In what is now the second editorial on matters related to the outcome of the US presidential race, the editor of Barbados Today has convinced us that TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is alive and well in Barbados. Well, at least it is in Barbados Today.
We offered a limited critique of the first editorial in our article entitled, The US Presidential Race & the Parallel Universe which can be found here. So we are “surprised” – but still not surprised -that the editor has chosen again to propagate baseless hysteria about the immigration policies of the Trump Administration even before it has been officially sworn in.
In this case, the editor’s lofty thesis that many Barbadians living in the USA will be repatriated under the proposed expulsion of illegal immigrants. It is a thesis which has already has the effect of engendering a level of hysteria and fear among the more simple-minded Bajans here in the USA.
Bad Robot
The only other place where we have seen such deep hysteria is on MSNBC and The View where one can expect daily, lengthy bouts of verbal TDS diarrhoea.
It would do well for the editor to follow the fate of MSNBC because it is an example of which can happen to what is now called legacy media. It does not reflect well on the company for it to become eligible for the label. It is not a term of endearment because, for starters, as a relatively new media house, Barbados Today has not much of a “legacy” to leave.
We are looking at an MSNBC that is on the chopping block and ripe for sale, all because on a daily basis it could find nothing than to spew out obvious lies and slander, on a daily basis, against a man who is now the President elect. What amazes me is how they ever thought they were going to get away with it.
The problem with evil- and slander is evil, freedom of speech notwithstanding- is that it has no winning strategy; eventually evil will destroy itself. That is how the universe is designed to operate. It is the universe’s moral equivalent to the “nature abhors a vacuum” principle of the physical sciences.
Some individuals are of the opinion that Elon Musk will snap up MSNBC and add it to his growing new “free speech” media empire. At best that is wishful thinking; at worse, rumour. Which brings us back to the point.
An editor who cannot distinguish between fact and opinion, truth and slander should not be holding the position of editor. Worse still, an editor who has to be reminded of the facts by a reader needs to reconsider his/her usefulness on the editorial podium.
Thankfully several readers of the article were level-headed enough to “read” Trump and offer some sound rebuttal to the editor’s position.
According to one commenter:
If documented bajans w green card or us citizens they have absolutely nutin to fair.
Another commenter had this very interesting (partial) response:
If you there illegally? Come ‘long home and apply the correct way, tell them you being persecuted in Barbados by high prices and taxes, and you seeking asylum. 2 wrongs don’t make a right.
To which we can only say, “Well said!”
Call to Action
We understand the purpose of an editorial; to give the reader an analysis of what is reported as news. The editorial is not news itself, although some individuals may not be able to make that distinction.
We really have to do better in the media in Barbados, to help people get balanced views of what is going on, considering that many people do not possess the time and ability to do the necessary research, to be fully informed on a subject. We would have much preferred the editor to treat to the burning issue of the Barbados Cyber Bill 2023, as we have done.
As a country entering its 58th anniversary of independence, we are in our right to expect better of the local reportage; not a recolonization of our minds by the passing parade of the foreign legacy media.
