(Download PDF version of article here) The following is the first of a number of unpublished letters that were sent to the Express, Guardian and perhaps other local dailes but were never published. It is important that we acknowledge that the reason these letters were not published was not necessarily due to discrimination, bias, malice or any kind of ill-will on the part of the editors nor are we suggesting that. This is merely another outlet through which concerns and valid points can be made.
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It is with great regret and sadness I put pen to paper (well fingers to keyboard is more like it) to express once again, a less-than-pleasant sentiment concerning our country, which from my amateur assessment, seems to be spiralling downwards into an abyss called ‘double standards’. Quite frankly, these days I read the newspapers, namely the more reputable ones, and on some pages I think I’m reading (or looking at) the Sunday Punch (which I don’t read by the way). I ask, why is there a pressing need to showcase and highlight what should, in reality, be scorned in a moral society? But I digress, as what is dubbed the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ draws near.
The spectacular show in which all decency and modesty (what is that anyway?) is lost and forgotten. The great dance in which parents will strip down to their underwear to prance and flail their limbs about, without an ounce of shame, even in the presence of their children. The very children whom they have taught and will continue to teach, if they have any good sense, basic morals, values and ethics. The morals and values that they readily contradict when comes the grand, monumental parade!
We, as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, need to be more introspective when we become role models. What example are we setting and what legacy are we leaving for our children? Our children are the future of the country as no one can deny, but there’s not a bright future for them if they imitate us, especially around this time, where it is not days that are counted down til the ‘big event’, but fetes. As a great man once said: “If you have no shame, do as you wish” Shame on us!
I. Shareef
El Socorro
(19/02/2011)
YouSpeakWeSpeak T&T 
Amazing how people prancing around three quarter naked is considered a norm and a woman covered from head to toe is viewed as abnormal….sigh…Excellent article indeed, it’s a pity it was not posted in the newspapers, I guess letters pertaining to who won the chutney soca monarch was more important to the newspapers.
“Carnival” – The time when moral values and common sense are given no significance whatsoever. Excellent article, emphasis should be placed on the fact that the children of people who partake in ‘The Greatest Show OF IMMORALITY On Earth’ should not and cannot follow or learn from this ‘Trinidad and Tobago culture’ if you wish, in regards to modesty, decency and good moral values. So are they to learn from their parents how they should carry on, act, dress, etc. everyday except for Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Risking potential indecency, vulgarity and the likes for the sake of what? tradition? culture? Where is the logic??????
I think half naked it not the right word, it is more than half if you ask me. I saw on the front page (i think it was) of one the newspapers right after carnival portraying a woman with nothing on even her breasts except body paint, and probably a ‘pastey” whatever that supposed to be. Yes jumping for all to see. I was actually appalled that they actually put that particular picture on the papers. I wonder if sometimes we don’t stop to think about all that is going on the world, with the earthquakes, the work of Allah for all the evil going on. Aren’t we afraid for ourselves as well? Then again there is that Idiotic saying “God is ah Trini” what that supposed to mean? Destroy every other country but save Us?? Subhanallah
@SAM, yeah I agree. Sometimes it’s really disappointing which topics newspapers choose to post about. Carnival…is just going to get worse and worse…but few people really worry about decency and morality these days. I guess people argue for its economical importance? tourism etc?
This article is very well articulated, means well and deserves a place in all the newspapers of Trinidad and Tobago. In terms of the economic standpoint, a lot of the raw materials for carnival costumes are imported so where is our money going? Out of Trinidad. No revenue is obtained or, our net profit is less than zero. What I see carnival doing, it stimulates people to spend there hard earned savings so in times like we are experiencing now, post carnival, people do not have money to spend thus only complains about the high prices at the grocery and market stalls, and PSA workers lobbying for increased wages. I have first hand experience of this at the Market last weekend. When you look at the amount of fetes available pre-carnival and the cost for a ticket, it is really absurd and one wonders how Trinidadians and Tobagonians are able to afford this, especially the all inclusive fetes.
Being a frequent reader of the Trinidad and Tobago newspapers, I can recall that alot of the editorials mentioned about the degradation of what we call carnival from its Trinbagonian flava to a Brazilian style debauchery on the streets, this shows how our carnival have evolved over the years to this degrading demeanor, not that I am in support of carnival in its entirety. I remember having a discussion with fellow villagers in my area and they informed me of a couple actually having sex at the side of the road in some bushes a few carnivals ago. This was distasteful and disheartening to know the level that Trinbagoians have reached. Sometimes I think, it is understandable, after a man is surrounded by women dressed in practically nothing and dancing in a fashion that I can’t call dancing at all but, sex simulation, it would only stimulate him to do as these people have done in the reports.
Apart from this, not to mention the number of unplanned pregnancies and spikes in HIV and AIDS occur during that period. The health minister rightfully said that they, the hospitals were preparing to handle the extra births that occur during the period October-December due to the Carnival festivities but, I can’t say they would be really prepared after what happened at the San Fernando General Hospital. After most of the parents of these children were so intoxicated, I could hardly imagine the quality of children expected to lead tomorrow because, as a student of Biology at High School, I could clearly remember my teacher saying that consumption of alcohol and being pregnant causes deformities in the child and we discussed this to some depth at that class.
Please Note that this post is the views and solely the views of khaleelalmanzani
@khaleelalmanzani…. you said that the Minister of Health mentioned that hospitals are preparing themselves for extra births in the October-December period….well, good thinking Minister! One question, how do you prepare hospitals for AIDS? Better yet, how you do prepare for the children that will be born with AIDS? (I’m not directing this at you eh khaleelalmanzani). Would the ministry of health be distributing free medication that is needed by those HIV afflicted children? yeaaaah right.
Btw, do you have any statistical information that suggests that the net profit is less than zero?