By Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
I write to thank Stabroek News for continuing to publish Ian McDonald鈥檚 Ian on Sunday column, and in particular for his most recent reflection, The power of poetry in a nation (June 29, 2025). In a time when cultural attention is fragmented and public discourse is increasingly polarized, Mr. McDonald鈥檚 steady voice offers rare nourishment for the national soul.
His essays鈥攔ooted in literature, memory, and moral clarity鈥攑lay an important role in anchoring our sense of identity and shared values. They elevate our public imagination and offer a quiet, civil space for introspection and unity, something desperately needed today. Just as the late Godfrey Chin鈥檚 beloved Nostalgia columns preserved the tangible textures of Guyanese life鈥攊ts music, street scenes, smells, and sounds鈥擬r. McDonald鈥檚 writing preserves the intangible: the soul of the nation expressed through words, verse, and literary wisdom.
Columns like these are not filler鈥攖hey are essential to the paper鈥檚 relevance and the enrichment of its readership. They help us remember who we are and imagine what we might become. Too much media today is overcome by 鈥淏reaking News鈥, division and acrimony. I encourage Stabroek News to continue investing in voices like Ian McDonald鈥檚, and I urge readers to value and engage with these columns, not just as entertainment or occasional reflections, but as vital contributions to our cultural memory and national discourse. You stand out from the other media houses.
Please let us ensure that this kind of writing remains a permanent feature of our public life鈥攆or this generation and the next.
Best regards,
Brian Chin,
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Managing Director
Magua Risk Consulting
(Guyana) Inc.