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And now track and field tribalism
Published: Thursday | September 1, 2011
Keith Noel
A POLITICAL analyst and researcher posited recently that Jamaican political history - and the culture of tribalism it spawned where our political tribes developed a system of gangland 'constituencies' that had a politics, a leadership structure and a 'policing' and 'justice system' of its own - is unique
This system synthesised itself in the 1970s. In that period, the wrong answer to the question, "Ay, barse, whey yuh defen?" could result in a serious beating, even loss of life or limb. This type of ultra-tribal mentality has become so ingrained into our psyche that it now permeates all areas of our life. At 'Champs' time, and during inter-school football matches a spontaneous state of war develops between supporters of the Kingston- based boys' schools.
Another development was the 'war' between the supporters of two of the leading dancehall artistes, the 'Gully' and the 'Gaza'. This came to a head when a motorist, driving a tourist, was 'passing through' a road party held by the supporters of one artiste. It was discovered that on his car player, the music of the other artiste was being played. The driver was dragged out of his car and soundly beaten! If my memory serves me correctly, the tourist (who could hardly tell the difference between the two) was also roughed up.
'We versus them' tribalism
The 'we versus them' tribalism is now rearing its ugly head in our support of our marvellous track athletes. The growing audience for this sport brings with it the ingrained tribal approach to everything Jamaican. They have discovered that we have two of the world's leading coaches and, between them, they coach some of the world's finest sprinters.
What has resulted is an attitude where persons see themselves as being supporters of Stephen Francis' MVP or of Glen Mills' Racers Track Club. Over the past couple years, I have sat in the national stadium and heard so many disparaging remarks about each of these coaches (and their charges) by supporters of the other 'side' that I wonder if, when we send out national teams, these persons are able to support the athletes from the other camp.
On Tuesday, I was in the gym and, during a news break the item came over in which it was announced that Kaliese Spencer had sustained an injury that would seriously affect her gold-medal prospects in the IAAF World Championships. To my amazement, a woman, whom I knew to belong to one particular 'tribe' of track fans, laughed and made a sneering comment about "dem deh coach who feel that dem can coach athlete to get gold medal". I was too stunned to point out that "dat deh coach" had been there, done that! Not to mention that the athlete was representing Jamaica. All of us!
Naked crudity
The result of the tribalisation of our track-and-field support was seen in its naked crudity, during the TVJ commentary on the championships.
One of the commentators was Bruce James, who is an official of the MVP club. After the shock of Usain Bolt's disqualification for his false start, there was an informative and interesting discussion of the rule re false starting. James made the statement that, of all the variants of this rule, it was, in his opinion, the least problematic. At the end of the discussion, there came a series of tirades against James. Callers claimed that James did not like Bolt because he was from Racers club and coached by Mills. It was almost being said that he was glad that Usain 'picked out'! What was disconcerting was the fact that there were some callers (and later writers and twitterers) who seemed to genuinely believe that a man could not be a senior official of MVP and wish a Racers athlete any good.
We must find a way to solve this social malady. Two areas of life which, in the past, have helped to forge our national spirit are now under threat. We are the greatest nation in the world where track and field athletics is concerned. We cannot allow Jamaicans to 'war' over track clubs as they have over DJs or over political affiliation.
Keith Noel is an educator. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...cleisure3.html
Published: Thursday | September 1, 2011
Keith Noel
A POLITICAL analyst and researcher posited recently that Jamaican political history - and the culture of tribalism it spawned where our political tribes developed a system of gangland 'constituencies' that had a politics, a leadership structure and a 'policing' and 'justice system' of its own - is unique
This system synthesised itself in the 1970s. In that period, the wrong answer to the question, "Ay, barse, whey yuh defen?" could result in a serious beating, even loss of life or limb. This type of ultra-tribal mentality has become so ingrained into our psyche that it now permeates all areas of our life. At 'Champs' time, and during inter-school football matches a spontaneous state of war develops between supporters of the Kingston- based boys' schools.
Another development was the 'war' between the supporters of two of the leading dancehall artistes, the 'Gully' and the 'Gaza'. This came to a head when a motorist, driving a tourist, was 'passing through' a road party held by the supporters of one artiste. It was discovered that on his car player, the music of the other artiste was being played. The driver was dragged out of his car and soundly beaten! If my memory serves me correctly, the tourist (who could hardly tell the difference between the two) was also roughed up.
'We versus them' tribalism
The 'we versus them' tribalism is now rearing its ugly head in our support of our marvellous track athletes. The growing audience for this sport brings with it the ingrained tribal approach to everything Jamaican. They have discovered that we have two of the world's leading coaches and, between them, they coach some of the world's finest sprinters.
What has resulted is an attitude where persons see themselves as being supporters of Stephen Francis' MVP or of Glen Mills' Racers Track Club. Over the past couple years, I have sat in the national stadium and heard so many disparaging remarks about each of these coaches (and their charges) by supporters of the other 'side' that I wonder if, when we send out national teams, these persons are able to support the athletes from the other camp.
On Tuesday, I was in the gym and, during a news break the item came over in which it was announced that Kaliese Spencer had sustained an injury that would seriously affect her gold-medal prospects in the IAAF World Championships. To my amazement, a woman, whom I knew to belong to one particular 'tribe' of track fans, laughed and made a sneering comment about "dem deh coach who feel that dem can coach athlete to get gold medal". I was too stunned to point out that "dat deh coach" had been there, done that! Not to mention that the athlete was representing Jamaica. All of us!
Naked crudity
The result of the tribalisation of our track-and-field support was seen in its naked crudity, during the TVJ commentary on the championships.
One of the commentators was Bruce James, who is an official of the MVP club. After the shock of Usain Bolt's disqualification for his false start, there was an informative and interesting discussion of the rule re false starting. James made the statement that, of all the variants of this rule, it was, in his opinion, the least problematic. At the end of the discussion, there came a series of tirades against James. Callers claimed that James did not like Bolt because he was from Racers club and coached by Mills. It was almost being said that he was glad that Usain 'picked out'! What was disconcerting was the fact that there were some callers (and later writers and twitterers) who seemed to genuinely believe that a man could not be a senior official of MVP and wish a Racers athlete any good.
We must find a way to solve this social malady. Two areas of life which, in the past, have helped to forge our national spirit are now under threat. We are the greatest nation in the world where track and field athletics is concerned. We cannot allow Jamaicans to 'war' over track clubs as they have over DJs or over political affiliation.
Keith Noel is an educator. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...cleisure3.html
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