There was a time when politeness was a social grace. Today, it has quietly evolved into something else — a political tool.
In modern public life, courtesy is often praised as a sign of maturity, restraint, and good leadership. We are encouraged to keep discussions calm, civil, and respectful. On the surface, this seems reasonable. No society benefits from chaos or constant hostility.
But there is a line — and we have crossed it.
Politeness has begun to replace accountability. Courtesy has become a shield behind which inequality is protected and hard questions are deferred. Tone is now policed more aggressively than outcomes, and how something is said often matters more than what is being endured.
We have created an environment where raising uncomfortable truths is treated as rudeness, while maintaining unjust arrangements is treated as responsibility.
That is a dangerous trade.
When citizens question why the cost of living rises faster than wages, they are told to be patient. When workers ask for fairness, they are urged to be understanding. When communities raise concerns about exclusion or imbalance, they are cautioned not to be divisive. The message is subtle but consistent: say it nicely, or not at all.
Meanwhile, inequality does not bother with manners.
Prices rise without apology. Bills arrive without courtesy. Economic pressure does not soften its tone before knocking on doors. Yet the expectation placed on ordinary people is constant composure, even as the weight increases.
This is not civility — it is containment.
A polite society is not necessarily a fair one. Calm language does not guarantee just outcomes. In fact, some of the most enduring inequalities persist precisely because they are cloaked in careful language, diplomatic statements, and soothing reassurances.
When politeness becomes the highest political virtue, it crowds out moral urgency. It teaches leaders to avoid friction rather than confront injustice. It rewards those who offend no one, even if they fix nothing. And it trains citizens to whisper complaints that deserve to be spoken plainly.
History shows that meaningful progress has rarely been polite. It has been uncomfortable, disruptive, and persistent. Not reckless — but insistent. Not hateful — but firm. Justice has always required pressure, and pressure is rarely gentle.
This does not mean abandoning respect. It means refusing to confuse respect with silence.
There is a difference between being civil and being compliant. Between dialogue and delay. Between maturity and avoidance. A society that cannot tolerate discomfort in conversation will eventually inherit discomfort in reality.
If Saint Lucia is serious about fairness, then it must be willing to hear voices that unsettle comfort — not just those that preserve it. It must learn to value truth over tone, substance over style, and justice over politeness.
Courtesy should never be allowed to protect inequality.
Because when politeness becomes policy, the powerful remain comfortable — and the burden quietly stays where it has always been.