PEOPLE, LIKE MYSELF, who offer public comments on political issues are always sensitive to the intrusive, and in some cases unwelcome, nature of our interventions.
This is particularly true since most people treat their political preferences and choices as “private” concerns which should be sealed off from outside interference.
The common man is often suspicious of politics and politicians, and most persons choose not to engage in political talk “in polite society”.
In moments of heightened political activity, such as was experienced last week in Barbados surrounding the anticipated response of the Prime Minister to claims of disquiet in his Cabinet, the sense of “intrusiveness” by public commentators is magnified, especially since our interventions are often viewed as contributing to political developments rather than as being mere reactions to these events, as we intend them to be.
When such interventions are made in the middle of the festive season, the sense of guilt at intruding on the reader’s private space is compounded tenfold. The truth is, most people prefer to live their lives oblivious to politics. In every society, the politically engaged group – the political class – is a minority.
Whilst politics is foundational, architectonic, all-encompassing and the most public of societal functions, it is a fact that most people prefer to live their lives with politics as “background noise” and indeed ignorant of what it is and how it works.
Denial and obfuscation may indeed be a human response to an activity whose importance and consequences prove too frightening to behold frontally and boldly. No wonder politicians have such a field day, since the field has been largely abandoned and left wide open to the few brave souls willing to play the game.
However, whilst apologies are in order for mixing politics and Christmas, my mitigating plea is, don’t blame me but blame politics itself. By its very nature, politics is an ubiquitous, never-ending activity.
Whilst the public may demand from political commentators that we “give them a break” for the Christmas season, everyone should take note that politicians themselves remain busy politicking.
Andrew Holness’ decision to date his election on December 29 is proof enough. So, too, was Owen Arthur fond of announcing and dating elections around the Christmas season.
The hosting of children’s Christmas parties and distribution of hampers by politicians are not politics-free activities. Indeed, last week, such activities provided useful cover for Government parliamentarians wearing public smiling faces to hide the tensions pulsating behind the masks.
In this season of peace, my plea, dear readers, is for your understanding. My job is to discuss politics as it occurs.
I can only hope that the blessings of the season will negate any ill will – which is itself part of the nature of politics. Season’s blessings, all!
• Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, specializing in regional affairs. Email tjoe2008@live.com