Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 24, 2014 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
If an interviewer were to ask me to rattle off my head without pausing to think for a moment something that conjures up hate in me, I would say a penname-writer that attacks other people. If an interviewer were to ask me to just let go out of my mouth without even thinking for a second, something I find deeply obnoxious, I would say a penname-writer.
No philosopher with unlimited genius can defend someone who attacks, on a constant basis living humans and hide under an anonymous name. I never had any influence on the ownership of any of the newspaper to which I was attached as a columnist but the day I do, I would say to that publisher do not carry columnists and letter writers that attack, or vilify living humans and hide under their mother’s dress.
If I was ever to become an editor of a media house, my first policy would be to declare that my entity would not accept faceless and nameless writers who seek to confront, ridicule, accuse, accost public figures and do so cowardly. I chose my words here carefully because in principle I am not against such correspondents within a certain context.
In fact, in certain contexts nameless and faceless people can become a national and international asset. One term used for such persons is whistle-blower. I will come to that below.
The first quarrel I had with my editor, that iconic Guyanese, Father Andrew Morrison of the Catholic Standard, was over a long letter that carried a false signature. The real name was Basil Collins, a retired public servant on Duncan Street. I was utterly disgusted by this man’s disrespect for the fate of his fellow humans.
The year was 1990. His letter urged Guyanese to come out against the Hoyte Government even if it meant loss of jobs, physical injuries and other forms of victimization. He urged Guyanese to make the sacrifice. But he signed as “Observer”, not Basil Collins. The present editor of the Catholic Standard, Colin Smith, was a witness to my anger. Here was dishonesty and hypocrisy that had no match.
This man was urging Guyanese to be brave and fight Hoyte and endure the consequences if any, consequences he was not prepared to face so he chose to remain invisible. Collins never forgave me for exposing his hypocrisy so he ended up seeing me as an enemy. One day he told Colin Smith, “I just saw your friend, Freddie Kissoon, staggering out of a rum shop drunk like hell.” Colin Smith politely told him, he saw someone else because Freddie Kissoon doesn’t touch alcohol.
Adam Harris, the editor-in-chief of this newspaper can tell anyone, from the beginning of this newspaper, I was firmly against the pen columnist, Peeping Tom. I now come to context. If Edward Snowden did not come out publicly with what he knew about US government intelligence agencies, he could have become a valuable pen writer. But Snowden would have written on a specific subject – US intelligence.
There are many nameless and faceless people writing and exposing corporate depravities and banking violations by the big international banks. But these people are not commentators writing on any and everything, attacking real people and hide under their mother’s dress.
Here is what a man or woman who writes under the name M. Maxwell wrote last week in this newspaper, after reading a letter by Roy Paul. Roy Paul is a real name and is a former employee of the Kaieteur News.
Maxwell observed, “Hopefully, enough BRAVE (my emphasis) souls will contribute to this topic.” But M. Maxwell wishes for others to be what he/she is not – a brave soul. In writing about the very topic, M. Maxwell used a fictitious name.
Maxwell is going to completely ignore calls for identification and continue to use his/her mask when attacking. One thing for sure, Maxwell is going to ignore this column. Maxwell may very well reply and come up with the banal defence of why attack the messenger and not the message. But why should the messenger hide under his/her mother’s dress when he/she is delivering the message?
The post girl, the office attendant, the FedEx guy, the court marshal do not come to your gate with a bag over their face. And who says that the messenger should attack others when delivering the message?
I have urged Eusi Kwayana not to reply to a fictional letter writer, Sultan Mohamed. I hope he ignores this cowardly fellow. The mentality, character and mind of anonymous columnists and letter-writers are constant reminders of the thin lines that separate lower and higher animals.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 19, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – The Dennis DeoRoop-trained horse, Stolen Money, dominated the field to claim victory in the feature event at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot East Berbice on...Kaieteur News – The government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development spree. It has initiated major... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]