Dear Editor,
We hear the words ‘ I’m shocked’ ever so often these days. We are ‘shocked’ by what we hear people say about others; we are ‘shocked’ by what we see people do or did;, the nation was ‘shocked’ having learnt the news that Adriana Younge was found dead in a hotel swimming pool; We were ‘shocked’ over the killing of the Henry boys; the nation was ‘shocked’ over the sinking of the MV Barima and the loss of lives; ‘shocked’ over the killing of young Orlando Jaikarran; ‘shocked’ over the exchange of gunfire between a known politician and a senior police rank; ‘shocked’ over the accident on the Soesdyke-Linden highway where four persons died; ‘Shocked’ over the high rate of domestic and child abuse that inevitably leads to murder; ‘shocked’ over the uncouth and disgusting behaviour of the former Guyana High Commissioner to India; ‘shocked’ over the behaviours of opposition members in the National Assembly; shocked’ over the revelations of corruption in all shapes and forms including a pump station; Shocked over the handling of a senior police rank facing allegations of rape; and a government official receiving a ‘suspended sentence’ for wife beating; This nation has been ‘shocked’ so many times by now we should have been ‘shocked’ into our senses in order to get things right.
And while Guyanese can be heard saying they are ‘shocked’ by one occurrence or another, it would not take long for the shock to wear off allowing life to go on as usual as if waiting to be ‘shocked’ once again.
On a more serious note, I can imagine why, as in the case of the MV Barima tragedy, there were so many who were devastated to the extent of becoming pessimistic about the outcome, not only because of the economic impact of the losses they suffered, but more so, because of the long and painful wait for the boat to be lifted from where it lay and for justice, in whatever shape or form to be served.
Curiously, after claiming to be ‘shocked’ even the more reliable news outlets never sought to report whether the shocked individual, after ‘catching’ themselves had ever asked, ‘Where am I?’ ‘Who am I?’ ‘Why am I here? or ‘What happened? after being ‘shocked.’ Was it because they were not shocked by a high power live wire property of GPL?
In the circumstances, the individual’s and community’s loss can reinforce each other as was the case of the MV Barima tragedy and the death of the students at the dormitory or because of the military men who perished because of the helicopter crash or due to the death of a well-known political leader, writer or calypsonian like the ‘Mighty Sparrow’ for example.
I for one do not know how many people end up permanently damaged by shouting out “I’m shocked.” And even though we don’t know how often the expression is used, nevertheless the expression has become something of a mantra.
What I do know, is that all that is required is a sniff of mentholated spirits or Limacol whenever human distress and when real shock resulted in what is commonly known as a ‘ blackout’ resulting from shock
So the next time we read or hear someone claiming to be “shocked” let’s give them the benefit of the doubt, hope for the best and await further news about their personal well-being; it could be ‘all’s well that ends well’.
Yours faithfully,
Clement J. Rohee
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