The Tribune

What do they have in common? Each of the above is elected and wins our hearts collectively by majority appeal or vote. But is this right? How is it that although we choose our ambassadors by accepted standard criteria we are disappointed so soon afterwards?

Pageant Patty: A few years ago I attended a local pageant with a friend and we were amazed as the Miss Bahamas winner was announced. We looked at each other in disbelief, finding ourselves in good company with the majority of the audience calling out boos and ‘dey cheats’. True, the contestant was really personable and evidently smart. It didn’t hurt that she pulled the Jesus card in her final question – certainly that would add to her appeal in our hyper-religious society. So why all the boos?

This queen was not a conventional beauty and although beauty is relative, her peers eclipsed her. We went to the after-party for the queen and overheard the judges stating she was the only ‘real’ girl on stage which made me ask myself what the criteria are for electing a beauty ambassador. Miss Bahamas may have suited the local judges but she was not what the international judges were looking for although she was perhaps the Bahamian equivalent to a southern belle – a pretty enough island girl with a huge heart and great personality.

Preacher: I have a vision and I am charismatic and likeable. After some self-serving opportunities, some of my visions come to fruition as do the clairvoyant who offers the vulnerable person generic insights. I am sure the prophets of Jesus’ day had a more intense induction to his luminous fraternity. Probably their works were the measure and perhaps it took more than a name change and a likeable personality.

Surely, with so many prophets and evangelists on the job in our little country we should be able to thwart every heinous crime, verify every dubious trade and international negotiation. Certainly local charities would be rolling in so much funding that pain, suffering and need would become an abstract notion. If the real prophets step up I wonder if they will be able to overcome their dubious brethren – after all they may not be as eloquent. So, what is the litmus test for self proclaimed prophets? Why do we address them as such and is faith without actual works of real value? Politician: In the weeks leading up to the May 7 general election, the rhetoric on the ground became thunderous. Many felt the incumbent was not as nice as he used to be that they could no longer ‘stomach’ his dogmatic stance. I saw it differently, I was concerned about leadership and the characteristics I thought necessary for a five year term. Like the beauty queen and the prophets, it was not about who was nice enough, it was more the function of the position and who was best able to enact their duties.

In 2004, polls showed undecided voters would rather have a beer with George W. Bush than John Kerry as Bush was more “real”. Bush won - not smart, not politically savvy but beer date material. Why do we go with who we like? When faced with the daunting task of choosing a representative, it behooves us to consider attributes other than likability.

The human brain works to form bonds with people we elect – look at our history and determine how many professional newscasters have transitioned into politics. I argue that the familiarity of their presence in our homes earns a spot under the ‘trust’ column, perhaps even as friends, deserved or not, when really they are complete strangers. Just a bit of how the mind works.

Keep thinking though, you are good for it.

• Kirkland Pratt is a Counselling Psychologist and Master’s degree holder (Northern Caribbean University- Jamaica 2009) in Counselling Psychology with an emphasis in Education. He lectures at Synergy Bahamas as an adjunct instructor in Industrial Psychology. For comments, contact kirklandpratt@gmail.com.