#BTSpeakingOut – Always speak truth to power

The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Sean St. Clair Fields

As with all small societies, (Barbados included) interpersonal relationships and political affiliation often determine one’s status on the farm.

When we accept that all animals are created equal but some are more equal than some, instead of speaking our truth, most of us whisper in secret for fear of being victimsed by the elite.

It takes tremendous courage to speak truth to power in small societies because the repercussions are often quite severe.

If your job is not threatened, your business suddenly gets audited.

The fact remains that in our country of 166 square miles, persons at variance with the officials are often labeled as liars, traitors or revolutionists until such time as they sing from the same hymn book as the officialdom.

I would like to take this opportunity to salute Senator Caswell Franklyn and Dr. Ronnie Yearwood in particular, for maintaining their testicular fortitude and honour as they continually share their opinions and insights on issues of national significance, even though there are sometimes chastised for doing so.

One could understand and certainly reject arguments that are unfounded and baseless, but I am yet to read any of their submissions that were not grounded in fact or logic.

We may not agree with their positions or opinions but as the saying goes “their logic is sound”.

They are others who speak truth to power in our society and as far as I am concerned, they are all National Heroes. Many of us shy away from conflict or we prefer to allow others to fight on our behalf.

We choose the silent path, the path with less risk. In any modern democracy, to remain silent or to whisper in secret will eventually lead to a totalitarian state where the citizens are enslaved both mentally and physically.

We must never surrender our democratic right to object and we must never retreat from articulating our concerns.

Let us forge the courage of our ancestors, let us shed the fear of the elitist repercussions and let us continually speak truth to power.