Depoliticise colours for the sake of unity, peace

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A recent video suggests a man was attacked for wearing a shirt of the ‘wrong’ colour. A while back, while distributing school supplies at a local elementary school, a gesture intended to aid in the education of our young ones, some students hesitated or outright refused to accept some items based solely on their colour – either orange or green.

It was disconcerting to see children, at such a tender age, already deeply entrenched in political biases and divisions, so much so that they’d rather forgo a learning tool than bring home a colour associated with a political party their families may not support. In the same way, I was repulsed by the callous beating of an elderly, unarmed man because of the colour of his shirt.

The politicisation of the colours orange and green by our main political parties has led to divisions so profound that even innocuous objects are seen through political lens, fuelling biases, misunderstandings, and clearly even violence in some instances.

Elections are being held this month. I humbly appeal to both political parties to consider the following:

Promote Unity Over Division: Political parties are meant to represent diverse ideas and solutions for the country’s progress, not to be symbols of division. By attaching so much significance to colours, we risk overshadowing the real issues that should be at the forefront of political discourse.

The Impact on the Youth: Children, our nation’s future, are being unintentionally indoctrinated into a world of partisanship without understanding its nuances. We must strive to foster a society where our youth grow up aware of political ideologies but aren’t blinded by colour-coded biases.

Potential for Violence: As evidenced by numerous incidents in the past, strong affiliations to these colours have contributed to acts of violence. By depoliticising these colours, we can take a significant step towards reducing politically motivated altercations.

Focus on Issues, Not Colours: The emphasis should always be on the issues, policies, and solutions that each party brings to the table, not the colour they wave. By reducing the significance of colours, parties can better engage citizens on matters that truly affect their lives.

I implore our political leaders to take proactive steps in distancing themselves from such rigid colour affiliations. While colours can be a source of identity, they should not be a cause for division, especially when it affects innocent children and perpetuates a cycle of division and potential violence.

In a nation as vibrant and diverse as Jamaica, let us not be defined or divided by colours but unite for a brighter, inclusive, and harmonious future.

CONCERNED CITIZEN