Hypocrisy of the highest degree
Dear Editor,
As I followed the events leading up to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who is a descendant of slave masters and still benefits from the spoils of slavery and colonialism, both in real and abstract terms, I noted how British officials formulated the list of invitees to the funeral.
Indeed, countries such as China, Russia, Myanmar, and North Korea quite rightly were debated as suitable invitees because of their human rights records. Can you imagine? Britain is now suggesting that they are the benchmark for human rights.
Moreover, I keep hearing about modern-day slavery and human trafficking, which are indeed contemporary issues for us to deal with as they are real and happening. But can Britain truly judge other countries on these issues?
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II may have been the doyen of good manners, grace, and so-called selfless service, but what does the actual history reveal? How were racial issues in her own family dealt with?
When hypocrisy is confused with diplomacy time and time again, when the descendants of slaves honour the descendants of slave masters in this way, how do we now honour Nanny, Sam Sharpe, and Paul Bogle and the rest of our heroes?
Marcus Garvey famously wrote: “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” And he is so right, because even here in Jamaica almost all our surnames suggest to me that we are still the property of the British.
Mark Trought
marktrought@gmail.com