Seasoned voters can recall one's political preference was once a private matter.  Years ago Bahamians saw it unnecessary to make their political preference a public topic, and it was socially unusual to witness a Bahamian expressing or making loud outbursts of one's political choice in any collective setting, as it was only revealed in the voting box.  When did this change?
The exposure of Bahamians' political preference became public knowledge when politicians introduced 'political/campaign paraphernalia'.  

Paraphernalia are furnishings used in a particular activity, in this case political campaigns.  A dangerous and soon to be devastating political gimmick.  Devastating to whom?  The voting public, as we are left alone to face each other while politicians harmonize behind the scene.  Once again we have allowed politicians to pull our strings, which have brought forth an unconscious division among us.  Wake up!

During campaign seasons, politicians provide Bahamians with an overwhelming amount of paraphernalia, such as stickers for cars, T-shirts, hats, and pom-poms.  Don't be deceived!  Paraphernalia attracts a subtle social movement, bringing forth a spirit of division and a potential 'gang mentality', during political campaigns.

Bahamians must be aware of the high possibility of political violence during these social movements, especially among families where violence emerges or from persons who would gravitate to violence during heated arguments.  We are in a new era of political science, as Bahamians are now politically vocal and angry.  And we are now in hot pursuit of a new political movement compact with vision and strategic execution.  Angry Bahamians along with a social movement that has foreseeable potential for public violence is a lethal combination.  Wake up people!

The Economist (an authoritative weekly newspaper) reported in its April 28, 2005 edition the following: "In general elections past, the political temperature of a British street could be taken by looking at the windows.  Candidates' posters - blue for the Conservatives, red for Labour, orange for the Liberal Democrats - marked the positions of rival camps more precisely than any voter database.  But allegiances are less obvious this year.  Particularly in Labour-held areas, there is often little sign that an election is about to take place....People don't want to parade their political preferences any more, says David Heyes who is defending his seat in Ashton-under-Lyne..."

From the excerpt, we can see British citizens opted to change their response to campaigns since 2005; they have taken back their privacy, not exploiting their political preferences and moved away from political accessories and paraphernalia.  We can do the same.  The political focus in The Bahamas has changed, as politics has gained a new face.  Bahamians are more analytical, educated, informed, investigative, concerned, involved, sensitive, angry and eager.

 With these mental and emotional factors, it is dangerous for us to be separated.  Bahamians are encouraged not to fall into the trap of using paraphernalia (the divide items) during these up-coming campaign events.  I reiterate, these items bring an unconscious social movement that separates, and will eventually bring about violence.  

Wake up people!  Focus on the important issues; don't allow them to distract us from pressing matters at hand.  Let's not allow politicians to ride our emotions with political paraphernalia.  We must remain sober, aware and united while having opposing political views.  We must fight for each other, not against each other, as we all have one common goal: to bring The Bahamas to a better position.  A nation can not stand, if divided.
 
- Kim C. Cleare

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