Kissoon’s social contract and the blame game

Nov 02, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
So Mr. Freddie Kissoon now dishes out a “social contract” for our Guyanese taste buds  hoping the  spice of  Western philosopher Thomas Hobbes would make it palatable. Amazingly, he hopes that the PPP/C government even in sniffing his dish would straightway succumb to the Hobbesian spice and change the Guyana constitution.
Mr. Kissoon wants to harness and affix this social contract to enhance the opposition powers in Parliament because “the PNC is desperately trying to survive” (KN, October 24th, 2012).
The PPP/C government may as well hang itself knowing who cooked the “social contract” dish. By any means, this does not necessarily mean to excuse the PPP/C’s failings with all its unfulfilled promises. The PNC must also survive by all that is right and legal.
What exempts, in such a “social contract”, the opposition from their parliamentary responsibilities when they are actively involved in fomenting violence, arson, harassment of defenseless commuters, burning of taxpayers’ buildings and targeting of fellow of a certain section of Guyanese?
The AFC/APNU opposition must also abide… nay… be exemplary in compliance of this same Kissoon-unearthed Hobbes “social contract” to treat all Guyanese with equal rights including respect. They stand to gain more.
A ”social contract” must not appear as another disguise to flaunt and flounce in opposition to the Guyana Government’s  sacred duty to preserve law and order.
APNU’s  receptability will  in fact be judged  by how it disassociates its symbiosis to the AFC’s extremism and violence  at Linden and Agricola. A positive record substantially enhances the  PNC’s chances to become  the next government for sure.
In the meantime, no one can expect the PPP/C to cut their noses to spoil their faces. It’s Diwali time. Let our lights shine to remove darkness. Can’t we all get along? Or do we want the AFC to rob and beat Santa Claus when he comes to town?
Clever Mr. Kisssoon quietly forgets to tell us that Englishman Hobbes also believed in “absolute” government. Between the current freely-elected PPP/C and its previous rigging, undemocratic predecessor, the choice can only be obvious.
The PPP/C must, however, get its act together by seizing the bull by its horns. Who in Guyana has not grown up poor? Contrast Mr. Kissoon now living a privileged life of luxury with a big house in a gated community having even got a free university education in Canada. He suffered no hardships as a student as his bread has always been well buttered. Me? I had to work two jobs in factories in the good old USA living in cockroach/rat infested slums before completing my post-graduate university education to become a teacher. In America we call this paying a heavy price. Pitiful Kissoon. For someone promoting a new “social contract”, Mr. Kissoon is the best living example of non-compliance especially.
When Hindus recently observed Pitri Paksh- i.e. the remembrance and homage to former ancestors- it was totally lost on our Kissoons.  For our Kissoons, those same Guyanese who rescued and blossomed the sugar and rice industries can be easily denied their natural rights and freedom from onslaughts to their security in their own country.  Apparently when they built roads, cleared canals, lived in sub-human logies,  nurtured the sugar-cane and rice plants, growing food every day in the boiling sun  in muddy fields to feed the Caribbean,  it meant nothing to Mr Kissoon.
The “educated” Mr. Kissson can boost his ego by quoting Hobbes but his “social contract” proclivities  are only triggered  after three Lindeners are unfortunately and mysteriously  killed.  In the aftermath, violent thuggery and racism on mostly commuters at Agricola becomes seemingly excusable and justifiable only because of Mr. Kissoon’s self admittance  that “I am ashamed to be an Indian”.
Can there be a more pathetic human psychological deficiency in denying or acknowledging  something which afforded  him  life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but which is now despised  with open disdain?
Who would remind our Kissoons of Plato’s admonition “Know thyself”!
This “social contract” that Mr. Kissoon touts can only make a mockery of Guyana’s sensitive reality not so much in its advocacy but who cooks and serves it. But he must not be hated as we are the ones that failed.  Regardless of the deficiencies which abound, I would still be favourably disposed to be charitable, sharing with equal sacrifices even limiting  my share to give those more in need. Moreso, I am always predisposed to hearing and facilitating all sides because of my religion, origins, cultural beliefs, traditions and race.
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said “I want the culture of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
How this Hobbes “social contract” which Mr. Kissoon promotes be beneficial to us all remains to be seen. Its significance would be reflected when Mr. Kissoon heals himself first. We know in whose court the missing ball resides.
Vassan Ramracha

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