What is real? How do we define “real”? If we are talking about what we can feel, what we can smell, taste and see, then “real” is simply electrical signals interpreted by our brains.
– Morpheus speaking to Neo in the movie The Matrix.
THE MORE I READ about the things that are happening in Barbados, the more I ask myself if what is being reported in the media is “real” or merely a kind of silly dream that one has from time to time.
Having taken a cursory look at the Auditor General’s report, I am convinced that we are either at the movies or in a very deep sleep.
In light of the year-on-year responses to the Auditor General’s reports by our politicians, business leaders, social commentators and concerned Barbadians, it is clear to me that we have been at the movies for quite a while because the issues raised have either been ignored or in many cases filed in drawer 13.
Christian Marclay sums it up quite nicely when he said: “We go to the movies to forget about time, to be in a dream state. It is entertainment, a distraction from the fact that things are crumbling in front of our eyes.”
At some point, though, my fellow Barbadians the movie will end and as we exit, it is probable that the reality of our circumstances will hit us full in the face. What we do at that point when reality sinks in again will ultimately define our future, the future of our loved ones and the future of our nation.
We will either do something about it or we will continue to live in our dream world.
We can choose to buy another ticket and watch another movie or we can choose to confront the reality that the Governments that we have elected over the years continue to sidebar the notion of accountability and transparency.
– SEAN ST CLAIR FIELD