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Supremacist label is a figment of imagination

Oct 22, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am writing in reference to Mr. Fredrick Kissoon’s letter “I have suffered too much to let APNU-AFC destroy Guyana,” in KN October 18, 2015, which I believe has some substance. It seems like Mr. Kissoon has indicated that he has not labeled Roopnarine as an Indian supremacist but if I feel he did so then I should defend that label. Even if Mr. Kissoon did label me inadvertently or by association to be an Indian supremacist I feel obligated to respond not as a defense since I am not in a court of law but to add to a meaningful dialogue on ethnic relations in Guyana, which, arguably is poorly understood. I think Mr. Kissoon’s spin on Indian supremacy whether through emotions or eclecticism is allusive, out of context, and above all, a grandiose figment of imagination and rhetoric.  I will provide three reasons why.
First, to label some Indians in Guyana and the Diaspora as supremacist is to devalue the meaning of the word, which applies to White-Black relation in the American South; the latter suffered segregation, exclusion, lynching, terrorism, and put in short, Black Americans were not seen as humans. Can Kissoon show where the above and more have been applied or conspired to apply by Indians to other any ethnic group in Guyana? I am sure Kissoon is aware that I reside most of the year in the America South.
Second, when some Indians speak out passionately about Indian issues and affairs and if they are in Kissoon’s judgment supremacists then by implication or by basic reasoning African nationalists in Guyana are also African supremacists. African Guyanese also speak passionately on African issues. Kissoon does not think so since he has never at least openly say anything on the latter point. Amerindians now are speaking on Amerindian affairs, are Amerindians now supremacists? Kissoon has confused Indo-centrism with Indian supremacy.
Third, Kissoon has been peddling his Indian supremacist label now for some time and one would have expected that it would have been supported by some. He is a loner, at least openly, in his label, which makes me believe that I am might be wasting my time here. I hope not.
Finally, I would like to make one more comment. There was a letter written in KN by someone name Yvonne Sam asserting what should or should not be discussed. This individual is obviously self-muzzled and let me take this opportunity to say that the letter exchanges are not about Kissoon versus Roopnarine, not about Kissoon-Roopnarine syndrome, not about Kissoon-Roopnarine Indian supremacy thesis. The exchanges, I think, are intended to provide a better understanding and advancement of our knowledge, however skewed, as to whom we are as a people of Guyana. Most importantly, I believe, the exchanges serve or will serve as a platform for rigorous debates, national and international engagements, openness, the introduction of new modes and models of thoughts that will be beneficial to most as we chart an uncertain future. I leave with this: a thought not expressed is a wasted thought; someone might have said this before. I cannot remember the name. Give credit.
Lomarsh Roopnarine

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