ACCORDING to Wikipedia, “loose lips sink ships” is an American English idiom meaning beware of unguarded talk. The phrase originated on propaganda posters during World War II. The phrase was created by the War Advertising Council and used on posters by the United States Office of War Information.

The most famous poster that helped popularise the phrase was created by Seagram Distillers Corporation by the designer Seymour R Goff. This type of poster was part of a general campaign of American propaganda during World War II to advise servicemen and other citizens to avoid careless talk concerning secure information that might be of use to the enemy. The British equivalent used variations on the phrase, “Keep mum”, while in neutral Sweden the State Information Board promoted wordplay “en svensk tiger” (keeping silent), while Germany’s admonition when translated into English meant “Shame on you, blabbermouth!”

In Jamaica, the two most common phrases in this context are “Cock mout’ kill cock!” or a departure from the biblical expression, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life,” the latter being an extension of the “informer fi dead” culture.

So the slogan “loose lips sink ships” is basically saying that one should avoid careless talk in general. Of course, another popular version of this slogan is “putting one’s foot in one’s mouth”, which also translates into one having “foot and mouth disease”.

Jamaican politicians are often guilty of this malady which, in some cases, has led to their ending up in the doghouse, or causing their respective party to lose much political capital. Among the latest such verbal mishaps were Member of Parliament Damion Crawford’s “dutty Labourite” remark at a People’s National Party meeting, Senator A J Nicholson’s “flexi-rape” sotto voce remark in the Upper House, and just last week Minister Robert Pickersgill’s “articulate minority” statement during an interview with a journalist outside Parliament that has now gone viral on social media.

But there have been many such “foot-in-mouth” utterances in the past. Recall Christopher Tufton’s “vote X beside the head” comment at a Jamaica Labour Party mass meeting in Sam Sharpe Square, Edward Seaga’s “black scandal bag” in reference to a PJ Patterson Administration and likening a PNP Government to a woman lying on her back to take whatever comes. And how can we forget Portia Simpson Miller’s “don’t draw mi tongue”!

Then there was the late Dudley Thompson’s famous outburst, “no angels were killed at Green Bay” in relation to the alleged luring and subsequent massacre of a number of presumed hardened criminals. Michael Manley had his fair share, too, including the “rod of correction” affirmation and “going to the mountaintop with Cuban President Fidel Castro”.

The sad truth is that once a politician is before a crowd, with microphone, he or she is likely to become a loose cannon. Politicians just love to talk, because perhaps that is what they do best. As a result, a great deal of horse manure is spread among the people, who also love to absorb this useless verbiage in a mindless way. However, it must be understood that platform presentations on the hustings, unlike formal presentations in Parliament and other structured settings, tend to be more designed to appeal to the lowest common multiple or geared towards whipping up a frenzy along partisan lines. Of course, parliamentarians are also known to play to the gallery, especially when the media is present, which increases the possibility of putting one’s foot in one’s mouth.

In the court of public opinion, public officials with loose lips are likely to suffer irreparable damage to their character and reputation as their intemperate or ill-considered comments tend to haunt them for the rest of their lives. That is why it is important that politicians learn from their mistakes as well as those of others. As we say in Jamaican parlance, “Kibba yuh mout!” And it goes without saying that, while some utterances may be genuine errors or misplaced priorities, some smack of outright arrogance and callousness, not to mention mischief or disdain.

On the other hand, given our much-divided society along partisan and other lines, loose lips frequently lead to guilty persons, especially politicians, being tarred and feathered, their characters assassinated or punished at the polls. Then there is the collateral damage that is inevitable, whereby parties, organisations, colleagues, and even family members are deemed to be guilty by association. Much trauma can ensue, and unless an apology and penitence come to the fore, as in the case of Senator Nicholson and his flexi-rape comment, one can remain in the eyes of many as persona non grata. Needless to say that in the eyes of some detractors, it is a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Incidentally, I see where a beleaguered Lennie Little-White of Outameni Experience fame has been taken to task for bringing up the black man versus white man syndrome when it comes to getting a government bailout. Putting the hypocrisy aside, it is no secret that there is still a tendency in this country for persons with a lighter pigmentation to be better treated than one with a great deal of melanin. And that is putting it mildly. However, there are some things best not said in certain scenarios depending on the situation. As the saying goes, when one’s head is in a lion’s mouth it is best to take it out slowly. But I still believe that beating up on the goodly gentleman because of what was deemed as a “loose lips” moment is grossly unfair, and he should not be chastised for basically speaking the truth.

As for Minister Pickersgill’s highly publicised and discussed remark, I am tempted to ask if there is indeed an inarticulate majority. The PNP chairman (for life) is a seasoned politician who knows the Jamaican demographics perhaps better than most of his detractors. Hence, a silent majority may well be in his corner, or is it?

Of note, former prime minister and PNP president, PJ Patterson, who has the distinction of winning the most elections in Jamaica’s history so far, was known during his tenure not to allow anyone to draw his tongue, and very seldom was caught with his foot in his mouth, except perhaps when he reportedly stated that the law must not be a shackle, or words to that effect, after he declared a national holiday when the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup in 1998.

Suffice it to say, it may well be that politicians, in general, need to take a leaf out of Patterson’s book when it comes to “foot in mouth disease”. After all, there are two things that “come not back”: the spent arrow and the spoken word. Enough said.

Lloyd B Smith is a member of Parliament and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the People’s National Party or the Government of Jamaica.

lloydbsmith@hotmail.com