Ironic Friday June 29, 2008
I’ve been reading with great interest the happenings of Friday regarding the marching of all Unions, including 200 uniformed police officers, right to the steps of Parliament, including the aftermath of the media coverage as well as lash backs from PLP party (blind) and faithfuls. Jonathan Starling is an example of one such individual who, for speaking out on a matter that transcends party allegiance, is getting smacked around a bit for, get this, writing pro-labour movement articles on his blog by members of a labour party! Jonathan, while only really meeting him via his blog, is someone I tend to admire. I don’t always agree with him, but he is well written, highly intelligent and he sticks to his principles. None other than Laverne Furbert, party watch-dog, chastises him publicly, not for going against party doctrine, but for supporting labour movements publicly which ironically is in opposition to the very labour party he supports. (See parts 1, 2 and here, here and here)
So basically one can assume that Jonathan is honour bound to do the following to be a PLP supporter:
1. Deny himself public freedom of speech
2. Change his mentality that the party is above any labour movement
3. Agree, without question, all party stances.
4. Never EVER criticize the party leader
This sounds more like a totalitarian dictatorship than a democratic party who are supposed to support the labour movement.
I say this not due to the fact that I support the opposition, but rather from the view point that I believe that political parties are tools. Tools that are to be used to make the country a better place. These tools are not to take place of an individuals thought process, opinion or dare I say morality. No, quite the opposite, the party is to reflect the masses opinions, thoughts, dreams and yes morality.
And speaking of tools, can someone explain to me why Dr. Brown, the so called leader of the current labour government did not meet these union members face to face? I’m sorry but if I had 5,000 angry people, the very same people who voted me into office, the very same people who are paying my wages, the very same people who I have vowed to publicly serve to the best of my abilities, I would have gotten my sorry ass outside and listened to their demands. This from a man who was crying in the papers days ago trying to convince us that he and his cohorts are not a bunch of elitists. It is VERY elitist to ignore the very grass roots of your party and nothing, NOTHING that you were doing in the House of Assembly; the people’s house, should have been more important. Dr. Brown is answerable to those 5,000 people, just as he is answerable to each and every one of us. Let us never loose sight of that fact.
Before I finish this post, I want you to take the time to read this comment on Jonathan’s blog. It is completely relevant and strikes right to the heart of the matter.
In the mean time, it may be a hot summer in more than one way, with the threat of a general strike in the air, Dr. Brown’s pop and sizzle is going to turn into a roast and toast. Me, I’ll be sitting on the wall with the marshmallows.
Technorati Tags: Bermuda, government, labour, strike, unionsYou may also want to read these last 5 posts in My Humble Opinion
- Bad Friday - April 3rd, 2010
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- What's marching got to do with it? - March 23rd, 2010
- Wayne Furbert crosses the floor - March 19th, 2010
- Speaka de Englash? - June 26th, 2008
You may also want to read these last 5 posts in News
- Bad Friday - April 3rd, 2010
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- Posted in : Off on a rant, What in the...?!?, News, My Humble Opinion
- Author :Sean
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