Happy Independence Barbados!

As we prepare to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Independence of this fair land tomorrow, I wish you all a fun-filled holiday. Reflect on our proud past and pray that as we mature as a nation, we focus on ways to perpetuate the moral fortitude and strong work ethic on which our forefathers built this nation.
Blue, yellow and black, put it up!

Race in America

Caption: Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg (left) in discussion with civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton

Martin Luther King Jr. must be turning in his grave over what's been happening recently in the US. First, Kramer from 'Seinfeld' spews the 'n' word repeatedly during his comedy act in retaliation against (coincidentally black) hecklers. Then an unarmed Black man in Queens is killed by Police on the morning of his wedding. Two other men were injured in that incident, which saw the Police firing 50 shots at the men's car outside a nightclub. Dubbing the incident as "unacceptable", Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg however felt that the incident was not racially motivated because two of the Police officers were black, two white and one Black and Hispanic. Is he serious? Just because it's not a clear cut case of Whites on one side and Blacks on another doesn't mean race was not a consideration.
I'm waiting anxiously to see what will come of all this because past cases between the NYPD and civilians haven't always ended well at all. Anybody remember Amadou Diallo?
When is change gonna come, like Sam Cook sang about in the 70's? Are we doomed to forever be society's whipping boys, the downtrodden and dispossessed? I don't know about you all, but I'm tired of others acting the fool towards my people because of our excess of melanin. Enough is enough.

Photo courtesy of New York Times.

"Bashment" mentality

I see that our Prime Minister is again speaking out about the "bashment mentality" that is currently so pervasive in Barbados. While I agree with his concerns, I'm wondering if Government realises the part it has played in creating this situation.
For several years now, almost every national event has been turned into a bashment party, filled with guest artistes wining and gyrating on stage. Of course I'm not denying the local entertainers their share of the spotlight; to give Government it's due it has done a lot to raise the profile of culture in the last 12 years, especially the Calypso art form.
However, we have to admit that we can't seem to celebrate an occasion anymore without turning it into a "bram" as the old folks used to say. As if we feel the only way to attract persons to an event is through loud speakers and a titillating beat. Before long we'll be wukking and jukking after the Independence Day parade.

Comments

Hi all, just a quick note to let all those wishing to leave comments know that this new Beta format requires a google account. If you already have a hotmail account, use your hotmail address and password and you should be good to go. Can't wait to hear from you!

Save Rihanna!

I feel for female musicians in this day and age. In the hey day of Motown the female singers were relatively classy...relying on their voices to attract an audience and sell records. Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and Nancy Wilson come to mind. Now, it's all about using the physical to sell records. I fear for our Rihanna, because if these pictures are anything to go by she's falling into the same trap. Save yourself, girl! And put some darn clothes on!

Photo: http://ybf.blogspot.com

Fun Formula

I spent Sunday morning in a muddy field, rain clouds threatening to burst overhead, millipedes attempting to climb up my pants leg, all in the name of some Formula One action on the Ronald Mapp Highway.
My husband and I had meticulously planned our route to avoid the expected crush of people and traffic at Warrens. We decided to cut through Jackson, skirt Millennium Heights and walk down to the junction at Automotive Art. From there we would be in a prime position to see Marc Gene and the Ferrari scream past.
All went according to plan, and a blessed man moved his SUV just in time for us to park a few streets away from the action. By 9:10 we were in position and anticipation was building among the fans. And then, around 9:35, we saw the marshals of the event pull a fence across the Highway just outside Automotive Art! This meant we were now at the end of the track and would only be seeing the driver as he slowed to turn into Automotive Art's parking lot! By that time, thousands of people had gathered and moving didn't seem like a feasible option. We had an up-close view of the car, but didn't experience the sheer speed like the crowds in the middle of the route. Ah well, a good morning was still had by all...even though we had to scamper away from a disoriented centipede which was probably wondering why so many people were in a field in St. Thomas on a Sunday morning.

Photo courtesy of The Nation ('cause in my rush I forgot my camera)

Formula One, baby!

I can't wait to see the Formula One Ferrari car in action this Sunday. My little Barbados is getting very metropolitan...they don't ship these speed demons just anywhere! Of course there's a lot of discussion about the Ronald Mapp Highway from Warrens to Redman's Village being closed off. I just hope the driver has enough road....The action will be from 10 am to 12 noon. See you there!

Cell phones in schools

Several Tobagonian parents are probably still trying to get over the shock and mortification of finding out what their kids have been up to with their cell phones. I'm sure many of you have been reading about how several high school kids on that island took pornagraphic photos of themselves at school with their cell phone cameras and emailed them to their friends. I was shocked too; little Tobago seems so peaceful and idyllic it's hard to reconcile this porn fest with the lovely island I visited a few years ago.

True to form, the parents and teachers are calling for a ban on cell phones in schools. While that deals with the symptoms of a larger issue, that doesn't deal with the issue itself; what on earth would possess these young people to do such a thing in the first place? Were they doing it for money? Were they high on drugs or alcohol? Did they want to become popular? Were they bored? Were they mimicking some adult x-rated movie they saw?

While I'm sure their parents are probably too busy thrashing the daylights out of them to ask any questions yet, I'm curious to know what was going through their brains. It isn't easy being a parent these days, for sure.

Well, after all this tawdry stuff, here are some pix of the beautiful, serene Tobago as I remember it.

The irony of Independence

Hi folks! Didja miss me? I was off juggling several assignments and studying as well so limited time did not permit me to post. Since I'm back up the blog has been switched to beta, an improved format.

Well, we're into our independence celebrations and I must admit, I'm not feeling too festive. Don't get me wrong - I'm as patriotic as they come - but I feel as though we Barbadians are going backwards in terms of our personal development. We have all the trappings of a developed country: the cars, the villas, credit cars, a Concorde jet sitting in a hangar, but are we really free as a people?

It appears as though many of us Barbadians no longer possess the willpower to rise independently above our current status and make successes of our lives, without feeling we have to throw our blind support behind a political party or brown-nose every "big up" who crosses our path. We have attained an enviable lifestyle in the past 40 years, but we seem to have lost our pride in the process, and much of our industry as well. Many have been reduced to waiting for handouts, some out of genuine need, others out of real sloth.

"Friendsing" and politics are now the order of the day; those who prefer to sit on the fence and not declare their allegiance will remain there. I refuse to believe that my future depends on who I support in an election; I saw first-hand in Jamaica how this type of mindset could ruin a country. If I am to feel proud to be a citizen of a mature country, I need to feel as if I have a fair chance of survival. Don't give me a fish, teach me how to fish.