Instead of accepting responsibility and hard work to move forward, there is a growing culture to blame others for one’s woes. This culture is now being articulated in the USA as Wokeism and in other parts of the world as liberalism. The proponents of this victimhood culture are found mainly among blacks, Islamists, and failed Marxists. Also offering some academic veneer to victimhood are a few academics. Also, part of this movement is the George Soros of this world. Realizing that money can only bring so much influence they now want to wield power.
Racial and political discrimination are a reality but the extent to which it is played out is exaggerated. Victimhood culture has now become platforms for losers to exploit non-existing social ills. In fact, some social issues have been weaponized by a few to win money from the state and other benefactors for their leaders. Why has the conditions of the groups those activists represent have not improved over the years but worsened instead? A classic example is Hamas that claims to represent the right of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
How much money Gaza collects to represent the welfare of the Palestinians is not known. How the money is spent remains a mystery. However, the conditions of the people of Gaza worsens after each day while the leadership of Hamas splurge in five-star hotels in Quatar and Türkiye.
Airing of grievances must be done and so also must be advocacy of rights and social justice. Nevertheless, it would be nice if these intangibles were combined with activities among the people. For example, the Maha Sabha of Trinidad does not only speak on behalf of the Hindu community but also runs some of the top performing educational institutions at the primary and secondary levels that make most Hindus proud. In Guyana also, Swami Aksharananda not only writes letters to the editor but also runs one of the finest colleges in the country.
What accounts for the absence of the West Indian Cricket Team in the ongoing ICC Men World Cup? This is a question that must be answered. Is it that we are drunk boasting of our past successes that we have forgotten to do what must be done at present? Sitting before a flatscreen television in a bar with a beer in one hand is not enough to build cricket. This task must be implemented at the grassroots level starting with under 12 youths. Does our administrators and cricket enthusiasts have that commitment for such as task or are we going to continue the blame game?
Victimhood is a plague that must be avoided. Those who engage in such culture must be banished for fear of spreading the diseases and infecting the entire population. Those individuals must be shunned and those with a more positive outlook must be recruited to get the task done. Without a positive outlook we would be like those who have given up on life, only waiting for their number to call.