Generalization paints a wrong picture of people    

Introduction                       

Too many of us make general statements about individuals and as a result we are implying that all individuals are the same. I am not sure that we are conscious about what we say but as we start this new year, I encourage us to discontinue the generalization of individuals. By generalization, you are painting a wrong picture of individuals. In doing so, you are not only hurting and creating obstacles for others, but you are also enabling hatred and division. If you want to make a point, use the word “some” and not “all.” You may say you do not use the word all to describe a situation but if you don’t put some in front of your sentence, then you are implying all.

All Turks and Caicos Islanders are not the same

It bothers me so much when I hear some people especially some of our own people categorized Turks and Caicos Islanders as being gossipers, hateful, lazy, unfriendly, jealousy and passive people. I don’t know why some of us act as if only the people in the Turks and Caicos are gossipers, hateful, lazy, unfriendly, jealous, and passive. The truth is what happens in the Turks and Caicos happens throughout the world. Every country has some people that like to gossip. Every country has some people that are hateful. Every country has some people that are lazy. Every country has some people that are passive. Every country has some jealous people.  Every country has some people that are unfriendly. Likewise, every country including the Turks and Caicos has some people that do not like to gossip. Every country has some people that love others. Every country has some people that are hardworking people.  Every country has some people that are aggressive. Every country has some people who are friendly.  There is good and bad among people of all nationalities.

If we recognize this and accept this, then some of us need to stop making general statements about Turks and Caicos Islanders because we are telling the world that all we want to do is gossip, hate and be lazy. No wonder why some people do not want to associate with us or hire us because we have painted a bad picture of Turks and Caicos Islanders.  The thing is the picture is so wrong because I know that there are so many hardworking, loving, friendly and aggressive Turks and Caicos Islanders.

The main difference between Turks and Caicos and other countries is that the Turks and Caicos is smaller in size and and so the things that happen here are more noticeable.

All expatriates are not the same

I know some of us like to use the word “foreigner” but somehow, I don’t like to use that word. Therefore, I will use the word expatriates. Some of us have made many general statements about expatriates. Some of us say they are only here for the money. Some of us say they do not care about us and the country.  The truth is that there are some expatriates that have made the Turks and Caicos their home and care as much about the country as some of us.  While one of the reasons why some people come here, maybe for better compensation, many of these people love what they do, and they care and are passionate about their jobs. Furthermore, some people are also here for the experience. I was on secondment to Canada not for the money because I paid less but I went for the experience.

Therefore, let us stop making general statements about expatriates. When we make these kinds of statements, we are driving division among the people. The Turks and Caicos will continue to attract more people to the country as workers and investors and for this country to progress, we need to live in harmony.

Too many generalizations about the political parties

When it comes to politics, many of us justify why we support the political parties. Some of us claim one party is for the people, some claim one party is corrupt, some claim one party is just for the rich, some claim one party is full of intelligent and smart people and some claim one party is more progressive than the other. Some of us have develop generalizations about these political parties and have become so involve and intertwine that we have put the political parties above the country. As a result, there is so much hatred and division simply because of the affiliation with political parties.

I think it is time some of us move away from the allegiance to the political parties and focus on the individuals and the country. Some of these politicians want you to believe and have convinced some of you to believe in the myths about these political parties but if you were to examine the political parties, you will discover there are no philosophical differences between them. That is why I am apolitical.

Conclusion.

If some of us can discontinue the generalization of people, there will be more cooperation, more love, more peace, more unity, and more participation. Generalization is wrong and should not be accepted especially when it is very negative. How can some of us say we are patriotic but some of us do not have anything positive to say about our own? There are some very great people living among us but when some of us speak, we put everyone in the same basket of negativity.