letters of july, 2003

• key for colour of text:

green text is text of the letter.
white text is my reply or correspondence initiated by me.
cyan text is an inserted note.

• letters are separated by grey lines.
  

6 july 2003
G.U.M.,

Thank you for mentioning the "Give Up The Accent Day" idea - it might do some good for decultured or ashamed-to-be-Guyanese Guyanese who feel that their culture is indeed somewhat subordinate and 'disposable'.
What was even better was that you recognised that our media sent out greetings for the 'Americans' (correctly just US citizens) on their independence day - the notorious 4th July. This, I'm hoping, makes alot of other Guyanese angry - seeing our own leaders salute the US on their "National Day" while they would care less if they farted on ours. I believe that this is a big issue and should be elaborated on at your site, the reasons why nations such as Guyana, would salute US citizens on their National Day even though:

-They could care less to recognise ours.
-They helped delay ours in the 60's when Jagan was going Communist, using intervening tactics and imperialistic measures.

I believe we need to be free from the leaders that instill in our heads that we have to suck up to the US for any reason - also, unconsciously instilling the idea that white people are the best. Guyana needs to be free from this type of brainwashing. The Guyana Chronicle is notorious for being biased and their poor writing (at least to me) - now, the characteristic of being a sucker has been added.
I hope more Guyanese understand what I say, and realise that we don't need anything from the United States of America including their so called democracy and their fast-food.

D.

12 july 2003
a reply to the above
hello,

thanks for your thoughts on "give up the accent day." hopefully, it will not only provoke thought, but also action among guyanese in america (and at home).

i don't think that this is the first time the chronicle has saluted americans on their independence day. it is something that i'm sure many guyanese, including myself, feel angry about. the bit in the chronicle seemed so awkward and forced, almost as if the paper was unwillingly placating americans. as much as i feel angry, i feel sad for the chronicle and people who think like them.

as i mentioned in another letter, i think it's an inferiority complex that causes many people to bow before america. however, in the chronicle's case, the bow may have been politically motivated.

g.u.m.
guyanatruth.tripod.com

7 july 2003
Greetings;

I just came across your site and spent some time reviewing the posted letters about Guyana, its people and values. First, let me introduce myself, my name is Robert and I am Guyanese. I was the first to be born in America for my family. My family and myself live in Nassau County in the State of New York. When I came across your site I was shocked at some of the comments being made by you and your visitors. I thought it was very disrespectful to derate one's race and/or culture. However, I was always told there is two sides to every story and your site had already generated my intrest. One particular aspect is the mentioning of Richmond Hill in Queens. I see the reference to that neighborhood being made a lot, and I have never been there, so I decided to "visit" the area one Saturday to see what is what. By far I was so apalled at what I saw there that I will honestly tell you I felt ashamed of being Guyanese. The place I went to was Liberty Avenue where there are numerous "home" stores there. First the young girls there (age 14-21 I would guess) dress as if they have no money to buy clothes. Not to mention how they dress when walking in the street with their family. Now I am not old school or and old timer, I am 24 years old, but that was so embarassing to look at. The second thing that struck me odd was almost every single car there had a music competition going on. Music was playing loud on almost every car I saw there. There were other issues I saw but will not mention them now, perhaps later on. I was just very disappointed when I visited this neighborhood and needless to say I will not be coming back there.
Perhaps you think I am just judging a race based on one visit or a select group of the Guyanese public. And I would say you are right I am. But, in my defense I would say this, my girlfirend is from india and she shops in Queens as well, around the 74th street area. I have been there with her numerous times and I can tell you. The people there do not act like that at all.
This letter is not meant to say one culture is better than the other or one race is better than the other. I just wanted to share with you my experience after visiting your site and hearing the issues. I dont think the term 'Guyansese are becoming "americanized"' is entirely accurate. I think it is something else where certain Guyanese lose their inner self, values, morals, etc.

Thank you for the opportunity to express these concerns.

Robert

12 july 2003
a reply to the above
hello,

thanks for your feedback on guyanatruth. i am a little confused by one thing you said, that it was "very disrespectful to derate [sic] one's race and/or culture." i don't think i've ever done that at guyanatruth. in fact, i strongly promote pride in the guyanese culture.

your experiences on liberty avenue are no surprise to me. it is embarrassing for me too, to see guyanese behave in such self-debasing ways.

i agree completely with you that the term "guyanese are becoming americanised" is inaccurate. that term sounds as if it is describing something superficial and temporary. although, i have certainly made this inaccurate statement at the site, i do agree that the problem lies much deeper than physical americanisation.

it goes back to guyanese as children, being taught indirectly that fair skin, and the attitudes of fair-skinned people were superior and preferred; it goes back to hearing our mothers talk about this "nice, fair-skin baby" and this "too dark-skin baby."

the american behaviour is not just an adaptation to the society, it is the result of a mindset that holds everything white as everything good. it's an inferiority complex that people all over the world have. we develop this mindset at home from people who already fell into it, and we learn it from white people themselves, mainly through the almighty television. in america, people also have tremendous pressure to dispose their culture and accept american culture.

no race is superior, and we are all equal. in fact, there is no gene for race. we are not biologically different from each other. race is purely an acclimation to our environment, to our climate. it is only the sad truth that most guyanese--whether consciously or not--have a preoccupation with, a vicious desire for that which is white.

this river runs deep.

thanks again for taking the time to comment.

g.u.m.
guyanatruth.tripod.com