Vacation 08

I know it looks incredibly lazy - but here you go:

http://www.travelpod.com/members/thinkbass

That's my travel blog. Enjoy - and explore Jamaica. Hmmm...or maybe come explore with me?! I was looking for stuff to do in the last week of my vacation when I started to hit upon site after site that offered attractions I didn't even know about - inna fi mi owna country! But si here!

So I kind of decided to do a new (to me) attraction at least once a month (sticky with pan). Got a list of 14 places already. If you're interested in seeing our great little island - link me. Maybe we can work something out.





Toodles!

I Held His Hand

I held the hand of this boy. Young man. His face registered no knowledge of this but he grasped me. I had meant to simply take his hand as a means of providing some physical contact for him. So I withdrew my hand. I tried. His grasp tightened and held mine – refusing to let go. I looked to his face to see if he had opened his eyes. No, nothing was there.

I sighed, probably this was simply a sign that his brain had indeed returned to the neonatal stage. Just a reflex. I called his name and he raised and eyebrow and grunted. I told him morning and asked him to open his eyes and return the greeting. He open his eyes and grunted. Good as it would guess I figured. “Do you want me to stay a while with you?” He nodded and squeezed my hand.

I detached myself and brought over a chair. Took his hand and began a largely one-sided conversation. Depending on what caught his fancy he would grunt or smile. Sometimes his words came out so perfectly well that he caused me to raise an eyebrow. He even gave jokes, (His girlfriend wasn’t pretty but I wasn’t better looking than her.)

Then there was the comfortable silence. Just sitting there holding his hand.

Too much silence can bring thoughts.

In all the great advances of medicine this was all I could do. This was all I could do? This was all I could do! Maybe there was something I missed? Perhaps I hadn’t examined carefully. But my thoughts went full circle. After the surgeons had done their best – there wasn’t much left to do. But as I looked at his face, at the occasional smile and felt the grip of his hand I knew this was enough.

He craved human touch. In all the things done for him he desired only a little company. I could do that for him. Sometimes we look too hard. We search too much and look past what is already there. I thought of the things I had to ‘do’. These would wait – because I was doing something. It’s the simple things. The silence. A smile. That touch.

So, I held his hand.

AUGUST 11, 2007

The morning was being blessed with a steady show of God’s beauty. Blades of grass were dappled with dew, the sky was a wondrously clear blue and, somewhere, apart from each other (for now), two hearts were waiting to be joined.

Evening came and soon it was four o’clock. Because God had blessed the union, the rains eased to a steady gentle patter. The groom was looking magnificently dapper as he sat waiting for his future to begin. Only smiles came to his face – no trace of fear. His debonair style caused the people gathered to smile also – some things can be so infectious.

The harpist fingers glided over the instrument and provided tranquillity to the atmosphere. The organist (who had played at the bride’s parents wedding) sat waiting, hands poised to fill the air with melodious music. The pannist stood beside him, and she too was ready to provide glorious accompaniment.

And then we heard it – the opening strains of the first of six beautiful songs. The bride’s and groom’s mothers were escorted down the aisle by their sons. The bridesmaids came down the isle with the poise of true ladies. Their smiles were bewitching - warranting the flashes of many cameras. The maid of honour wore a charming smile and paved the way for the lady of the day.

Down she glided, in resplendent white, with her father proud (and jovial) at her side. It came time for the bride to be handed over to her groom. The verbal contract was sworn to and then the ceremony was on the way. The exchange of vows and rings was a heart-warming moment. Tears came freely to more than one well-wisher.

The mothers were again asked to participate in the beautiful proceedings by aiding in the Ceremony of Light. The register was signed to the strong, intoxicating voice of the soloist and all the chapel rejoiced when they were announced as husband and wife.

The reception was no less a moving affair and we waited for the new husband and wife to bless us with their presence. They came through the doors doing a merry jig – no solemnity here! Soon tinkling of glasses was heard and we waited for ‘souls to meet souls upon lover’s lips’. But the couple were proving to be one step ahead. Those of the reception requiring such a display would have to sing a love song or do a tap dance. However, the bride and groom forgot who the members of the two tables by the door were – and they kissed many a time.

There was not a single soul who doubted the love for the wife, husband or their family – but we were reminded of the bounty of this when several eloquent, and humorous, toasts were made. The toast to the bridesmaids was BASSically lovely.

Then the audience was in for a treat. The couple musically serenaded us with strains of Endless Love. What a BASHMENTIFEROUS affair!

The grooms reply was done with his wife standing at his side. While his words touched us, her radiant beauty and smile warmed us.

Pictures were taken and last words of love were given to the couple and then they left to begin their lifelong journey together.

The Curse of the Childless

After a certain age family, friends and complete strangers sign a contract that they will implore upon each person the necessity of having a child. It’s not enough that you have been a legally-abiding citizen, caring son or daughter, and a contributor to the work force. It’s now time that you fulfil everyone else’s dream of having a child.

Cursed by the man

Many a man has thought that the sexiest line ever made was to tell a woman how pretty she would look pregnant with his child. I swear – a man can smell a virgin womb from miles away. Once they find out a woman is childless the stakes for sleeping with her get raised. There must be a special prize given out at some secret Male Breeders Convention for those males that get a female pregnant for the first time.

Cursed by the woman

But to be fair, guys will tell you that they have had some very brazen proposals: females looking at them and telling them that they would be willing be have their babies. What is more preposterous is that this offering usually comes when the fellow wants the relationship to come to an end. Hmmm. So let’s think this out – he does not want to be with you anymore so you offer to share a child with him. Yes – I see how that makes sense.

And oh! – How some of our specie can be cruel. Using a child as a holder – if she gets pregnant, especially, if he has never had a child, he will stay. It’s not once or twice I’ve heard a proud woman exclaim, usually wielding it as a victory axe: ‘A me gi ‘im im fus pickney.’ Yup – like that rap song says: ‘…Second is not a winner and third no one remembers…” (Or something like that).

Cursed by the family

As yu touch 25 watch how every family member come to you wid: ‘Yu not getting married?’ ‘What about children?’ ‘The clock ticking.’ Blah blah blah.

What is it with people? Did anyone mention they were desperate for the little bundle of germs to come along? Not to mention some of them can make it seem like having children is the ONLY reason to get married. The question becomes condensed: ‘Yu not getting married so yu can start having children?’ Excuse you!

But mostly I cannot appreciate the older family members who believe it is the female’s sole duty to go forth and bring many children into existence. The thought of not getting married is practically banned – and God help those who decide not to have children. I maintain that no one should be defined by their ability/inability or willingness/unwillingness to have children.

Cursed by the workplace

When it comes time for leaving early or coming in late – who are the usual culprits? Why the parents of course. The frequent excuses of having to drop them at day care (hence why they can never reach work early) and having to pick them up(the reason for leaving work early) is quite tiring. Who picks up all this slack – the childless. It’s the latest excuse: ‘I can’t because the children…’ ‘I didn’t get to because Little Johnny …’

So always for the job for which both of you are qualified – when it comes to coming in early, doing overtime, and working weekends – the childless is always sought out. Nobody hates you for having children - but is it too much to ask that you think it out and make arrangements that don't place the childless at the receiving end?

Cursed by the ignorant

Many a woman have suffered at this vocal hangman’s noose: ‘Gweh – yu a mule. Yu neva breed yet!’ Never a thought of praise for the lady who may have made a conscious and planned decision to not or not yet have children. Never a thought of sympathy for the poor female who may not be able to conceive – no matter how she may want to do so.

Cursed by age

Pray tell what happens to the elderly childless person? If there is no family or friend they may well be up a creek without a paddle. Medical needs, social companionship and pretty much anything else become rather difficult to come by. (By no means, however, is having someone to look after you in your old age a reason to procreate.)

We need a break. The men need to stop seeing females as future ‘bellies’. The women need to stop seeing the men as ‘fus baby-fadda’. The family members need to stop seeing us as incomplete and wanting. The workplace and our colleagues ought not to look at us as scapegoats. And the ignorant need fi go hol’ a cawna.

So, for the question that has been posed a million times: When are you going to have a child? The answer is – When I’m ready, and not one minute before (if at all).

Who Are You?

Recently, a freind was seeking to learn more about me. He asked a rather simple question of me: who was I? I frowned, never the one to like these sort of questions. I sat staring gloomily at the screen for a while - then I gave it actual thought. The answer was as follows:

I am a young lady trying to become a better woman.

A VERY loyal friend,

a musician,

a daughter,

a lover.

But I am a rebel while being a disciplinarian and

I can be a dictator while being extremely nonchalant.

I am a searcher - always looking for a better...any

thing (almost)

But I am a statment in evolution

My being is in a state of present continuous - ness

Most of all, I guess, I am life's avid student.

So, Who are you? How do you see yourself?

Hmmm...

Should I comment on this Dutty Wine thing?

Buju vs Homosexual Community

It occured to me one day that I really didn't understand why the Homesexual community hated a man for the one song in his career that he released in 1992 . But then again - maybe understanding is not what they want. Blood?...maybe.

I thought alot about it and a Gleaner writer puts it most elequently...(or at least expounded on the points I only had as phrases in my mind)

Different rules apply
published: Sunday | October 22, 2006

Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

TOK on stage at the Smirnoff Experience 'Party With The Stars' show, held at the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track on December 23, 2005. - File

"To the entire Black race living in America, we, the Aryan, pink complexioned race (better known to you as the white race) that came to these shores from Europe, England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Germany and the like, do hereby apologise ...

"... We apologise for trying to come up with an AIDS vaccine to stop the epidemic spread of AIDS in Africa, AIDS being a disease that you created and passed on to us after having sexual intercourse with monkeys and then with one of our idiotic race-mixers who then passed it on to the rest of the world."

This is a portion of the 'apology' taken from the Ku Klux Klan's official website. Though many may cringe at the thought that these views are still being openly expressed, the fact is, these opinions are protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

This is why the majority of these websites are hosted by American companies, because most countries like Sweden, China, United Kingdom and Canada have limitations on freedom of speech that the U.S. does not have.

The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and the press as long as it cannot be classified as 'hate speech'. Though many argue and show that the expression of such ideas can be classified as 'hate speech' because it led to actions - the killing of thousands of blacks and Jews - it's not the same with dancehall music.

Several unsubstantiated cases have been used as examples over the years, by gay and lesbian groups concerning dancehall music (often simply called anti-gay music), saying it has caused the deaths of homosexuals in Jamaica.

"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" - Romans 9:13. "JEWS ARE HATED BY YAHWEH!" (as was written on the sermon page of the website as Sabine Baring-Gould's Onward Christian Soldiers is played).

Some, therefore, say it is strange that in a country where people can freely express views about racial segregation, that they would have a problem with others expressing another view. Many rappers, such as Eminem, have expressed the same views, but without the same effects. Eminem released perhaps one of the most homophobic albums in recent times, The Marshall Mathers LP in 2000.

According to Tracii McGregor, VP of Gargamel Music, Buju Banton's label, homophobic lyrics are nothing new on the international scene, yet the main artistes targeted are dancehall acts.

"It is there, even with hip-hop artistes like Eminem. He has spoken about the fact that he doesn't like gay people and a lot of his music advocates horrible things, but the fact is that he is making millions and millions and millions for Interscope. The way I feel about this is that if I listen to Eminem, it's like 'OK, it's a song; that's how he feels, OK. Move on'," she said.

It's difficult not to see her point when one looks at some of the dancehall acts, including Beenie Man, Capleton and TOK who have apologised for their anti-gay songs, only to continue being banned from shows and events. Though Buju Banton has not apologised for his Boom Bye Bye, released in 1992, and has said he has no intention of doing so, the gay community refuses to tuck away the whip, ignoring the plethora of songs he has done since then which do not address homosexuality. Some therefore wonder 'where is the freedom of speech for foreigners on American soil?'

Overreacting

TOK's Chi Chi Man, which was released in 2000, has recently come under attack from the homosexual community, which says that the song incites violence against those of a different sexual orientation. As a result, two months ago the group was dropped from the AIDS awareness concert 'The Life Beat'. Alex, a member of the group, says most of those criticising the song are overreacting.

"First of all, we were just taken off just one show and that is the only song we have done about that issue... Doing that song, it was just a vibe in the studio, it was not a preconceived thing. One of the misconceptions about the song is people think that we set about to target one person or a specific group of people. Some people look at it as violence through music and all that, but it is just an expression of our surroundings. We are in no way advocating violence against any group," he said.

He says the group likes to try new things and discuss a variety of topics and that was one of them. "TOK in essence strive to do different things all the time. Our thing is not set in one direction; we do all kind of songs: rude boy songs and countless other songs. We have not dwelled on that topic, we are focusing on our career," he said.

According to Alex, the pressure on dancehall artistes from the gay community isn't the reason for TOK's departure from the topic. "No. We're focusing on different topics. We've always been that way. Not because of the gay insurgence in music. That's how we do it . We are always trying to do better and redefine our music. We sing one drop and jump up music. One of our biggest hits to date is on a one drop, that's Footprints," he said.

Will not 'bow'

But Buju is not the only Jamaican deejay who will not 'bow'. Spragga Benz says he is quite resolute in his beliefs. "Mi just know say me naw stop sing dem song deh. The creator himself haffi come dung and tell me fi stop. It's just my upbringing. Mi nuh think bout fi dem actions and fi dem thoughts don't concern me. Mi naw stop bun dem," he said. Among his songs on the gay issue are Funny Guy Ting and We Nuh Like.

Spragga says he is not concerned about others misinterpreting what he means by 'bun out', which many Rastafarians insist is a spiritual and not a literal fire. "Mi nuh business. To me it a mek more headway than anything," he said, saying that the deejays sing about women much more than homosexuals and it is the latter who are complaining.

Currently, there seems to be a decline in the number of anti-gay songs from dancehall artistes, while others like Wayne Marshall (I Forgot Dem and Astronaut) find witty ways to say what they wish.

Some may say that in order to be a major crossover performer, the Jamaican has to shed anti-gay lyrics. Though Sean Paul managed to cross-over with his song Like Glue,where he proclaimed, 'I man naw play number two', the members of TOK were not so lucky with Chi Chi Man.

"We apologize for thinking we could educate you so that you could learn to build things and help others, when you obviously have only the ability to tear down and take from others..."

"...What say? Do you accept our apology? Do we have a deal? Please let us know, soon!"

The two parties have reconciled, but what is obvious is that the controversy surrounding anti-gay lyrics has divided dancehall culture. What was originally a space many youngsters gravitated toward because they were able to paint a picture of life through their inner-city windows is slowly being barricaded by the international community, aided by those who have taken the hint that maybe there is no freedom of speech for 'the other' from the 'other side of town'.

Why Trafigura Became A Jamaican Political Fiasco

It did not happen because Trafigura was cheap. (It is claimed that they went to a cheaper company when the others raised their prices for cleaning up the ‘slop’.)

It did not happen because God wants retribution and is prolonging the torment. (Last numbers have it as 7 dead, 23 hospitalized and 40 000 seeking medical help.)

It did not happen because some technician failed at is job. (The technique for the process being tried on the ship may have failed.)

It did not happen to give Greenpeace something more to shout about.

It did happen because of First Caribbean International Bank.

I have the unfortunate luck of doing business with FCIB. It has resulted in me giving them some money each month. It is unbelievable just how difficult a process this is on it’s own, made harder and all the more infuriating by its inefficient and poorly trained staff.

There is no end to the amount of things they do not know, cannot answer, are unable to say or cannot help with.

It is not peculiar to one branch – I have been to two and they both leave much to be desired of in terms of staff. Nonetheless, I must give thanks for they did part with their money – though even that was a truly nerve racking process.

I went to them on a Tuesday to give them some money. That line was short but one teller had gone to lunch and the other was away from her desk. That left three customers standing in line and waiting to give back their money. But the sole teller took mercy on us and decided to ask the other customers waiting in line if she could assist them. If it happened that their transaction was to be a short one she assisted, if not, they had to wait some more. Meanwhile three representatives in the Section marked for ‘confirmation of email and telephone services’ sat there staring at the bulk of customers in the bank. One of them even proceeded to the examination of a telephone from someone who appeared to be at FC more for selling than for patronage.

But we were apparently the lucky ones, for the people in the line wanting money (or at least to deposit it) had an even longer wait.

Eventually the sole teller in the loans line beckoned me forward. We told her we wanted to do two things; she was sure we could do one but was unsure if we could do the other. As such, she sent us to one of the lazy people in the ‘e-mail and telephone confirmation’ booth. That lady looked at what we had told us it couldn’t be done at this branch only at the branch that had given us the loan and took some papers from us which she said we shouldn’t have had in our possession in the first place.

We went back to the first lady telling her our displeasure at what we’d just been told. After apparently hearing too much of our displeasure she quite politely told us that she was simply doing us a favour by asking if she could help us because she could have left us in the line.

At this point we asked if there was a customer service manager, gave her their money and left.

So you see my dears the reason Trafigura came out was not because someone desperately wanted to gain favor with Bruce. It certainly wasn’t because someone wanted to see the wrongs righted, for they simply would have gone to the proper authorities and not to Bruce. Instead Trafigura has become a most annoying household name simply because the staff at First Caribbean is incompetent and lackadaisical and the administration does not known the meaning of the word redeployment. It stands to figure that if one area of the bank is strained by numerous customers then they simply ought to shift the workers, who have nothing to do but to stare at the customers standing, to that particular area. If they would simply give their workers some work to do, train them properly and stop compartmentalizing this whole fiasco would have been a nightmare and not the reality it is today.

Yu see how di simple tings can cause so much bangarang?

But as the teller said, we were lucky to get through. Thank you for having mercy upon your poor customers.

A Conversation

I present to you snippets of a conversation I heard a Lower Class citizen (yes it is necessary for me to classify her this way) telling a Middle Class citizen. That I was in hearing space did not stop her from expressing herself.

LC: ‘Mi waa yu come roun’ where mi live. Yeah man mi waa yu fi meet mi fren. (Chuckles) wen she si yu she a go come to yu an’ seh: beg yu a something fi a spliff?’

MC: I don’t think I would want to meet her.

LC: (Laughs) Yu fi come man. Yu know how many times mi jus sit outside a look out fi one a unno walk by so mi can seh hi. But a only di ambulance mi si an him only wave, im no stop.

MC: But, don’t you live near KPH – I wouldn’t stop there either.

LC: (Laughs) Where mi live now use to be Ms. X house. She a PNP so wi run har out an’ tek har house. Di room whe mi deh use fi bi fihar bedroom. Yeah man.

MC: But isn’t it a PNP area?

LC: Yeah, but when man like Y come true everybody haffi run.

MC: So, you run to? – Big woman like yu?

LC: Yeah, wen ‘im com true im will all kick down yu door and beat and kick yu up.

MC: An’ a deh so yu waa invite mi fi come?

LC: Yeah man, a per excitement. Yu know seh one girl di go a country an she did well bored. She seh she miss di excitement when di bwoy dem run true di place and fiyah shot an everybody a run an scream an drop a groun. No man she did well sick, belly pain and pap down. She couldn’t tek di quiet country, so she gwaan back a town.

MC: So a so she need some excitement? She don’t work?

LC: No sah.

MC and Me: Dats why.

MC: So dat is fun?

LC: Ehe. Listen man. All wen police come roun. Di young gyal dem jus go wine up in fron a dem or pan dem wid dem short skirt and tight blouse. (Laughs) Yeah man, dem jus go wine pan dem. Or dem fling stone affa dem car and van. (Laughs)

MC: So big woman like yu do dat to?

LC: No man, di young gyal dem. A nuff excitement. Yu need fi come com visit my ends.

So where do I start to dissect this?

1. This just showed up for me in glaring colours the realities of how far apart different socioeconomic groups are from each other. For me, inviting someone to my house is not a trivial thing. I think of the people in my household, I think of the state of the house and the surrounding area definitely comes into thought. You just don’t invite people (MC was just a casual acquaintance) to your house. Furthermore, on more than one occasion MC refused the invite. This left LC unfazed – she was not the least bit insulted. Bway, mi no know, but inviting someone into a potentially dangerous situation is not my idea of a friendly thing.

2. And I have to ask: do you sit down and look out your window expecting people from your place of work to walk by so that you can have them say : ‘Hi Z’, so that everyone else around you can know that you are known? My brain is not wrapping around this.

3. Her very vocal talk of running out a lady out of her own house shows a wanton disregard for anything that anyone owns. It doesn’t matter that the house is not her own and that the lady was actually in it at the time of capture. And we want to be logical with these people? How can we? Clearly, they will have no problem stealing your wallet, car or life.

4. We all know that the devil finds work for idle hands. But that girl who could not enjoy the quiet of country is hilarious. Actual, physical, torment because she couldn’t hear the gun shots that used to send her running to preserve her life?!

5. Gyrating on police officers? Throwing stones at their vehicles for the fun of it. I maintain that only a saint can tolerate anything. This is why I still take with a grain of salt some reports of police brutality.

6. And while policeman and woman is ‘Babylon’, there is a slight respect and admiration for the local don who will come and tear of door and kick up pickney and woman.

How can anyone think that we can solve problems in our society with a few programmes and peace walks and talking ad nauseum on these numerous talk shows? We need a long term structural, spiritual and developmental revolution for this. We cannot expect that in a few years this will be over. And we have to stop sopping up the water and ignoring the gaping hole in the dam. How do you change the minds of the people who willingly announce that they are ‘ignant’. How do you change the mind?

And what does the rest of the nation do? Build more gated communities. Hire security guards to follow you around. Lock yourself in your house trying to keep others out.

We are a nation in trouble. (But you knew that, right?)