Controversial statue, 'Redemption Song' at Emancipation Park, New Kingston. - File HI FOLKS,
What a week it has been, some semblance of national pride returned to our shore with the renewed sense of pride in ourselves as we celebrated being free and independent. To tell the truth, sometimes I think freedom and independence are just figments of our imaginations because we still rely so much on backra massa for everything - except our culture - although sometimes I see even that slipping away. And the plantation mentality still abounds. But give thanks, all is not lost.
AUSTIN THE ADDICT
The Sunday Gleaner had many interesting stories this week; among them the piece in the sports section on the downfall of cricketer/footballer, Richard Austin. 'Eye' says she sees him on the streets all the time and although her heart bleeds, she doesn't get too emotional about him. I note with my usual overdose of cynicism that he blames everything but himself for the addiction. I can think of hundreds of persons who have suffered tremendous personal loss and not resorted to drugs. Take yours truly as an example. When my true love died in my 20s, I began drinking four double scotches every night at bed-time. No one knew, I was clean and sober during the days but could smell the beginnings of an alcoholic as I hurriedly poured each drink at nights. By the tenth month, I looked and felt like hell but no one knew, I kept the stuff in my bedside table cabinet and many times my tears became the chaser (yes, I am in touch with my feminine side).
One morning, I cut myself shaving and as I faced the sad reflection in the mirror, I realised that I was on a self-destructive path. That night, I returned the bottle to its place in the liquor cabinet and to this day I only drink socially.
Mr. Austin seems like an intelligent guy who has the answers to most of the questions asked so he has to have the will to clean up his act and not just run back to the coke each time someone dies. Wake up man; people die. Life is a bitch and then you die. You have life, live it!
THREATS
Those who see themselves as all powerful continue to send dangerous signals to even politicians. Take the latter who has been at the centre of the mid-island controversial killings. Talk on the street is that his life is now in danger because the smart police from foreign questioned the mighty one from the east. Was the politician's vehicle smashed while parked at his gate? Has he been receiving threatening phone calls? What about that gun?
DOWNTOWN CELEBRATIONS
'Eye' just loves to be present at all these independence functions so she went to the Harbour Fest downtown right after visiting Denbeigh where she says things were not so hot this year. The large crowd at the harbour had lots of fun eating everything from roast corn to ice cream. Though the rains came, spirits were high but alas, the uptown folk were conspicuously absent - absolutely no support from them at all. Fae Ellington kept things alive on stage and children swam in the murky depths of the polluted harbour where people just ate and threw the Styrofoam containers. Why some a we so darned nasty?
BIG UP CLIFF HUGHES
I managed to catch the in-depth exposé The Potter and the Clay on CVM with host Cliff Hughes on Sunday. He interviewed several persons who knew and loved young Lee Boyd Malvo, the younger of the two of the sniper killings in the United States. That was journalism at its finest and it was done without ego-tripping. Big up Cliff. Meanwhile, in America, not much is being said about the Muslim 'potter' who took young Lee and moulded him into a killing machine. Do they fear reprisals from this religious group if they go digging into the man's character?
NUDES
Sometimes I think we are as hypocritical as the Americans. They bring up morals and talk of adultery in the case now taking centre-stage, with accused NBA basketballer Bryant. There is even talk of withdrawing endorsements and at the same time, they quickly elect a homosexual bishop. All at a time when the Catholic church is still reeling from sex abuse scandals. I still love that hypocritical country though.
Anyway, can you tell me what is wrong with this picture? Here in our fair island paradise, we descend by night to buy commercial sex workers and drive into the inner city to get a wicked slam; we rush the gates of the north coast hotel to witness nude weddings; we rape and murder little girls and boys, we watch deviant sexual acts on cable and some even engage in perversion on stage in night clubs! And then we have the temerity to write the newspapers and bombard the talk shows with criticisms about the magnificent statue at Emancipation Park. I don't get it. Listen folks, it's time to emancipate your minds from ties that bind you to genital slavery. Your brains are between your ears not your legs! It's time to start learning to appreciate art. Go to the museums, both here and when you travel - expose yourselves, broaden your horizons and return to the park with new eyes. And do - take the children along.
Congratulations to the conceptualiser and sculptor, it is a work of art and a fitting tribute to where we are coming from as a people. Now here's a thought. Build a small gift shop in the park or on the outskirts, and mass-produce miniature replicas of the wonderful work because I would buy the first dozen. You could also sell post cards and other mementoes of Kingston, the proceeds could go towards the upkeep of this landmark.
LAWYERS LONG BENCH
'Eye' went to the annual dinner-dance put on by the Jamaican Bar Association and ended up embarrassing herself because she fell asleep during one of the citations. These people talk too much. Much like Rotary installation banquets these men have a love affair with microphones. God help the guests. I suggest that they get a time-keeper to prompt those who swallow the dictionary before they speak.
PONDER WITH PANDORA
Wouldn't it be a fitting tribute to make Miss Lou a national heroine so that we could have one who we are all proud of?
