Shouldn’t Mr. Perry define what his notion of “ethnic integration” is?

Mar 04, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
“What’s so disappointing is that the two major ethnicities in Guyana have far more in common than there are differences. But we have allowed those differences to be exploited by a few self-serving persons” writes Mr. Clarence O Perry, responding in the Stabroek News of 3-1-14 to SN columnist Mr. Dave Martins of 2-23-14.
Indicative of much decency and pregnant promise, all Guyanese should find much to rejoice with what Mr. Perry seems to crave.
But where can Mr. Perry find disagreement with the SN columnist’s sentiments which note “In Guyana and the Caribbean generally, we have found a measure of acceptance or accommodation other than the outright rejection that has been the response in many lands?”
In an about face “bait and switch” Mr. Perry does indeed find disagreement to condemn
Mr. Martins’ perceived “accommodation of which he speaks (as it) is essentially a buyer-seller relationship.
That is not social integration. Wealth flows in one direction only – from us to them!
Isn’t this high grade hypocrisy? Mr. Perry should really make up his mind: Are the critical differences which have divided Guyanese exclusively based on race or buyer-seller economics and how did it arrive there?
Mr. Perry himself earlier lamented how Guyanese (he specifies) “have allowed those differences to be exploited by a few self-serving persons” which only exposes him. His ignoble exhortations are all hollow, unlike Mr. Martins’ observations.
For Mr. Perry to admonish that “Dave Martins could have adopted a more enlightening approach to the issue of ethnic separation … (since)… he objects to Guyana being a prime target of criticism where the issue of ethnic separation is concerned” begs the question where and why is his “a more enlightening approach to the issue of ethnic separation?”
In fact, Mr. Perry preaches how Mr. Martin is somewhat deficient because “He rejects the opportunity to urge protagonists that because of our unique circumstances in the Caribbean it is possible to demonstrate to other societies that ethnic separation can evolve into ethnic integration (?), and why attempts at ethnic supremacy are foolhardy.”
Shouldn’t Mr. Perry define what his notion of “ethnic integration” is, i.e. is it miscegenation, unless he actually means “ethnic coexistence” which is obviously lost to him?
Mr. Perry points out that our current state as Homo sapiens evolved from our Homo erectus origins in Africa. He writes: “The separation of ethnicities which confronts the human race today was definitely not a case of one ethnicity being superior to the other”.
Mr. Perry is correct about human evolution, even if he conveniently forgets concomitant evolved cultural beliefs, behaviour, values, education, scientific achievements, communications, history and religion all contribute to shaping relationships.
Those “original buyers and sellers” who enslaved Africans and stripped them of their cultural merchandise adorning their existence and tribal survival, now boldly witness some who do not even suffer from the excess of imitation or at least embarrassment in visiting a similar automatic preconditioned “ethnic integration” paradise on others.
All the efforts and resolve to regain lost African cultural traditions in the New World cannot be but a complete waste of time if “ethnic integration” or “social integration” is finality to alloy and replace “the white man’s burdens”.
That black is beautiful has not been repudiated or found unattainable, but Mr. Perry would have it so. After all, it was Mr. Perry himself who emphasized “The separation of ethnicities which confronts the human race today was definitely not a case of one ethnicity being superior to the other”.
Ethnic magnificence cannot be more desirable when by Federalism it is the best alternative of pursuit within a united Guyana. Compare the wisdom of those leaders who destabilized the elected Ukrainian government and in their pyrrhic victory have now inherited their country falling apart because they would not compromise and talk to each other.
In the meantime, all the reparations which Caricom seeks for slave descendants can only give high hopes it will be shared in equality, nationwide.
Sultan Mohamed

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Shouldn’t Mr. Perry define what his notion of “ethnic integration” is?

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