EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WAS raised in the Christian faith and though I still believe in a power greater than myself - or the rulers of any country - I cannot be called religious.
Yet one scriptural verse from memories past repeats in my mind since evening fell on May 7, 2012: "Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying..."
One man took a personal grudge for his leader and masked it as cause to rally followers desperate for something new, on a temporary ride, to upset the most pivotal general election of our time.
In the process of dissecting the governing party, to the extent that its leader lost his governing seat, that man also ended up tossed out on his backside. That is what happens when you turn on the people who gave you the power to fight for them in the first place.
Let us not be surprised when that man exits the political arena as swiftly as he entered it, because passion for others is not what drives him.
He is passionate, first and foremost, about himself, and he has exemplified this politically, professionally, and through the cracks, personally.
I believe that we fall before we rise, in order to rise. But today I get an uneasy feeling far on the inside that the worst is ahead of us in our country - not behind us.
At the time we most need the best leader to get us through what is to come, in walks a person who is not equipped for the job, primarily because a need to please others gets in the way of doing it.
And, ultimately, it has come to this because the one man saw fit to fulfil his individual agenda rather than ride for hope with substantial improvements in the most fundamental areas of human and national development: health, social services, education, environment, and entrepreneurship. I believe for the first time, in my youngish years, that this is truly a fulfilment of prophecy.
That a majority of our people would use their votes to faithlessly answer the immediate troubles of their lives, abandoning the vision required to see past themselves, is more than telling of an entrenched inability to think forward, and deeply disturbing when you consider the losses which have been and must be suffered to achieve a quick fix.
The same majority wants the impossible and is willing to sacrifice nothing for it. What many fail to understand is that no one administration is single-handedly responsible for crime, unemployment, or debt. And as such, no one of them can single-handedly eradicate them. Social norms established many, many years in advance, along with their associated mindsets, create the problems of the future by creating masses of unprincipled people who are primarily self-interested.
People who don't know or care to know what is right cannot do what is right. People who cannot or choose not to make a decision will never make a right (over wrong) decision. Now the combination of both character flaws will lead our country.
For my children, I will hope for the best. But if faith is the substance of things hoped for, and those commencing in leadership do not inspire faith, it is more than difficult to imagine the outcome.
NICOLE BURROWS
Nassau,
May 8, 2012.
Comments
basjazz 11 years, 11 months ago
my dear nicole you are on the money.i could not have said it better.mr.christie is not and will never be prime minister material.the bahamian people made a serious mistake on may 07 and we all will pay dearlyfor it.i predict that the next five years will cause many of those celebrating in yellow shirts to cry and ask out loud(lord what were we thinking?)
notsogullible 11 years, 11 months ago
What a timely and spot on opinion. Anybody else notice the same ole same ole same ole and more same oles are right back in positions of power. What's happening with the generation of new leaders. Hope they r not waiting in line to be trained by the ___ of old same ole leaders. God help us all. My sentiments are exactly as yours, Nicole, "now this all was done that IT might be fulfilled ... God help us - all of us who have vision and who knew better than voting PLP
RWNottage 11 years, 11 months ago
You must be that of an educated woman and an extremely profound writer, as this was one of the most intellectual opinions given as it pertains to the results of this election. As a young man I was completely disturbed by the outcome of this election. I have not been around long enough to know the inns and outs of the current governing party, however during their last term in power I remember a party whose members were nothing more than scandalous and corrupt criminals that brought nothing but embarrassment to the people of the Bahamas, a party whose wants and desires are put well before the people who they serve. I thought far better of my fellow Bahamians. I thought those of us with intelligence, and visions of a better and brighter Bahamas out numbered the rest, but this election has proved me wrong and I am truly ashamed to say that we live in a country where ignorance is bliss and stupidity reigns supreme. These people are blinded by money and self gain, they have no interest in their futures or that of their children, and where there is no vision the people shall continue to suffer. I am hoping for the best at this point and time but then i get this deep gut feeling that something is not right, and the worst has yet to come, I'm praying about it. I was excited to return home this summer because i spend so much of my time away in school, but I can honestly say I'm not interested anymore, I don't think my future is secure under the rule of this government and I cannot support this caliber of people.
paul_vincent_zecchino 11 years, 11 months ago
Dear Nicole Burrows -
During the late 1960s, some came to the Bahamas in the guise of helpers, but they quickly set about to overturn the good, divide, conquer, and profit from the dissension.
By 1979, when as a young adult I visited beautiful Nassau, the sad signs were in evidence.
When our family visited in 1999 after some years absence, the eye could not mistake all the good that PM Ingraham had accomplished. In just several short years subsequent to his election, PM Ingraham undid that which preceeded him and replaced it with prosperity and the inevitable good will it brings about.
At one time as they may still, physicians took the Hippocratic Oath, "Primum non nocere."- 'first, do no harm.'
From sentiments expressed here subsequent to the 'landslide', doesn't it seem citizens are concerned the wisdom of that oath which applies to many endeavors may be dismissed in favor of return to another era, one prior to that of Mr. Ingraham's '92 coming?
Why do some people who endure bygone troubled eras, during better times yearn to revisit them, and inflict that peculiar yearning on others, young people in particular, at the ballot box?
We see the same phenomenon in America, don't we? Despite prosperity unleashed by one of Mr. Ingraham's stated exemplars, President Ronald Reagan, why do so many here still revere and labor to recreate here what they ironically call, "The Great Depression" of the 1930s?
You know what was 'great' about it? Nothing. It was a decade spoiled by an interventionist, spendthrift president. Yet today, many strive to return the rest of us to that glum, wasted era.
Sometimes, hard though it is as imperfect human beings, in both our own lives and in consideration of the lives of others, it benefits us all to avoid the giddy sayings of others while instead keeping a watchful eye on the history in our rear view mirrors.
Our thanks to our Bahamian friends who made our family's recent visit to the beautiful Bahamas so refreshing, as ever, as we look forward to returning in the near future.
One can only wish Mr. Ingraham the best, and express appreciation for all that he so clearly accomplished.
Paul Vincent Zecchino Mansota Key, Florida 11 May, 2012
bookiedread 11 years, 11 months ago
A very enlightening article. It brings home the underlying fact that greed still is a very dangerous sin. I have only one vote and i would have desired for everyone to share my political beliefs but the Bahamian people sought another avenue and we have no other alternative but to accept it. I love my country and my fellow citizens but it is my opinion that they did not make the right decision at the polls. Mr. Christie and his party promised to work from day one. It is now day seven and the murders continue. It is day seven and the same things remain. No Prime Minister, no Minister of National Security or MP, to my knowledge, have ever been a suspect or charged with a murder. It is a known fact that the PLP is a vindictive group of people that look out for themselves. I do not wish for them to fail because the country would hurt, but HEAVEN HELP US ALL.
Zen 11 years, 11 months ago
The world isn't black and white. Just because someone doesn't do what we want doesn't make them evil or corrupt.
It may suprise you but many of the views displayed here concerning the PLP are exactly what the PLP supporters say about the FNM. For example "Bookrearead" says that PLP are "vindictive" however many PLP's will site how the Former Prime Minister said he would fire Steve McKinney in his victory speech. Now, that could be viewed as vindictive but many FNM's I know say it was justified.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 11 months ago
control them ?? he,s with them ,,remember the old saying ,birds of a feather ..i thought in 2002 to 2007 PGC was a good guy ,just weak ,,,,my opinion has now changed,,the trick is on us Bahamas ...
Livestofish 11 years, 11 months ago
Buckle your seat belts were're in for one hell of a ride!!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 11 months ago
got my seat belt buckled and crash helmet ,,one thing it,ll be one hell of a entertaining ride ..we got something for everyone ,girly men ,manly women ,shukers ,jivers,shufflers ,frequint flyers ,throw in a couple drug addle hollywood b list stars ,,man oh man the show Dallas got nothing on us ,soon Rudy King will be have 200 dollar a plate award banquet to salve thier egos ,,geez its more entertaining than the bad girls club
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 10 months ago
Perry must be in shock!!! He won with less than half of the voters. Obviously most of us Bahamians did not want him back, almost as bad as the PLP tried to get rid of him in his last term. Porr Perry is gonna come out of politics with the worst legacy of any Prime Minister. If I was in his shoes I would actually lead the party and do my utmost to leave a good legacy behind. But I guess for him and his group, it's only important they feather their nest before they're put out to pasture.... Too bad for us...
HEY PLP!!! WE THE BAHAMAS DID NOT WANT YOU AND YOUR WIN WITH LESS THAN HALF PROVES THAT!! AT THE VERY LEAST COULD PLEASE TRY TO PRODUCE THIS TIME?
mamalue 11 years, 9 months ago
THERE IS AND SAYING THAT THE PEOPLE GETS THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT IT DESERVES.THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.WE NOW HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT DECISION. PRAY THEREFORE THAT THERE MIGHT BE DECISIONS MADE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN THE PEOPLE'S BEST INTEREST WITHOUT REGARDS TO POLITICAL BELIEFS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALL BAHAMIANS AND WHAT HURTS EYES, MAKE NOSE RUN WATER.
Laughable 11 years ago
I blame the whole election fiasco on Ingraham & McCartney.They are both far to big headed & proud.Ingraham should have made up with McCartney & visa versa.Now we have a miracle,the dead have come to life again like Baltram Bethel,Philip Smith etc.My God are the pickings that slim PLP ? All the progress made will go back to the old corruption again. The Referendum on gambling was a waste of time & money.Why not have a referendom on the VAT,that's whats going to kill us all.
TimeForChange 10 years, 11 months ago
Not quite one year in office and already the people want them out even their own who voted for them. I thought getting kicked out after only five years was record breaking but this takes the cake! It's so funny that is took people another 11 months to see the PLP in their true colors even after 30 years of corruption and you still needed another 5 years! The PLP record speaks for itself they are the same always will be the same and nothing is going to change that. Now we have to sit and wait for 4 more years and SUFFER till the next election to get rid of them once and for ALL! Wonderful article Ms. Burrows everything you said was right on target.
panamaguy 10 years, 6 months ago
I have been visiting the Bahamas since the 1970's. I also lived the Bahamas for 10 years. ... It is so refreshing to hear all the people in here raising their voices in the true spirit of democracy. It is also refreshing to see that the Bahamians have little tolerance for corruption in government. I live in a country where that is not the case. Unfortunately, in many countries in the Americas, corruption is commonplace and rife which always leads to incompetence in government. I am proud of the Bahamians standing up to this evil. Keep speaking out.
Honestman 10 years, 3 months ago
We can speak all we like but unfortunately our voices won't be heard for another three years.
Andrei 9 years, 5 months ago
I totally agree with you. Nowadays it's really difficult to survive in the middle of bad people, where faith is not one of their main beliefs. I'm wondering what is next! http://dorianbarbu.wix.com/doctororto...">Thanks!
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