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Jamerican to the core
It's one of those things you wish there was a switch for, that you could just flip and have the problem disappear. Or a computer programme you could activate with just a few taps on a smartphone to get some relief. As much as we'd like to slow or, altogether, stop the Americanisation of Jamaica, as of right now, there's still no app for that.
The Gleaner has been inviting feedback from readers on the question of whether Jamaica is becoming too Americanised. Not surprisingly, most of the respondents seem to agree that yes, we are slowly becoming more like our friends up north with each passing year. And they're not very happy about it.
Now, it really is nothing new. Our fascination with things American started decades ago. Who can forget all those interviews with athletes newly returned from overseas competitions, who completely changed the way they spoke after just a few days in America? In fact, it didn't actually matter where in the world they competed, they somehow always managed to return with an American accent. No medal, maybe, but certainly a prized new way of speaking.
For whatever reason, having a visa to travel to the United States provides an elevation of social status in Jamaica, and since you wouldn't risk walking around with your passport taped to your forehead, I guess the only way to let everyone know you travel 'regular, very regular' is to talk the talk.
Thankfully, the likes of Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce helped make it cool to retain the local accent, so the problem isn't as pervasive among athletes as it used to be.
BREAKUP WITH ENGLAND
Perhaps it was the trauma of our breakup with England that caused us to run so quickly to the seductive bosom of America. But this rebound relationship is certainly lasting longer than normal. And it's possibly stronger now than it has ever been.
In many ways, this could be a good thing. The US political system, its law-enforcement operations, and the spirited drive behind its economy are just some of the things we could learn a lot from. There are many more. The US isn't perfect, of course, but if we're going to emulate anything, maybe we could choose one of these areas to copy instead of the more frivolous, unhelpful aspects of that nation's culture.
Unfortunately, what we've collectively opted to pursue, it would seem, are proper examples of how to live the reality-show life. The Americanisation of Jamaica has, for this generation, morphed into the Kardashianisation of Jamaica. The nitwits who are paraded on television for the amusement of a TV audience are who we seem to be choosing as role models.
This has to be why there's little difference between the way some Jamaican high-schoolers communi-cate and the way their American counterparts do. It's an unadulterated 'like', 'dawg', 'oh my Gawd' fiesta. And now everything is done very literally. 'I literally just opened this can of soda.' Or: 'I literally have a million things to do today.' I find this very strange.
EQUAL AMONG GENDERS
It's just about equally divided between genders, too. So, suddenly, rough and tough Jamaican men are sounding very much like valley girls and real housewives of wherever.
This dizzying display of ditsiness can be hard to swallow but might just be the new norm that the rest of us will have to accept. What choice do we have? Most of us can't afford to buy a private island and go into voluntary exile far away from the all-consuming American tsunami. Believe me, I've checked. But it costs an arm and a leg to buy an island. Literally.
Robert Lalah is features editor and author of 'Roving with Lalah'. Email feedback to [email protected]
It's one of those things you wish there was a switch for, that you could just flip and have the problem disappear. Or a computer programme you could activate with just a few taps on a smartphone to get some relief. As much as we'd like to slow or, altogether, stop the Americanisation of Jamaica, as of right now, there's still no app for that.
The Gleaner has been inviting feedback from readers on the question of whether Jamaica is becoming too Americanised. Not surprisingly, most of the respondents seem to agree that yes, we are slowly becoming more like our friends up north with each passing year. And they're not very happy about it.
Now, it really is nothing new. Our fascination with things American started decades ago. Who can forget all those interviews with athletes newly returned from overseas competitions, who completely changed the way they spoke after just a few days in America? In fact, it didn't actually matter where in the world they competed, they somehow always managed to return with an American accent. No medal, maybe, but certainly a prized new way of speaking.
For whatever reason, having a visa to travel to the United States provides an elevation of social status in Jamaica, and since you wouldn't risk walking around with your passport taped to your forehead, I guess the only way to let everyone know you travel 'regular, very regular' is to talk the talk.
Thankfully, the likes of Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce helped make it cool to retain the local accent, so the problem isn't as pervasive among athletes as it used to be.
BREAKUP WITH ENGLAND
Perhaps it was the trauma of our breakup with England that caused us to run so quickly to the seductive bosom of America. But this rebound relationship is certainly lasting longer than normal. And it's possibly stronger now than it has ever been.
In many ways, this could be a good thing. The US political system, its law-enforcement operations, and the spirited drive behind its economy are just some of the things we could learn a lot from. There are many more. The US isn't perfect, of course, but if we're going to emulate anything, maybe we could choose one of these areas to copy instead of the more frivolous, unhelpful aspects of that nation's culture.
Unfortunately, what we've collectively opted to pursue, it would seem, are proper examples of how to live the reality-show life. The Americanisation of Jamaica has, for this generation, morphed into the Kardashianisation of Jamaica. The nitwits who are paraded on television for the amusement of a TV audience are who we seem to be choosing as role models.
This has to be why there's little difference between the way some Jamaican high-schoolers communi-cate and the way their American counterparts do. It's an unadulterated 'like', 'dawg', 'oh my Gawd' fiesta. And now everything is done very literally. 'I literally just opened this can of soda.' Or: 'I literally have a million things to do today.' I find this very strange.
EQUAL AMONG GENDERS
It's just about equally divided between genders, too. So, suddenly, rough and tough Jamaican men are sounding very much like valley girls and real housewives of wherever.
This dizzying display of ditsiness can be hard to swallow but might just be the new norm that the rest of us will have to accept. What choice do we have? Most of us can't afford to buy a private island and go into voluntary exile far away from the all-consuming American tsunami. Believe me, I've checked. But it costs an arm and a leg to buy an island. Literally.
Robert Lalah is features editor and author of 'Roving with Lalah'. Email feedback to [email protected]
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