Dear Editor,
Viktor Frankl, the late Austrian psychiatrist and holocaust survivor who founded logotherapy, said in his seminal book, Man’s search for meaning, that he witnessed the prisoners around him taking their own lives while he was incarcerated at Auschwitz. Frankl opined that the men at Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps could not find meaning in their subjective/objective lives for prolonging their existence. There was nothing, according to Frankl, in the psychological milieu or external circumstances of these men to inspire and sustain their will to hold on and continue being.
Most of us who have lived long enough and those whose lives will be graced with longevity will attest to the fact that at some point during their lives they have and will question the significance of their existence. Some among us may surmise that there is no inherent value or relevance for our presence here on earth; life’s sustaining force, they may say, does not need us, it is us rather who are perpetually dependent on its merciful and patronizing nature to extend our daily vicissitudes and meaningless days. It never ceases to amaze me how easily we persuade ourselves that our coming into being must have been the doing of an omnipotent, super-intelligent entity. But we are often dismissive of the thought that it is equally probable too that our existence may very well be the result of a random act and chance occurrence, devoid of any meaning.
The moment we begin to dwell and reflect on the thought that our life is bereft of any significance, the importance we usually accord ourselves starts to dissipate and fearfully so too. So, to help alleviate the fear and melancholy that accompanies the thought of the futility and pointlessness of our existence, we begin to plumb the depths of our souls to search for and mentally invent raison d’etre to restore our false sense of importance. Left without our sense of value and absolute necessity as a creature of life, we become relegated to a state of nature that renders us indistinguishable from other species of the animal kingdom.
And so, in this state of nature as indifferent members of the animal kingdom, we become servants to the inhuman and hostile aspects of the animal in us. And since slavery to nature is less tolerable than slavery to institutions as a means of escape from the beast in us, we create social organizations and ascribe them meaning and purpose to suppress the Dionysian impulses in us and prolong the illusion of meaning in our lives.
Our impulsive need to search for meaning in our lives is driven it seems by fear and legitimate fear that could only be dispelled and suppressed by replacing and adorning it with tolerable language and therapeutic concepts. If we are constantly exposed to the thoughts and languages that accompany the idea of the frivolousness of our presence here on earth, we may become liberated from the fear of death as was the case it seems with Frankl’s fellow inmates.
Could it have been possible then that Frankl’s edifice of logotherapy was cunningly motivated largely by his fear of death, and served as an antidote for his discovery of meaninglessness in life which enabled his subsequent willingness to suffer and endure indignation, pain, dishonour, and sub-human conditions under the guise that he had discovered meaning in life?
The men who took their lives at Auschwitz may have reckoned that it is pointless to endure and encourage their will to persevere under conditions where they ceased to be humans. The suicides of Nazi concentration camps were exercising sovereignty over their lives, and they felt it was morally and ethically correct for them to conclude to continue being under such pointless wretched conditions. The men who took their lives at Auschwitz, searching for and finding meaning were spiritually, morally, and mentally exhaustible undertakings that they were unable to realize.
Probably what they were searching for – meaning in suffering and life – does not exist after all. But when in a state of fear and existential angst the less courageous among us may be able to find solace in logotherapy and discover value, relevance, and significance to lengthen their existence through states of hallucinations and delusions. Posthumously though, Vladimir Nabokov continues to remind us that “common sense tells us our existence is a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness". Humans appear and disappear, nothing more, no meaning, no pathetic purposes.
Orlando Patterson
Dear Editor,
Not too long ago I wrote a letter to you regarding reckless driving, in which I pointed out the different infringements of the traffic ordinance.
I have written on several occasions that I do not like the phrase “I told you so” because that phrase mostly comes after something negative has occurred. But, if I can recall, I also wrote a letter to you a while back, regarding motorbike riders transporting children on the seat, as well as standing in front of them between the driver and the steering mechanism.
To my surprise not too long ago the judge decided that, when the police (on St. Maarten) publicly go into action, that is not a cause for the lack of police presence nor operations. I condemned that ruling then and will condemn it in the future also because there are other tactical ways for the police to show malcontent. That ruling by the judge tells me that we can function with a minimum. Then why am I reading that the Marechaussee are coming back? Do we need them or not? Or are we strategically strengthening our military presence?
So, If there is not enough police presence to be able to deter that behaviour with motorbike riders, whose behaviour endangers the lives of their children-passengers, whose fault is it?
For as long as I can remember the police have always been understaffed. For years, the behaviour of the people of the Netherlands Antilles guaranteed that it was not necessary for police reinforcement among the islands and history will show that police reinforcement was primarily used when there was a royal visit to the islands and once or twice after a severe hurricane. Not even during Carnival.
But progress brings along people, immigration and migration and that means additional people with diverse behaviour, which calls for increased police surveillance and logically an increase in police numbers. Because of this, we all know about the involvement of the Dutch in policing Sint Maarten. So, since the judge has decided, should not we the citizens get an explanation – so that we can see the bigger picture?
Dear Editor, this did not come from me but someone asked me a few days ago if, after reading my letter to you, if this ruling by the judge is to cover up for the blunder the Dutch made by pulling out their police assistance last year. Because, as I mentioned that it did not come from me, I did not respond because as I always state I have to be able to back up my statements. He called me a coward, but everybody is entitled to an opinion.
We will always need police presence. Our road infrastructure does not permit for too many more cars. That is why I continually reiterate that we need a complete revision of the public transportation system, both with permits, parking and stopping. I have always wanted to know why can’t – or wouldn’t – we ask for help or advice from the Dutch even though it is world-wide known who the Dutch are, when it pertains to traffic and public transportation infrastructure.
By the way, I am aware that Theo was the person to let me use the term “redecorate Philipsburg, especially Front Street”. But just like almost everything else, it was like “hot needle burning up thread.” I have personally checked it out several times, if we drive through Front Street from the beginning to the end, there is not one brick missing.
I was a captain on the police boat, patrolling the waters around St. Maarten, Statia and Saba, and I can safely say that my boat navigated smoother then, than driving through Front Street today. MP Emmnauel was Minister of VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] and should have known the ins and outs of the workings of VROMI. Can we ask him to address this situation, if that is not too close to home? I know that there is enough sand and I believe that asphalt is also available. And if we do not care about those drivers of the motorbikes, at least let us protect the children.
Russell A. Simmons
"We stand with the Cuban people," US President Joe Biden says in an official White House statement, responding to protests across the Caribbean island country, "and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic, and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba’s authoritarian regime."
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel disagrees as to the nature of the protests. "All this discontent, these feelings of dissatisfaction, what is the ultimate cause of all that?" he asks. "It’s the blockade. This is part of the U.S. playbook to destabilize us, to generate chaos, to break our will and spirit."
Diaz-Canel has a point. There's no actual "blockade," but there is an embargo, now yearly 60 years long, under which most trade with Cuba is forbidden to American businesses (and foreign business which operate the US).
The supposed purpose of the embargo has been, simply put, to make life hard enough on the Cuban people that they rise up and overthrow the communist regime. So, when Diaz-Canel blames the embargo for popular discomfort and dissatisfaction, a US claim that he is wrong is essentially an admission that the embargo serves no worthwhile purpose whatsoever. Which seems to be the case.
Six decades of failure to achieve its purpose kind of speaks for itself, don't you think? If Biden really wants to "stand with the Cuban people," there are two easy steps he can take to do so in an honest way.
First, he can ask Congress to lift the embargo and declare a policy of unilateral free trade with Cuba. If Cubans are not going to be permitted to trade with Americans, let the Cuban regime, not the US regime, be the ones to say so – and to pay any price in popularity that comes with the decision.
Second, he can ask Congress to end all restrictions on travel and migration between Cuba and the US. If you are a Cuban who wants to visit or live in America, or vice versa, and if you can find a way to make the journey, the US government will not stand in your way. (again, if the Cuban government does, that is on them).
Will those two things happen? Not likely. Florida's a swing presidential state with a strong lobby and associated Cuban-American voting block that favours economic protectionism in the name of an "anti-communism" that aims to keep Cuba's Communist Party in charge at all costs.
But if he dares risk it, Biden can actually stand up for freedom – in a way that invites the Cuban people to reveal and act on their true preferences, whatever those preferences may be – instead of just mouthing dishonest platitudes.
Thomas L. Knapp
Dear Editor,
Obviously it is, if I listen to a memorial service for two wonderful people who recently passed and to a very-well-known radio personality I recently met at an event on the island.
Wading into religion against pastors and zealots is unwise, I realize. Point, though, is still – to vax or not to vax. Based on how COVID-19 is going, it is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated since they are the ones succumbing to the disease.
Moreover, they are the ones making variants possible. In that way their individual decision potentially affects all of us – from going back to masking up, to within soon having the necessity to take booster shots of the same vaccines they desperately are trying to avoid. Tell me (with substantiated proof) which vaccinated person on SXM has died because of the vaccination. Then tell me which vaccinated person on SXM has died of COVID19 and finally tell me what percentage of those that passed unfortunately were un-vaccinated.
Ironically, those who have vaccinated have provided everyone with a little bit of normalcy for a little while. I guess we the vaxxed are our brother’s keeper. Depending on how many “smarter” anti-vaxxers are able to convince friends, family and flocks, this “return to normalcy” may be short-lived. We cannot let that happen.
Michael J. Ferrier
Dear Editor,
I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the people of Haiti. The recent assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse is a stark reminder of the instability that has plagued the Caribbean island for decades, or might I add, for more than two centuries.
Haiti, while rich in mineral resources and said to be the poorest country in the hemisphere, is rife with turmoil. What is unfortunate is that too many persons look at the island's present condition and neglect to consider the past. The first island to attain its independence after defeating colonial countries such as Spain, England and the last one being France is still paying the price today on the political, social and economic front. The most powerful army at the time led by Napoleon Bonaparte was outwitted by gut and guile.
Haiti, as most of us know, became the first independent country in the Caribbean in 1804 but it did not come without a price. They had to pay their colonizer France. It is said that in 1825 France, with warships ready, sailed to Haiti and demanded that they compensate France for its loss of slaves and its slave colony in exchange for French recognition of Haiti as a sovereign republic. How hypocritical is this? France demanded 150 million francs. This amount is equivalent to $21 billion in today's currency.
Imagine, the same France is today still collecting the infamous French colonial tax from some 13 African countries annually to the tune of some $500 billion yet nothing is being said about this by the international community. This conspiracy continues today. They, the African countries, are forced to keep 50 percent of their foreign exchange reserves in an operation account held at the French treasury (I term this perpetual colonization). As a matter of fact, to paraphrase France's late president Charles de Gaulle who said that if these African countries cease from sending their funds to France, the country will drop to a third world status. And this from a continent where it is said that 40 of the 55 countries are poor.
Back to the problem of Haiti. France received the final payment from Haiti in 1893/4 but it is said because the government of the United States funded the acquisition of Haiti's treasury in 1911 in order to receive payments related to indemnity, it took Haiti until 1947 to finalize its payment which is about 122 years. And we wonder why Haiti is still struggling? Can anyone tell us what happened to the some $900 million of the country's funds that were deposited in a Swiss account by former presidents who were protected until their demise by foreign governments? Promised donations after the earthquake never materialized.
Please study Haiti's history and you will discover the continuous outside political, social and economic interference which continues to fuel past and current events and keep the nation of Haiti still hostage. Haiti needs the support of her brothers and sisters of the diaspora, not criticism and ridicule. Thanks to her bravery we are free today.
George Pantophlet
Member of Parliament
