![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/dno\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/commentary1.jpg\" "\\"commentary\\"")
We must be careful that we are not to encourage decadence in public discourse and\u00a0\u00a0 the media, thereby fueling a tide of incivility.<\/p>\nWe must be careful that we are not to encourage decadence in public discourse and\u00a0\u00a0 the media, thereby fueling a tide of incivility.<\/p>\n
Increasingly, it seems that we are people who do not care about responsible participation in democratic processes, who accept second-rate commentary without demur, and who allow fatuous dialogue to point essential information into the media.<\/p>\n
More and more it appears that we allow our leaders and commentators to get away with indiscretions and flagrant political fouls. They have become so comfortable with the status quo that they are going beyond imprudence and misstatements to the extent that they take on the task of suppressing information, filtering and spinning data and, more recently, hurling disparaging remarks against those who publicly express disagreements with their positions.\u00a0 As our civic arena becomes increasingly dominated by gladiatorial contests, some of us look on from a distance, with a mild, but noticeable feeling of despair.<\/p>\n
Dominica\u2019s political arena which was once flowered by charisma, diligence, honesty, community spirit and patriotism may have become downright toxic. There appears to be a new brand of politics in which relevant revelation to the nation becomes a weapon or shield in the daily partisan wars, and the aim of politicians and their operatives is not so much to discuss or debate an issue on merit but apparently to brand opponents or critics as fundamentally wrong based on their personalities rather than on the content of their message. It is unfortunate when parties\/persons show scant inclination to engage in civil dialogue but insist on hanging onto a bandwagon to attack others.<\/p>\n
Could it be that this growing trend is attributed to a loss of the tradition of economic independence, intellectual farsightedness, and moral and spiritual leadership?\u00a0 There is the theory that immediate gratification, economic dependency, nepotism and indolence exist today more than ever. As a result, more frequently than not, some of us may owe our fortunes and success either directly or indirectly to the state. This dependence on the state – and by extension a ruling political party- for continued favours may have washed away our pride, dignity, principles and honesty whenever it suits our needs.<\/p>\n
If this theory is true, then this may explain why for some of us, our conduct is not characterized by virtue, wisdom, or dignity. Rather, our conduct is of poor taste, a reflection of the same proletarian mass-culture of present-orientation, opportunism, and hedonism that underpins a lot of societies today. After-all if we feel that we do not go all out to defend our turf, we may feel like we lose our benefits and as such we get caught up in an emotional cloud which rolls away and condenses our intellect into a thick forest of\u00a0 personalization rather than intellectualization.<\/p>\n
Even if the above theory holds merit, we should not feel compelled to speak without thinking or to think to speak recklessly in the interest of protecting our political or economic benefits. It is time that we stand for right and condemn wrong, for until we practice such basic principles, there is only one direction our society can take and it is not for the better. We must therefore acknowledge and respect other peoples’ positions and consider their sometimes opposing opinions as a right to hold contrary views. We must respect others even if we may feel like we talk from a throne perched high in the sky. This onus is even more onerous on senior politicians who ought to be positive examples to not only the younger politicians, but to society at large.<\/p>\n
It has always been the sincere and considered practice of a democracy that every individual has the inalienable right to express a view as long as it is not illegal and, to an equal extent, immoral. For this reason it is constantly unfortunate to find professed believers in democracy, human rights and free speech showing high levels of intolerance towards others with contrary opinions. At a time of greater respect for diversity and tolerance towards individual rights it is unfortunate that some individuals are consistently attacked for what they believe. If people choose to express their views publicly they must be prepared to accept the criticisms and adulations likewise, but it is totally unacceptable when it is at a point of personal attacks.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, we should rally a crusade for respect, honour and dignity in the media. This attitude should be adopted even where one may be a teller of truth, exposer of deceit and corruption in the interest of the state contrary to our party\u2019s interest. When persons are on a tangent of their own and act foolishly, we should not lapse in telling them that their actions are wrong. Equally, we should encourage those who sacrifice their time including our genuine politicians who use the media for the betterment of Dominica.<\/p>\n
Let us hope that we work to rid our wrongs while we consolidate our rights- a national introspection may be recommended to halt any further decay of what seems to be eating away our social fabric.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We must be careful that we are not to encourage decadence in public discourse and\u00a0\u00a0 the media, thereby fueling a tide of incivility. Increasingly, it seems that we are people who do not care about responsible participation in democratic processes,…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n