December 11 2015
Dear Editor:
The editorial in the November 20th Anguillian, was, in my mind, one of the better ones appearing in the newspaper. Appropriately entitled “‘Democracy or Democrisy” , it identified how some people in Anguilla, especially politicians, were hypocritical in their statements and actions. Not all politicians are hypocrites, but there are certainly some.
And this takes me to the letter by Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles which appeared in the December 4 issue of the newspaper. The Anguillian’s editor had expressed in his editorial his opinions about the discourse on issues facing our country, as he had every right to do. Editorials are meant to permit an editor to give opinions on matters such as these.
The editor has not been a candidate for office, and in the editorial said nothing in favor of any political figure or party. Moreover, the editorial, written in a mild manner, avoided talking about how, when the House of Assembly was ready to begin the first reading of the Banking Bill, a large mob invaded it and disputed the proceedings with loud shouts of derision, thereby requiring an adjournment.
Yet Dr. Niles, the unsuccessful politician who now seeks to expand his constituency, neatly ignored in his letter the extremism of the group which he helped stir up, and instead attacked the editorial as being “one-sided and partisan”, “a mockery of democracy” and “bitter politics”. Who is really partisan?
The definition of a hypocrite is one who acts virtuous without any basis for doing so. Is it hypocritical for an aspiring politician to call an editorial partisan when he, himself, is clearly is demonstrating his own partisanship. Is it hypocritical for the politician to casually refer to the mob scene in the House, which shutdown the government, as simply “the people’s protest for information” which is …”a pillar of democracy”.
To be sure, the people have a right to be heard, but in a civil manner. They do not, however, have the right by disruptive actions to deprive others of their right to be heard. Further, Dr. Niles said that the door in the House of Assembly was not broken down but somehow collapsed because the screws were pulled out. Funny, the door had been used repeatedly without any screw problem before some of the agitators grabbed it that day.
If Dr. Niles is to succeed in politics, as he seems to want to do, he must first tone down his virtuous, self-righteous attitude and the unjustified criticisms of others, and discuss the issues in an objective and civil manner.
The Concerned Citizen
