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SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL!

Apr 02, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Today is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. It is called Good Friday and marks the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion some two thousand years ago.
Traditionally in Guyana this was also unquestionably the quietest day in the country, something that sprang from the fact that the British, who colonized our country, were mainly Christian in beliefs.
Thus, they ensured that certain practices, related to their religious persuasion were incorporated into the law and were part of the custom of the day.
On Good Friday of yore everything shut down. The factories did not grind, workers did not work, shops did not open and the streets were mainly deserted since persons did not venture out of their homes except to go to Church. This latter exercise was so solemn that the going and coming from church was a hush exercise.
On Good Friday, persons stayed home and tried to pass the day away quietly. It was usually hard to avoid boredom. The radio – there was no television in those days – contributed to the solemnity of the day by mainly playing only religious songs. It was a day to remember and in many ways a day to endure.
Those days of quietness and confinement are long gone. Today Good Friday is still solemn but this does not stop persons from being on the streets. It will also not stop many shops from opening for the day so as to make a dollar.
This raises an most important issue. Guyana is a land of many religions. Not all Guyanese observe Good Friday. For obvious reasons it is not a holy day for Hindus and Muslims. So what should prevent a person who is not a Christian from having access to the markets, shops and stores? After all, should a person in a free society not have the right to choose?
One of the reasons why despite Good Friday not being a holy day for non-Christians, stores and shops generally do not open, is out of respect for the religious feelings of Christians.
And this is very much reciprocated since on the religious holidays of non-Christians, there is also a lull in activity and most businesses are closed.
Every person should respect the religious observances of others. And thus even if there is no law against certain practices, citizens should by their own actions ensure that no disrespect is brought to any religious grouping.
This brings me to the core issue. It is known that on some religious holidays there are certain watering holes which open. This should not be allowed.
On religious holidays, whether Christian, Muslim or Hindu, there should be a strict prohibition on the sale of alcohol.
This does not happen in all cases but it should happen. This would help promote greater respect for all religions.
This issue is raised in the context of something that happened recently in a village in Guyana, whereby it was alleged that certain sentiments were expressed that a child was possessed by spirits because she had attended a religious function.
This conclusion ought not to have been drawn, since there can be no basis to it. This incident has the potential of creating disaffection between the groups concerned and this is why today as Guyanese from all walks of life show respect for the customs and traditions of Christians, that we do not allow this incident to become a source of division within our society.
It is when things like these happen that there should be a greater attempt at healing within our society. It is hoped, therefore, that today can be used as an attempt to heal the wounds that are likely to be caused by this incident.
And one of the ways in which we can all contribute to this healing is for us to show respect not just on this a holy day for Christians, but for all the holy days of all the other religious groupings in Guyana.

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