As a person of mixed heritage looking on at the recent furore about statements made by Hilton Sandy, I shake my head in despair and disappointment in those in leadership. In 2013, having just celebrated our 50th year of independence, I would hate to think that those in opposition with hopes of being re-elected would be engaging in this type of reprehensible practice and inciting racism on a political platform.
As Abraham J Heschel once said, "Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason." History has shown us that the belief that one human being's race is superior to another's has led to wars, the destruction of nations and the death of millions of people.
If we are to learn anything from our past we should make every effort to never repeat the incredibly horrific mistake of sowing seeds to incite racism. The people in our society co-exist in harmony and we all face the same challenges of seeking better healthcare, improved infrastructure and an environment that is crime-free.
None of the problems we face is a result of race. Racism destroys a nation. We have examples of this across the world. We should embrace the diverse cultures of our land and not harbour feelings of hatred for one another. Political leaders should remain focussed on issues such as competence, corruption, delivery of services and poverty alleviation. They should not seek to gain cheap political points by playing the race card.
I am tired of the PNM-style rule of igniting the fires to fuel racism; I thought we had crossed this bridge when they were elected out of office at the general elections. If they continue with this style of politics and leadership, they will also be elected out of the Tobago House of Assembly.
Tennille Joseph
El Dorado Heights