Are you for real, Madam Editor?

Fri, Jun 18, 2010
Editor: I read last week’s editorial in the SEARCHLIGHT newspaper captioned ‘the socialism debate’ and I was disappointed – to say the least. I now endeavour to remind the editor of certain facts and ask some important questions. Socialism is a very topical issue in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and our concerns and questions are genuine.{{more}} Not because the issue has been debated over two centuries means that it is ‘redundant in this modern world’. We discuss so many issues over and over again! As Solomon says ‘there is no new thing under the sun’. No matter how much ‘nicing up’ is done to socialism, it still remains a political ideology that is against the rights of man, namely the right to private property.

Editor, you need to remember that the latest cause of the origin of discussions on Socialism is the Bicentennial Manifesto of Caracas that the PM signed on April 19, 2010, without our permission. Editor, among other worrying things the country-signatories of the manifesto have as their aim ‘…commitment to the task of consolidating the sovereignty of our peoples building the road to socialism.’ Editor, have you read the manifesto?

Unlike what many want us to believe, it is not hysterical neither is it a fearmongering tactic to criticize the PM for ratifying a document to take us down a road of socialism. And to make it worse, he blasphemously tells us that socialism is found in the book of Acts! In light of the glaring facts it is not dishonest, false nor purposeless to remind our people of the evil works of communist/socialist leaders in the world. It was the same policies of socialism that caused millions to die! We cannot and must forget that! Believe it or not, Editor, these anti-freedom policies live on today in men of this century who hold Marxist-Leninist principles as a governmental philosophy. These socialist followers are waiting for the people to relax their vigilance so that they ( the socialists) can implement heinous communistic policies of old.

It must be known, editor, that socialism and religion are totally opposed. So, the arguments that present the contradictions between the two are true. Another of the major tenets of socialism is the abolition of private property. I implore you to read the communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels. For example, this is what they say concerning private property: “ In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of Private Property…”The Communist Manifesto pg. 96
Editor, do you think it would be right to know all these things about socialism and consider the contents of the Bicentennial Manifesto and remain silent? Are these not sufficient for us to raise an alarm? We have to be a proactive people.

We must always remember that good governance is about respect for people’s God-given rights and freedom and humility to those who elect you in political office. Not for a moment do I deny the different necessary material efforts (building schools, police stations, scholarship, grants etc) of the present administration. Does that mean that persons shouldn’t be critical of the government and even vehemently disagree with their policies? Editor, if you think people are being misled, don’t you have conviction that it is your duty to help to properly inform the ‘less well-informed and the gullible’ about the facts of socialism? Maybe you can start by asking the PM to properly explain the whole of the Bicentennial Manifesto.

Ann-Marie Ballantyne
svgpatriot@hotmail.com