Archive for December 23rd, 2012
Lest you forget
As I begin this article, an old joke comes to mind: A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to theground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some steaming hot dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there covered in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the singing bird and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
There are 3 morals to the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're throat-deep in shit, it is best to keep your mouth shut!
The Nuremberg and subsequent lesser-known war trials held by the Allied Forces after the end of World War II were organized to punish the remaining surviving members of the Nazi leadership. The idea that Hitler did not operate in a vacuum, that he did not act alone, but was in fact willingly supported by millions of his people was widely accepted by the world. It did not matter whether Hitler controlled the most prominent members of his regime through fear, intimidation, or charm; the point was irrelevant.
Members of his regime were not mere spectators, as many tried to argue later, but willing participants. All were directly and indirectly implicit in many of Hitler's crimes. Even today, men across the world are still being hunted for being participants in the horrors of the Second World War. Among these are what one could argue low-ranking individuals who played minor roles — regardless of their rank, and rightly so, they are still being held accountable.
For the four years that McKeeva Bush was premier of the Cayman Islands, and the leader of government, he also did not act alone. Among his most ardent supporters were the UDP 5. They, along with McKeeva's remaining motley UDP crew, provided Bush with the power base that allowed him to maintain control. McKeeva could have been a simple footnote in history had they withdrawn their support four years ago, once they realized that he did not follow commonly-accepted procedures. But, out of self-interest, they explicitly and tacitly allowed McKeeva to act with impunity and do as he pleased.
As many have correctly argued across various CNS forums, the little reform that the UDP 5 have recently demonstrated is far too little and far too late. The UDP 5 are not the martyrs that they now want the world to believe they are. The fact that they jumped ship last minute and thus somehow saved the country is absurd. It was pure self-interest at its best once again. Beside, had they not ousted the premier, events certainly would have. The only certainty in this matter is that the premier was going to go down, one way or another. Though McKeeva may have some miracles left in his bag of tricks, none were available fast enough to help him having to give up his coveted throne.
It is a shame to see how quickly some people fail to understand and remember. The five former UDP martyrs are not martyrs at all — they were willing conspirators in McKeeva Bush' failed regime. To try to somehow argue that they jumped ship out of love for country is laughable and comical. Not only did they not repent for their past sins, they haven't even bothered to provide the slightest explanation to the public for their blind support of McKeeva for so many years.
Perhaps it's out of hubris — that they're somehow above having to explain anything to the public; perhaps it's out of sense of shame … I doubt either is true. My belief is that they have no explanation; that they're guilty as charged. Unlike McKeeva though, the UDP 5 have learned that when you're throat-deep in shit, it is best to keep your mouth shut.