Earlier this week our Prime Minister, the Hon Freundel Stewart, emphasized that the issue of protection against criminal activity was equally important to visitors and residents alike. He underscored the position that law enforcement resources would be deployed to afford equal protection to all in Barbados thus reiterating the position of successive leaders of our country that there was equal protection under the law for all in our country. He underscored the position that there was one Barbados for all of us, residents and visitors alike, and the greatest stability was to be found by hewing to that policy and rejecting divisive solutions for special interests and elusive short term gain.
In an increasingly turbulent world with both physical and cultural tectonic plates in violent collision it is time for us to reflect on the core values that have sustained and nourished us over the years. We must draw strength from our love of freedom, respect for the due process of law, tolerance for others and a sense of self worth that allows us to resist the turbulence of the age. A turbulence that seeks to destroy rather than build by applying the politics of hate and anger, coupled with a descent into character assassination and personal vituperation.
It is a time to remember the values that we cherish in the selection of our friends and allies and in the identification of those that would cause us harm. We should rise above the raw emotions fueled by spurious racial or sectarian hatred and address the issues of policy and global events based on our core values that respect the value of life, personal freedoms and equal rights for all.
Barbadians have long treasured our democracy and jealously guard their rights to choose their leaders. They value the institutions that are a critical component of a democratic system of government while recognizing that our democracy is a work in progress as we seek to continually improve the quality of governance.
While listening to the daily call in programs there seems to be a level of emotionalism that feeds on xenophobia and exploits divisive fissures in our society. There seems to be a constant blame game as the public pursues the latest witch hunt. Much of the dialogue is heavily weighted on the identification of problems with which to pillory an individual, a group or whole nations. The moderators do their best to bring a balance and try to interject some reason to the discussions but quite often in vain.
Similarly, commentary is evident in the press where some seem to abandon the idea that the things that we value in our society should not be valued elsewhere and that the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be ignored. There is no other explanation for the fact that we see apologists for the likes of Gadhafi and Hugo Chavez that seem to be based on a mixture of anti-Americanism and racist phobia. Human rights are alright for the Western World but seem to be malleable in the developing world though we jealously guard them here at home.
It is time that we start to address the problems that we face by dealing with the issues before us without personal acrimony. Critical analysis and problem solving should be at the heart of our discussions with recognition that there is often no perfect answer but a solution that is best for most of us. It is a time for us to come together to solve the many difficulties that we face and to recognize that some are of our own making and therefore something that we can solve ourselves.
In so doing we must hew to the core values of our society that have stood us in good stead in the past and will do so in the future.
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