Respect Among Posters, Especially Among Foundation Posters

[Westman]

From time to time, I notice thatthe respect and understanding among posters, sadly including foundation posters, is severely lacking on this site.I understand that no one is perfect and that we will not always agree. However, we, especially foundation posters, who have met each other andreasoned so well, for so many years, should be able to reach understanding on basic issues, andwe should be able, with short time outs,to forgive and apologise for haughty statements or actions.

Recently, after seeing so manystrings about a promised tribute to our Esteemed Courtney, I decided to wade into the issue. I saw Balla's relentless passion regarding the promised tribute. I saw what appeared sometimes to be less than polite responses or postings in strings related to Balla's postings. I decided I should assist by trying to promote some understanding and provide some relief. Sadly, I seem to have failed. But I will not give up.

I am pleading with Balla, who I know to be a person of faith, with Jawge, who I have reasoned with, with Mosiah, the leader of the club, and with others, to soften the level of rhetoric and to show patience and forgiveness where warranted.

I know Tilla and I have met Tilla. He is hardworking for his employer and he is dedicated at home. However, he has also, on a continuing basis, spent countless thousands of hours in dedicated free service to this club and to the website. Thousands is not an understatement.Before having met him in person, but after getting to know him through this website, I asked him, a few years ago to create a website for my hometown. It took him a long time. But he reminded mehe was working on it, as his time allowed. He finally completed a masterpiece for me. I was so grateful that he had taken his time to do it right. Having spoken with Tilla, and knowing how much he appreciated Courtney for years, I am sure his word is golden when he says, that in due time, a great tribute for Courtney will be completed and maintained on this website.

I have spoken with Karl too. I know him. I do not always agree with him. But I respect him and his word. I believe he is committed to ensuring a tribute to Courtney on this website.

I know Mosiah. I do not always agree with Mosiah. In fact, lately, I do not discuss much with Mosiah. However, this much I know. He is the leader of this group. It is great to know that he paid tribute and respect to Courtney before and after his passing. Like many leaders, and as Ihave also done in other situations, in the heat of the momentthey make committments, which include other people's time and resources, without being able to guarantee the timing. Even though the project is being worked on dilligently, hasty committments can lead to expectations regarding time which erroneoulsy appear to be low priorities. I pray Mosiah will be a little more patient and not hasty in his responses or in his decisions, and he will be more consultative. I pray his leadership skills will only get better and that they will manifest themselves for this club and in his personal and professional life.

Courtney obviously had and has many devoted friends. Balla is, no doubt, among the most passionate and loyal. It is a blessing to have such a friend! However, sometimes in his relentless pursuit, and with the best of intentions, his passion causes him to lose patience. I pray he will be a little more understanding and forgiving. I pray he will also trust theadministrators and moderators who have made committments regarding the tribute. I trust them. They are great people, who for years have spoken and thought highlyof Courtney.

Jawge and Balla, this website will not be the same without your continued vigorous interaction. I pray you will show patience

[Westman]

RE: Respect Among Posters, Especially Among Foundation Posters

Below, please find Balla's signature quote. It is powerful. I pray it will resonate with all of us here.

“Out of the past of fire and suffering and neglect, the human spirit has survived - patient and strong , quick to anger , quick to forgive, lusty and vigorous but with deep reserves of loyalty and love, and a deep capacity for steadiness under stress, and for joy in all the things that make life good and blessed".

[Mosiah]

RE: Respect Among Posters, Especially Among Foundation Posters

Westman (1/15/2007)

I know Mosiah. I do not always agree with Mosiah. In fact, lately, I do not discuss much with Mosiah. However, this much I know. He is the leader of this group. It is great to know that he paid tribute and respect to Courtney before and after his passing. Like many leaders, and as Ihave also done in other situations, in the heat of the momentthey make committments, which include other people's time and resources, without being able to guarantee the timing. Even though the project is being worked on dilligently, hasty committments can lead to expectations regarding time which erroneoulsy appear to be low priorities. I pray Mosiah will be a little more patient and not hasty in his responses or in his decisions, and he will be more consultative. I pray his leadership skills will only get better and that they will manifest themselves for this club and in his personal and professional life.

Courtney obviously had and has many devoted friends. Balla is, no doubt, among the most passionate and loyal. It is a blessing to have such a friend! However, sometimes in his relentless pursuit, and with the best of intentions, his passion causes him to lose patience. I pray he will be a little more understanding and forgiving. I pray he will also trust theadministrators and moderators who have made committments regarding the tribute. I trust them. They are great people, who for years have spoken and thought highlyof Courtney.

Anything I say can be described as an excuse, so I won't say much about the issue raised by Balla. Just to let you know, I appreciate your posts on the issue.

I believe I have exercised a lot of patience, some, like balla, would say too much patience! My love and respect for Courtney has not diminished and we will follow through with every promise that was made, including to his family.

Regarding my leadership style, I believe it has always been consultative. But no doubt, there is room for improvement, and I shall work on it.

This afternoon I called balla about it, so hopefully good sense will prevail.

[Jawge]

RE: Respect Among Posters, Especially Among Foundation Posters

Yuh nuh hafffi worry yuself because mi Jawge

not going nowhere! Wha mi say? Mi na leff yah so. If yuh nuh see mi post is cause mi busy and right now I have so much working on that at times I will just read and not post. I would like to tell Balla, Ras Shatta and other foundation memebrs to stand firm and hold your ground. We all know how vibesy this site was and we must strive to keep it that way. What amazes me is how set of highly intelligent people allow ourselves to be reduced to to the level of garrisons in JA. If this wasn't cyberspace it seem that you would have to be "strapped" to come around here.(N) How did we get to this? This wasn't the site I knew 8, 9 years ago? We once would have serious discussion on varied topics (with football the priority) We would then like to mock the Jakans on the rock and say that the man in the ghetto is hungry and illiterate hence his behaviour. This only shows that it takes a very serious amount of enlightenment to lift us from that ignorance that plague us in JA. We are taking ourselves too serious now. This is just a site for fans of the game to sound off and support the RBOYZ. We cannot allow ourselves to drawn down to a certain level.

If the Ras don't run for president this year, next year I will definitely do so. I will even post a manifesto (hey somethings must change) For starters I will cut out the arrears in membership dues but starting the new term;all members must pay their dues, this way you have a serious vioice in what's going on. This way we can work with Tilla (got to respect his dedication) Rfan and the rest to make the site vibrant once more. I will say more Later. Oh last but not least term limits on the presidency, this is a democracy not a dystopia. Okay Mo.