We are the ones that silence ourselves.

Granted I was out of state for most of the ULP 'reign' but if people feel as though Ralph is on his way out and they now have the 'voice' to make their opinions known...it seems to me as though another leader could very well remove their vocal chords sometime in the future.

Someone commented to me that the local socio-political comic strips would not have been as daring two years ago. Another person said that he knew of persons who made jokes about the PM and got phonecalls telling them not to crack that sort of humour or got a dismissal letter from work.

So, is it to say that NO ONE absolutely no one, without political motive and lacking a desire for public applause could have expressed the alleged wrongs on a public forum to demand that they be addressed.

Call me politically naive...socially distanced....but the silence that people are claiming to have broken free from since November 25th 2009 was based on the same desire for self-preservation had by the leaders that have brought our nation along this tumultuous path. We feared for ourselves, our way of life, more than we feared for the well-being of the nation.

But after all, we are not on the platforms with bright lights and PA systems...we don't have constituents and weekly press conferences...our names are not at household status...we do not have a propaganda Orc spewing verbal mess while we retain our image of wholesomeness... so somehow we believe that we are less liable...our responsibility is diminished.

But I say to this...do we not have families, communities...hopes of a future...dreams of a proud nation? The very presence of these elements in our daily lives should have been enough to fuel the screams of injustice...abuse...victimisation that we so readily cite today.

You see, I believe this is how our leaders want us to feel...powerless so they can be strengthened ...silent so they can voice the issues they want us to be concerned about and not they ones that we should address.

I laugh at those who think the story will revolutionize with NDP, PMC or Green Party...surely it will change...but they know that they can keep us overwhelmed with their voices so that ours will be silent...but we give them that power...shall we observe the burnt offering of verbal wit...eloquent dialogue and fluent anger after 2010-2011 elections....the masses have been placated yet again.