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Jamaicans who love Jamaica
Mervin Stoddart
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Jamaica is suffering from a crippling lack of patriotism seen in many of the 2.7 million residents plus 2.5 million diaspora members. Fifth-columnists and enemies of the island bad-mouth the country, undermine its progress, or do nothing about its development. Some rationalise their absence of love for Jamaica by saying the nation has failed its own people.
Thankfully, the majority of Jamaicans - those born and raised on the island plus those born abroad of Jamaican parentage - still love Jamaica, in words and deeds. People who lived in or visited Jamaica prior to the 1970s (before Cold War operatives increased their destabilisation of Jamaica) know the paradise island that once existed. That beautiful land of sun, island breeze, beaches, great cuisine, friendly people and many other wonderful things is fast disappearing. Restoration of paradise and improvement of society to unprecedented prosperity depend on swift actions by lovers of Jamaica to save
the nation.
Sincere lovers of Jamaica are citizens and non-citizens who taste the island's lifestyle and come to adore it. They are devoted to the prosperity of all Jamaicans and do whatever they can to foster it. Things making up brand Jamaica are too numerous to mention and some are inexpressible. That proud Jamaican feeling is built on solid, positive experiences, few of which can be mentioned in this brief treatise.
First, it is Jamaican to be "my brother's keeper". Love for fellow Jamaicans was a given among natives. In primary school anyone who wanted to fight a student had to fight, not shoot, their whole family, down to fourth cousins. Montegonians defended Montego Bay residents with a passion and in every village people shared scarce commodities. Where is that love now?
True Jamaicans respect adults, especially those in authority. When my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and I sometimes met under the same roof, grandmother's mother, Rebecca Davis, respectfully called Miss Beck, got the most respect because she was the eldest. Such godly fear used to be shown to all adults, relatives or not, in rural and urban Jamaican communities. Nowadays 70-odd-year-old women are raped and octogenarians murdered. Why?
Family values among Jamaicans, while not fitting the so-called nuclear family hype, were very strong, meaningful and effective, mostly because the extended family and the entire village raised each child. Fathers were too carelessly generous with their spermatozoa and mothers were often too young but children were protected, cared for and given a chance to enjoy their childhood. Jamaicans need to improve family life without throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
Spiritual faith is a vital aspect of brand Jamaica. Many of the African gifts of spirituality were lost or destroyed when Jamaicans succumbed to Euro-Americans' false claim of obeah. Nonetheless, Jamaican believers converted the white indoctrinations of Christianity into genuine love for neighbours and uplifting morality, leading the charge in abolition, independence, education and other aspects of nation building. Today, too many Jamaican churches have succumbed to the syndrome of the five foolish, sleeping virgins.
Security among Jamaicans was once taken for granted as residents slept with their doors unlocked and sometimes a door wide open to enjoy God's fresh air which is much healthier than air conditioning. When I was 12, a suspicious-looking stranger appeared in our St James district. A seven-foot-tall cricketer in the village ordered the strange man to walk with a group of residents to the police station to be checked out. The stranger was eventually released but we felt safer. Why do garrisons and other communities now hide criminals?
Farmers, shopkeepers, dressmakers, and other business people in Jamaica once sold quality goods in fair amounts, sometimes giving "brawta". Buyers paid fair prices. If they had to "trust" goods they would obey the national convention to pay up in timely fashion. Jamaica's economic situation is now in the doldrums because of three main missteps: politicians have failed miserably; too many business people, both foreign and local, are dishonest; and too many Jamaicans are giving in to laziness and North American-style commercialism. Authentic Jamaicans cherish and utilise Jamaican products.
Heterosexuality is as Jamaican as ackee and saltfish, although violence against gays is as non-Jamaican as the child abuse and murders now strangling the nation. Reggae music still dispenses positive Jamaican vibes but some dancehall artistes wrongly promote immoralities. Education the British way was once a Jamaican goldmine but schooling is now gone to the dogs. Discipline, including flogging, once helped to train children in the way they should go. Now spoilt brats mistake tough love for abuse the same way they call sodomy love.
Politics used to be enjoyable in Jamaica when Comrades and Labourites competed in songs, dancing, speeches, cheers and other campaign niceties. As a child, I saw PNP supporters in their orange shirts call JLP campaigners wearing green shirts to "come and share a little mannish water". I saw Labourites call comrades to share their flour and saltfish, compliments of "Busta". Such camaraderie has now changed to tribalism.
Space does not allow treatment of Jamaica's Eden-like flora, fauna and complete ecosystems, some of which are being wantonly destroyed. Readers can recall their own heavenly experiences in Jamaica like swimming half-naked in rivers; telling duppy stories; playing moonlight games and singing Go dung a Manuel Road, gal and bwoy, fi go bruck rock stone. Such fun times are fast fading.
Finally, all Jamaicans share some blame for the island's demise but I blame Euro-Americans; wicked, spineless politicians; and greedy, gullible, murderous Jamaicans. God has blessed Jamaica and wants to restore its prosperity through people who truly love Jamaica, wherever on God's planet they reside. Are you a Jamaican who loves Jamaica?
[email protected]
Mervin Stoddart
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Jamaica is suffering from a crippling lack of patriotism seen in many of the 2.7 million residents plus 2.5 million diaspora members. Fifth-columnists and enemies of the island bad-mouth the country, undermine its progress, or do nothing about its development. Some rationalise their absence of love for Jamaica by saying the nation has failed its own people.
Thankfully, the majority of Jamaicans - those born and raised on the island plus those born abroad of Jamaican parentage - still love Jamaica, in words and deeds. People who lived in or visited Jamaica prior to the 1970s (before Cold War operatives increased their destabilisation of Jamaica) know the paradise island that once existed. That beautiful land of sun, island breeze, beaches, great cuisine, friendly people and many other wonderful things is fast disappearing. Restoration of paradise and improvement of society to unprecedented prosperity depend on swift actions by lovers of Jamaica to save
the nation.
Sincere lovers of Jamaica are citizens and non-citizens who taste the island's lifestyle and come to adore it. They are devoted to the prosperity of all Jamaicans and do whatever they can to foster it. Things making up brand Jamaica are too numerous to mention and some are inexpressible. That proud Jamaican feeling is built on solid, positive experiences, few of which can be mentioned in this brief treatise.
First, it is Jamaican to be "my brother's keeper". Love for fellow Jamaicans was a given among natives. In primary school anyone who wanted to fight a student had to fight, not shoot, their whole family, down to fourth cousins. Montegonians defended Montego Bay residents with a passion and in every village people shared scarce commodities. Where is that love now?
True Jamaicans respect adults, especially those in authority. When my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and I sometimes met under the same roof, grandmother's mother, Rebecca Davis, respectfully called Miss Beck, got the most respect because she was the eldest. Such godly fear used to be shown to all adults, relatives or not, in rural and urban Jamaican communities. Nowadays 70-odd-year-old women are raped and octogenarians murdered. Why?
Family values among Jamaicans, while not fitting the so-called nuclear family hype, were very strong, meaningful and effective, mostly because the extended family and the entire village raised each child. Fathers were too carelessly generous with their spermatozoa and mothers were often too young but children were protected, cared for and given a chance to enjoy their childhood. Jamaicans need to improve family life without throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
Spiritual faith is a vital aspect of brand Jamaica. Many of the African gifts of spirituality were lost or destroyed when Jamaicans succumbed to Euro-Americans' false claim of obeah. Nonetheless, Jamaican believers converted the white indoctrinations of Christianity into genuine love for neighbours and uplifting morality, leading the charge in abolition, independence, education and other aspects of nation building. Today, too many Jamaican churches have succumbed to the syndrome of the five foolish, sleeping virgins.
Security among Jamaicans was once taken for granted as residents slept with their doors unlocked and sometimes a door wide open to enjoy God's fresh air which is much healthier than air conditioning. When I was 12, a suspicious-looking stranger appeared in our St James district. A seven-foot-tall cricketer in the village ordered the strange man to walk with a group of residents to the police station to be checked out. The stranger was eventually released but we felt safer. Why do garrisons and other communities now hide criminals?
Farmers, shopkeepers, dressmakers, and other business people in Jamaica once sold quality goods in fair amounts, sometimes giving "brawta". Buyers paid fair prices. If they had to "trust" goods they would obey the national convention to pay up in timely fashion. Jamaica's economic situation is now in the doldrums because of three main missteps: politicians have failed miserably; too many business people, both foreign and local, are dishonest; and too many Jamaicans are giving in to laziness and North American-style commercialism. Authentic Jamaicans cherish and utilise Jamaican products.
Heterosexuality is as Jamaican as ackee and saltfish, although violence against gays is as non-Jamaican as the child abuse and murders now strangling the nation. Reggae music still dispenses positive Jamaican vibes but some dancehall artistes wrongly promote immoralities. Education the British way was once a Jamaican goldmine but schooling is now gone to the dogs. Discipline, including flogging, once helped to train children in the way they should go. Now spoilt brats mistake tough love for abuse the same way they call sodomy love.
Politics used to be enjoyable in Jamaica when Comrades and Labourites competed in songs, dancing, speeches, cheers and other campaign niceties. As a child, I saw PNP supporters in their orange shirts call JLP campaigners wearing green shirts to "come and share a little mannish water". I saw Labourites call comrades to share their flour and saltfish, compliments of "Busta". Such camaraderie has now changed to tribalism.
Space does not allow treatment of Jamaica's Eden-like flora, fauna and complete ecosystems, some of which are being wantonly destroyed. Readers can recall their own heavenly experiences in Jamaica like swimming half-naked in rivers; telling duppy stories; playing moonlight games and singing Go dung a Manuel Road, gal and bwoy, fi go bruck rock stone. Such fun times are fast fading.
Finally, all Jamaicans share some blame for the island's demise but I blame Euro-Americans; wicked, spineless politicians; and greedy, gullible, murderous Jamaicans. God has blessed Jamaica and wants to restore its prosperity through people who truly love Jamaica, wherever on God's planet they reside. Are you a Jamaican who loves Jamaica?
[email protected]
is true, nuff jcans claim say dem patriotic, but only from a far~~ 
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