Dear Editor,
One of the things that I often mention is that I was taught that if you cannot fix something then you should not criticize it. So let me ask this. If my name is Russell Simmons, and I am known for writing letters to the editor or only being interviewed on talk shows and then I decide to become a candidate on a political party in the government elections, how will people know who I am? I am asking this question because since I was a boy I know political parties making voting commercials during political electin times.
At the age of 10 years old I can remember that there were only two houses in the Village with a green flag. There was a PPA flag on 98 percent of the houses in the Village. So was the case with different towns and villages on Aruba. By the amount of flags on the houses in the different towns and villages the parties had an average of what the outcome of the elections would be.
There were owners of houses who did not prefer their political colour known, who forbade the tenants to raise political flags on their houses. Candidates gave out fliers and there were pickup trucks carrying a generator which generated current for the amplifiers and loudspeakers which the candidates used to annouce the upcoming political meetings and whatever other propaganda of their political party. With the advancement of technology parties developed different kinds of ways and means to enhance political propaganda One of those means is political posters.
The morning after postulation day there were green flags attached to the railing of A.J.C. Brouwer Road ranging from Cole Bay to Cay Hill. But besides that we have not seen that great amount of political flags all over the country. And then came the posters. which I believe are replacing the flags. I do not know what the difference in cost is, but I believe that the money which was formerly used to acquire the flags will be used to help with the cost of the posters. The Christmas and New Year came and all of a sudden the posters became a problem. Since 2010 how many elections have we had? Were there no posters during all those elections?
I believe that by now everyone should know that commercials are even geared towards kindergarteners. I will repeat: all of what is happening these days has happened in the past when things were rocky. Why is it that now that things are stabilizing, all of a sudden everything becomes a problem.
I will always encourage anyone to have an opinion and even publicize it, but if you are going to take time to put it on social media or have it published, I believe that a little research will help to ascertain the facts. And then one will not have to petition the editor to withhold his/her name in case it is published.. That kind of betrays similar behavior as the one or the situation that he/she is writing about.
I must admit, however, that if political parties (politicians) would show the same dedication for serving the community as they do to get elected the people would see them through a different light.
Russell A. Simmons
