March 24, 2014

Dear Sir,

I was on an aeroplane sitting with a young Bermudian arts student studying filmmaking. We talked about the acclaimed movie “When Voices Rise” written and produced by the late Errol Williams. I asked him to think of doing another movie but this one call it “When Voices Are Crushed”. I thought it would make an interesting story filled with pain and drama and the saga of the human spirit. It seems that throughout the history of mankind the rich and powerful whether as persons or systems have continued generation after generation to produce the same modalities and sadly its likewise for the oppressed.

Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” begins with “Oh Pirates yes they robbed I, and sold us to the merchant ships”. I understand the context but still I was angered to learn that in many cases it was my own brothers who “sold me to the merchant ships”. Making matters worse on my first trip back to the motherland it was this same brother who tried to steal from me again. Of course again I know a little about history and am able to forgive. Forgiveness is a big part of life. So I have to forgive also those living among us today who either for thirty pieces of silver, or just plain greed or envy has killed our prophets and betrayed proper emancipation of our current generations.

Unfortunately the rich and powerful are usually unaware of their privilege and influence so they mint the same old caricatures. Given latitude on a government level, their policies will more often ascertain progress by their own standards never understanding that those seeking parity in their country are challenged by having to achieve the same standards. How does a little person with a great idea make a presentation that competes with that which the “All Powerful” can produce? That phenomenon has a trickle down also. But it’s also even more tragic when the little guy becomes government and thinks and acts just like the rich and powerful.

When you consider that many of the bearers of truth where either crucified, hung, beheaded, ostracised or otherwise crushed and not just in former times, we may ask genuinely, when will truth shine from the mountain top and when is it that justice will fall like a mighty shower and fill the valleys. This is a human saga whether rich or poor we all have a choice to repeat the drama or rise up and fulfil a higher call. We can decide to do better if we can go beyond our personal self-serving agendas.

KHALID WASI