Dear Editor,
Despite my admitted lack of debating skills, I doubt whether there is anyone out there who would readily challenge me on the moot that none of us are born inherently hating ourselves or hating other human beings. Yet, somewhere along the way in our development or devolvement, far too many of us espouse these diabolical, destructive tendencies. Sometimes, its manifestations may be subtle. At other times, it may be blatant and extreme.
In The Bahamas, today, can you see the various forms of hatred being exchanged daily in our midst, or do you fit into that category of Bahamians whom my good friend used to admonish: "Fisherman never say he fish stink"?
When we hate hatred, what a wonderful place this would be.
Just the other day, I viewed a terribly horrific video clip, purportedly showing some extreme carnage happening in a certain part of Haiti. Nothing in its pre or post-independence history could bring rationale to such outrages.
Still, not to excuse any part of it in the least, such revolting brutality and inhumanity have been perpetrated at some time in just about every corner of the world: Africa; Asia; Australia; North, Central and South America; even right here in these beautiful islands of The Bahamas. Those indigenous, peaceful people inhabiting this place have been completely wiped off the map — extinct.
But in this modern day and age, one would be looking for better from our brothers and sisters; kith and kin. Sadly, better can hardly be seen as we lift up our heads to the rising sun or to any other direction on the horizon.
Hatred is learned. Self-hatred is baffling. Nevertheless, both forms of hatred can be linked to just about every sad situation confronting us in this golden jubilee year.
At our highest levels of governance, we see no end in sight to the scathing barrages of vitriolic assaults in those hallowed halls of Parliament. Further, white-collar and blue-collar business transactions, blatant exploitation, and unethical maneuvers spell hatred against those fellow Bahamians less able to appropriately defend themselves.
Microaggressions of almost every style and fashion are so ubiquitous that they hardly even register on any but the thinnest of skins.
More and varied degrees of hatred can be pointed to, but you either get the point or you don't.
To wrap up this little focus on the entrenched and abiding hate, which is sometimes more suffocating than those Saharan dust clouds lately sprinkling over our islands, I will contend that the scourge of violent and non-violent crimes emanate from deep-seated hatreds of others. Xenophobia deserves some mention here, but that's a topic in and of itself.
What is equally destructive, though oftentimes subtle, is the self-hatred in epidemic proportions here in our Bahamaland. Of course, it is not endemic to The Bahamas, but anything affecting our scattered jewels in these turquoise seas is more than concerning to me.
How could people who don't hate themselves chain their bodies and their minds to addictions of alcohol (drunk again), drugs (One Draw — I Wanna Get High), and "numbers" (da number man)?
Under the heading of self-hate, can we also include obesity, illiteracy and wanton promiscuity? In this so-called nation of Christian values, how come so many in our hallelujah choirs consciously "fly in the face of God" and spend untold amounts on fake hair, fake nails and other outrageous accoutrements — indicating that the Almighty made a mistake with their natural appearances?
Just a little while ago, Freddie Munnings Jr. was on a radio talk show lamenting the sordid tale of Bahamian entertainers having so many unnecessary hurdles to leap over as a matter of survival here at home. If that is not yet another example of us hating each other, as well as our true-true Bahamian culture, then you tell me what is.
Like so much else — the good, the bad, and the ugly — which have been around since at least the beginning of recorded history, perhaps looking for any real changes in this 21st Century Bahamas (as elsewhere) is simply wishful thinking.
In our Bahamas, however, as we continue to set sail beyond our 50 years of independence, and turn our rudder to avoid those treach'rous shoals of multi-layered hatred, perhaps we may firstly acknowledge that we see what we lookin' at.
Hatred is hatred. It may be hatred of others. It may be hatred of our own selves — no matter. Unless we make a conscientious and committed pledge to diminish both kinds of hatred in our lifetimes, we in fact threaten our very life span by joining in with those who admire the emperor's new clothes.
Not seeing the air doesn't mean it's not there. Not seeing the hatred doesn't make it disappear, either.
When we hate hatred, what a wonderful place this would be.
Yours sincerely,
— MB
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