THE EDITOR:
POLITICIANS and political parties should exercise caution in their use of religious icons and symbols.

They must impose some limits upon themselves when attempting to attract and retain political support.

One noticed that Hindu iconic terms are being used, or rather abused, by politicians of the Pandayite faction of the UNC.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar has frequently used the Hindu concept of Maha Guru in reference to Basdeo Panday.

She no longer uses the simple word “birthday” to refer to Panday’s birthday -- now it is “Panday Jayanti”.

Jayanti meaning birth anniversary, is used exclusively by Hindus in Trinidad in connection with divinity such as Saraswati, Rama, Krishna, etc., in the same way, Maha Guru is linked to spirituality, to a supreme spiritual leader or being, in effect, to the most Divine. It is an insult to the Hindu presence to recklessly abuse these Hindu concepts and to apply them to Basdeo Panday for political ends, or to seek to evoke Hindu and Indian support for Panday and his faction of the UNC.

Is there some kind of desperation behind the use of these terms? The choice of the rising sun symbol for the UNC has its roots in Hindu iconography.

Pandayites used the rakhi (Hindu wristband) to show support for their embattled leader some years ago when he was facing sexual assault charges.

There are cases where icons carried into the political realm had lasting negative consequences.

One immediately recalls the abuse of the concept of “Aryan” and the Roman “Swastika” by Germany’s National Socialists led by Adolph Hitler. Hindus in the diaspora, especially in Europe and North America, avoid using the swastika icon because its abuse by the fascists.

The Pandayite faction of the UNC is on its last legs.

Its political base has effectively shifted to the leadership of Winston Dookeran. Hence their panic and their last desperate attempt at expulsion.

At the same time, there is the extreme attempt, in some ways, to deify Panday, and paint his legacy in a certain way while seeking to retain the political constituency he has led since 1976. Unfortunately, it is too late for any of that.

It is the responsibility of Hindus to guard Hindu icons and concepts/teaching from abuse whether by politicians seeking votes and support, commercial interests (banias) seeking profits, or cultural agents seeking pleasure.

This is a sacred Hindu responsibility.

THE EDITOR:
I MUST add my voice and disgust to Jack Warner’s most recent attempt to demonise Winston Dookeran.

At a public meeting attended by a handful of people, Warner decided that to speak about Dookeran was having no impact, so it would be more useful to mock him.

So Warner, in giving his terribly garbled speech, started shaking his head like a true “Jack in the box”.

Then, as if that weren’t bad enough, Ramesh who got the back door of the party illegally swung open for him to sneak into the executive, stands up and tells people to leave!

Is there no end to this utter nonsense?

Is the UNC intent on totally discrediting itself and making idiots out of those opposed to the People’s National Movement (PNM)?

Even if I were not inclined to Dookeran, I would be now.

For them to be so desperate to get rid of him from the United National Congress (UNC), there must be something in the background that we are not seeing; something which will surely not be to the benefit of anyone opposed to the PNM.

These people make me so ashamed of ever having supported the UNC that I have to wonder if we would in fact be better off with the devil we know in the PNM, than the devil we obviously don’t know in the UNC!

THE EDITOR:
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy was at the centre of a Port of Spain courtroom drama when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beats him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.

When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the UNC, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

THE EDITOR:
HOW reactive we are, as people.

Shortly after Sean Luke’s case, which has been forgotten now that there is no more mileage to be gotten (ask Cadiz) along comes Amy Annamunthudo’s sad demise.

And with what indignance did the populace react, Scribes, Pharisees, Jews and Gentiles alike.

But can’t we not see that our reactions and lifestyles in general are a mirror of the “leaders” that molded us?

Leaders from the government, Parliament, State Boards, churches, Protective Forces, NGO’s, social services and organisations such as the Lions, Kiwani’s, Rotary, etc.?

Everyone has lashed out at the neighbours, mother and step-father.

When would someone lash out and call for the life-time jailing of the absentee father?

Are our examplars saying it’s okay for a man to sire a child then go about his merry way?

Where are all the loud-mouth female groups in all of this?

Are we too lazy to be proactive?

Or is it that there is no mileage to be gained by so doing?

If we jail this absentee father, who shamelessly turned up to cry crocodile tears and buy a dress for the funeral, I bet others would think twice!

In this instance the absence of a father cost Amy her life.

The father should now be sentenced to life!

But, again, many from those organisations listed above would be brought to account.

Who now do we turn to?

Maybe, just maybe, Benny Hinndu.