Scandal online

The point remains: persons who choose to enter public office place themselves under the glare of scrutiny, and further, when dealing with a very sceptical population, keenly (and quite correct so to do) guarding the public purse, such scrutiny can become even more extreme.

The issue for this article however, revolves around the impact on the family, more so the children, of the person who made the choice to enter public life. Most times, the family of public officials may have supported the official’s decision to become a public figure. That support, however, does not and should not also place them under the uncharitable glare – however, most times it does.

In this age of social media, we are noting an increase in ‘online incivility,’ where some with access to data (or Wi-Fi) and a thought, deem it necessary to post the most vile, intrusive and obnoxious public posts on and about the family members of persons in public life.

I have seen posts that range from celebrating the pending divorce of public officials, to posts that ascribe any number of actions and activities to their spouses and children, to posts castigating a grandchild of a public official who chose to don a mask – as children do at times.

The phenomenon of including the family of public officials in scandal and ridicule, regardless of if they were a willing part and party or not, is certainly not an experience unique to Trinidad and Tobago, as we have seen this played out with the pursuing of former US President Barack Obama’s two young daughters, as well as, currently with the youngest son of the current President of the United States.

The examples are many as they are varied. Whilst this is an established practice, does it make it right? The argument suggests that the significant others of the public official must bear the burden of their partner’s choices whilst in public office. However, if we were to accept this argument, what about the children of the official? Were they part of the official’s decision-making process? Did they contribute to any number of choices, statements, actions made by the public official? Did they have a choice in any of these matters? What if the shoes were on the other foot and you were the public official? I am almost certain there are those reading who would state that the answer is simple: just do the right thing each time, every time, and you will not be held to ridicule. As practical and logical as this seems, it just does not happen.

Human beings stumble, fall, and make many errors, especially those who may not have been adequately prepared for power, public office, and public scrutiny. Ascending to positions of power requires a certain measure of maturity, not in terms of chronological age, but in terms of functional age, which includes wisdom, understanding, and a sense of purpose. The thing is, we tend not to recognize that grooming for such positions of power must be compulsory, and as such, many fall into the category of scandal.

Scandal that follows the public official oft taints the offspring of said officials, as the public fury extends to the official and those within their personal remit. With our latest public official scandal, I implore citizens, by all means, be angry at the misguided actions, however, also be cognisant that the children of officials are exposed to everything stated, printed, and posted about their parent/s – and I do not believe they made the choice to be in such positions.