So yesterday was “Intl Day for Women” – and your jaded Eyewitness decided to look up what the day’s all about; since – as far as he was concerned – not much has changed with the daily chopping, maiming and murdering of women in Guyana. As a matter of fact, just the day before the commemoration, one fella decided that “if he couldn’t have her, no one will” – and promptly stabbed his wife to death. As sometimes happens with this cowardly type, he attempted suicide to escape punishment. Luckily, he survived, and your Eyewitness hopes he ends up in front of that judge who hands out those 100-year sentences!
And what did he find?? “International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” said the organization sponsoring the event. So, are the “achievements” in all those areas a done deal and we should now ‘celebrate’ them?? The UN chimed in with a bit less celebratory exhortation: “The purpose of the day is to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality”. The job ain’t quite done, they seem to conclude.
But we can’t have a “Day” without a theme, can we?? That would be like a donut without a hole!! And we’re duly informed, this year by UN Women, that we’re “celebrating under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” Get it?? DigitALL?? Isn’t that cute?? But what does it mean?? Women don’t have equal access to the internet and the digital world?? So, what’s new?? Doesn’t it mean that nothing’s changed, and it’s identical with every innovation through the millennia?? Women are always behind the eight ball?? So, when are they NOT gotta have to fight to catch up in any field any longer??
The point of the matter, dear reader, is that in even the most so-called progressive state – much less the ones where women are treated like chattel through “religious” strictures – it has really not sunken in that no one group of humans should be seen as innately not equal to others!! And that’s what it’s all about, ain’t it?? The irony is that in places like our dear mudland, in so many ways, women have already DEMONSTRATED that not only are they EQUAL, but actually of recent have done better in areas like education!!
What this means is that, because of our prejudices, we aren’t allowing women to rise in the various areas identified above – “social, economic, cultural, and political” – on their merit. Until we effect a change in the mindset – unfortunately possessed by some females! – that makes a priori assumptions about “women’s place”, the world will never be an equal place!!
Go, girl!!
…Banking platitudes
Well, after the storm and fury, the Private Sector has sheepishly conceded what the Governor of the Bank of Guyana said from the beginning – there’s enough Greenbacks in the banking system to satisfy present demands! So there was no reason to bring out the BoG’s heavy artillery to kill this mosquito! Ironically, the Bankers are members of the Private Sector organizations, and what the flareup proves is that rather than talking to each other to clear a constipated market, the so-called “free market” champions automatically turn to the Government to solve their self-inflicted blockage.
Now, what’s this to do with ordinary folks like you and your Eyewitness?? Well, just that the loose talk could lead to higher prices in our already inflationary economy – and put us into a deeper hole. And how could this happen?? Well, just like when you hear about a shortage of bora, everyone buys more and push bora prices up, the same thing happens with Greenbacks.
Then prices of everything rise!!
…Opposition strategy
Our Opposition really gotta be more creative. How many times they gonna cash the same cheque?? They tried the squatting game in Mocha, and now Amelia’s Ward? Don’t they think the folks denied house lots would turn their ire on them??
