, words can do a lot of harm. They harm reputations, destroy relationships and erode trust and confidence. It is for this reason that those of us entrusted to inform others through the written and spoken word must act responsibly and ensure that our words are supported by well researched facts. It is also for this reason that those of us who read or hear words must think carefully about the message before simply repeating them.
Let us await the results of the investigations before jumping to conclusions. Let us be slow to condemn before knowing all the facts. Let us be responsible in our conversations and publications.
