All about race

I will attempt to outline a few that readily come to mind. Race is defined as a group of human beings with similar physical features and traits.

In TT, as overlapping progresses, a simple taxonomy is not possible. Racist: a rare personality, who basically believes that his race is divinely endowed with the gift of superiority over all other races. Racial prejudice is simply to pre-judge as applied to race.

We prejudge readily when our emotions force us to a conclusion without much thought. Racial discrimination is where one distinguishes something in a race, unfavourably. Tribalism is a sub-sector within a race, eg the Tutsis and the Hutus. Racial injustice is different strokes for different folks. A power struggle.

Dogmatism is a closed mind, which denotes the disposition to evaluate information in the light of its source. Group selfishness is selfish group behaviour.

In TT this is paraded as “We” and “They.” Ethnicity revolves around pride of original races. Political race in TT, this involves the UNC and the PNM and their core support.

So, Monica when GOPIO expresses its innermost feelings about Indian involvement and representation, it cannot be construed as a racial statement. It involves all of the above. A quantum leap into the thought processes of the society as a whole.

Be it political, social, commercial, educational, religious etc. There are really very few racists in the world, the most notable was Adolf Hitler, who was recorded as saying that he hates Jews, and fulfilled his dream of racial supremacy by physically destroying millions of Jews. Even when Dr Eric Williams made his infamous statement, that the Indians were a hostile and recalcitrant minority, it still cannot be considered as a racist statement, but one of political correctness, as he went on to rule for 25 years, peacefully. His ego was shattered when he lost the Federal Elections.

The danger of such statements, is the imbalance it creates on an unsuspecting population. On this score the Media is crucial in negating this influence.

So, we must allow GOPIO the freedom to vent their feelings on the Concordat, Benny Hinn, the Trinity Cross, Hindu marriages, Chutney/Soca Warriors (read Iwer George’s social and commercial concept of this name, great thinking Iwer), so let the radio talk shows flourish as they are implicitly creating a quiet and silent fusion which is coming like a thief in the night.

Out of bad cometh good, as people are seeing, listening, hearing and talking. Very few people have observed that in this nation there is real social transformation taking place.

Note carefully the joint efforts of Shah and La Salle, Robinson and Panday, Patessar and Rudder, Tiger Woods and Sanjay Singh, Chutney and Soca, Lara and Chanderpaul, Shiv Shakti and Malick Folk performers, Stalin and Sundar Popo, General Grant and Soonnyman. There is the saying that, small minds think only of things, medium minds think of people, and great minds think about ideas.