Through the looking glass

Author Lewis Carroll continues to be recognized and admired for the role he played in redefining literature and playing with concepts that would keep any reader locked into a world of imaginary characters and occurrences.

Carroll wrote, “Through the looking glass”, which was a sequel to “Alice in Wonderland” in which chess was used as a central theme, as well as mirrors. The difference with these mirrors was the fact that many things within them appeared to be the opposite of real life and turned either backwards or upside down.

The phrase “Through the looking glass” has therefore become a metaphor to signify strangeness or the opposite of reality. It can also mean looking at a perfectly normal situation or event and seeing things, including evil, that do not exist, or that are not actually there.

It would appear that sections of the media which turned up to the PPP/C’s Cheddi Jagan Memorial Service on Sunday at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice had a “through the looking glass” experience.

They apparently saw Guyanese who supported the PPP/C being “trucked and bussed” into the event which they claimed was an abuse of State resources. Surprisingly, no one saw the hundreds of privately owned vehicles that were present at the memorial service or the fact that many of the trucks and buses they saw were actually owned by supporters who voluntarily made their way to the event.

Some sections of the media saw “through the looking glass” a situation where former President Bharrat Jagdeo was accused of “cuss down politics”. They claimed Jagdeo’s conduct was disrespectful and he promoted racism.

The truth is that, before their eyes, Jagdeo took the Opposition to task for rolling out its whisper campaign aimed at inciting racial disharmony within certain communities and taking Granger to task for playing hide and seek whenever questions were asked about his track record.

Again, sections of the media failed to recognize in reality that Jagdeo was exposing the wrongs committed by the combined APNU-AFC during the 10th Parliament and the impact it had in undermining the country’s growth.

Not one of the media houses that benefit from the Opposition’s treasury saw Jagdeo urging Ramotar to adopt a more aggressive approach to those who are considered obstructionists to development.

Sections of the media that flocked the event noticed “through the looking glass” that Donald Ramotar seemed comfortable with the jabs delivered by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee and Jagdeo, which proved that he endorsed what they said.

But no one noticed that thousands of Guyanese applauded each time the speakers appealed to their sense of conviction. No one recognized the unity and solidarity shown by the supporters when the speakers urged them to continue the struggle and pilgrimage for progress in the country.

No one noticed the enthusiasm within the ranks of the supporters who left rejuvenated and reassured that the PPP/C had not lost its sting and will be able regain its majority with the help of their turnout at the polls and their votes.

Some politicians who watched “through the looking glass” saw the PYO members sitting and supporting in the hot sun, while others saw an opportunity to spark more controversy to put the PPP/C on the back foot.

None saw the PPP/C’s signal that it was ready to fight a long and hard race to regain victory at the polls, and none saw the discipline and commitment in the eyes of the thousands of youths who rallied with along their party and will ensure that they “Vote like a Boss” come elections day.

But then again, “through the looking glass” some can see the things that fascinate, and the things that some hope could be real until they are greeted by the sad reality that they were asleep while history was being recreated before their eyes.

Some media houses must end their usage of the “looking glass” and must awake from their slumber as Guyanese are experiencing a reality defined by continued development and progress with a brighter future beckoning.