Is Guyana a ‘Land of Six Peoples?’

Mar 04, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana is referred to as the “Land of Six Peoples”, but ‘united and free’! It is time we revisit some of our old cherished beliefs and accepted sayings since they are, or are very close to being counterproductive and inimical to our personal and national interests. It is regrettable that some unscrupulous politicians and their followers have used and are still using such false beliefs to promote internal strife and dissension for personal gains.
Firstly, we are either people or non-people. How did we come up with six peoples? I guess we know something that the rest of the world does not. We are either humans or non-humans. The roots of all mankind are traced to Africa. We are all Africans despite our movements all over the planet. This means that we are the same despite the small outward minute physical appearances produced over time in various places.
As a child I was perplexed with these arbitrary human distinctions and thought them silly. I never saw any difference in behaviour and attitude between these supposed subcategories based on trivial physical features or supposed ‘ethnic’ origins. Every child knows that external physical features have no bearing on what lies within a person or who he/she is. Children soon figure out what is ‘good’ from ‘bad’ behaviour in their playmates and can judge people on merit.
Unfortunately, adults knowingly or unknowingly pass on their fears (real or imagined) and prejudices (unfound) to their children. The adults themselves have been fed these false assumptions regarding others. For example, a minor irrelevant physical or cultural aspect is allowed to become the basis on which we wrongfully judge others.
This flaw has led to a cruel continuous cycle of self-destruction. Once we degrade others we are in effect degrading ourselves and walking an unhealthy path of self-hatred. When we are secured in who we are there is no need to malign
others.
The hopeful thing is that once we left these shores we come to our senses and act appropriately – seeing ourselves as simply humans deserving of respect and simultaneously treating fellow countrymen/women the way we rightfully should.
Like our young children, we in Guyana should see others as simply people and make the serious efforts to judge each person as an individual and simply as fellow humans. It is a goal we have to strive for, our survival and happiness depends on our success. Then all the humans of Guyana will be one people or simply Guyanese.
We will also feel better for taking the high road as we were taught in our religious and secular education. Why not begin now and make this a daily goal to be better?
Seelochan Beharry

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Is Guyana a ‘Land of Six Peoples?’

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