Dear Editor,
In The Daily Herald of Monday, December 12, Joslyn Morton asked, "When will logic and intelligence supersede their emotions.” I believe she wrote that letter to you to be understood, but also in case it was printed, for it not to be misunderstood. Among so many truths, she also wrote "Being sarcastic does not equate to the level of being intelligent; it just reveals the inability to dialogue in a logical and composed manner."
Wow! I have known people to say this to each other in so many different ways over the years. I have personally explained it to acquaintances, who I know have not learned to read nor write, and react mad when they find themselves cornered, but it is the first time that I have seen it laid out in one sentence. I compare it to some popular sayings, like, "I shall return" and "Don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" and "The best minds are not in government, if any were, business would hire them away" and also "We must adjust to changing times and hold on to unchanging principles".
I hope it will be repeated so that it could be an influence on whomever wants to be sarcastic to first take a good look at themselves before levelling criticism. Hopefully that quote will resonate so that it will also make us recognize our own ignorance in subject matters.
I've mentioned in the past that no minimum in education is required to be able to be elected to government, but that there are minimum requirements to be able to be employed by government. The person who is calling the shots on the licensed employee
does not need a licence to do so. One person, let us call him S.J., decided that those of us who recognize these shortcomings, and frequently comment on them or voice their opinion, are out of place. It is people like us who feel free to make use of our rights to free speech, and try to stop whatever seems to be aggression.
My father, who read a lot, made notes of a lot of quotes because according to him, they may come in handy one day. I also got into that habit and one of them is, "Aggression unopposed becomes a contagious disease ". So Steven Johnson (The Daily Herald of November 23) should know that because I refuse to be infected, I will not permit the disease to become contagious.
I refuse to insult anyone or call him or her names. It seems as if I am following strong black women, because I am following what Michelle Obama is having so many people repeat these days, namely, “When they go low, we go high". Johnson chose to single out the two boys from down St. Johns to help strengthen his point, while at the same time pointing out to us that we are losing our time.
I am confused, because what is he doing and where is he doing it? One of the things I was taught from very young is that when you are envious of something (someone), it works like a brick wall. You cannot pass through it, you have to go around it, or try to break it down. To break it down takes effort and if you cannot afford the effort to break it down, you do like the fox when it could not reach the grapes.
Whoever would like to be like we who voice our opinion, but cannot bring up the courage to write it or say it like it is, should not be envious and write negative things about others who he or she does not know (it cannot be denied, because it is black on white). Just write about what is known to be the truth. Here again, I have to refer to that saying about sarcasm by Joslyn Morton. It reveals the lack of ability to dialogue in a logical and composed manner. Those who have followed what I have been writing about would know that members of government should do what they were elected and appointed to do. "Do things to better life for the people of Sint Maarten".
I read what Governor Holiday said to the ministers whom he swore in on Tuesday last. "Address challenges and develop opportunities to meet the needs of the people ". He just said it in a different way. I do not believe anyone can criticize the Governor for pressing this upon the members of government, because that is why they are there. Some of them even demand to be there. They have the best salary in the Kingdom and should not feel offended when we call them out for not living up to expectation.
2017 is just around the corner, and I would like to thank you for permitting me to publicly voice my opinion on the developments in the country during 2016. I usually react to what I believe to be slack execution on behalf of government. I hope that in 2017 these reactions will be obliged to be brought to a minimum. A healthy, blessed and prosperous 2017 to all.
Russell A. Simmons
