Binary thinking warping political narratives
Published:Monday | November 25, 2024 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The Gleaner published a column by Michael Abrahams on April 30 ‘Political ‘whataboutism’ and binary thinking’. Social media postings can be inaccurate, malicious and misinformation is highlighted therein. In Jamaica there are numerous people who are engaged in tracing and seeking to put down and tear down each other from both political parties. There are postings from responsible party members of the two political parties on the various social media platforms.
In his column Abrahams wrote: “Whataboutism refers to responding to an argument by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s shortcomings or misdeeds. Binary thinking refers to thinking in black and white, seeing things as good or bad, or right or wrong, and being unable to see a middle ground. Both types of thinking are faulty and unhelpful when discussing our politics.”
Whether on social media platforms or in various fora, the majority of political discourse is related to political whataboutism and binary thinking. There is the need for people to uplift discussion process by acting in a civilised manner. The political tear down mentality must be extricated from the mindset. Constructive criticism is what is needed and the putrid partisan tribal politics should be removed forthwith.
Newspaper columnists should be free to criticise and commend whichever party they so choose to do. If an opinion columnist or newspaper letter writer forcefully criticises one party, it does not mean that they are supporters of the other. I have found the senior members of the People’s National Party to be much more calm, humble, and accepting of constructive criticisms articulated against them. I can tell you that there are far more Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters who defend their party, sometimes in the most disrespectful, callous and arrogant way.
I have no membership in any of the political parties; however, in my opinion, some of the JLP’s senior elected members come across as arrogant and not humble.
I regularly participate in radio talk shows; however, I choose carefully which one of them I contribute to and I am thankful for the democracy that we enjoy as a people in Jamaica, which, by and large, has a free and fair media. The Gleaner columnists Mark Wignall, Ronald Thwaites, Garth Rattray, and Carolyn Cooper deserve commendations for being honest, forthright, and fearless . We must never relent and must continue to speak out consistently about governmental corruption wherever it exists. We must always speak out fearlessly and unapologetically about state abuse, injustice, and police corruption. If one does not stand for something, one will fall for anything. “The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” ― Roy T. Bennett The Light in the Heart.
Commendations to Sunday Gleaner columnist Dennis Minott for his excellent column dated November 24 ‘What s drastic decline in the ways of Jamaican State?’ I urge Prime Minister Holness to read the column.
ROBERT DALLEY