Tweet
Old tales in new times
Barbara Gloudon
Friday, June 08, 2007
ONCE UPON A TIME, in a very beautiful community, where people lived in love and fellowship with each other, where the land yielded rich rewards and where the people flew the banner of their choice, it seemed that there would be peace and prosperity forever.
The people rejoiced in their traditions and chose their leaders with care and respect and were rewarded likewise. But one day, all of that began to mash up. It may have started, some say, when the magic weed which yielded prosperity, began to lose its place of importance. It could have been when the rich red earth was no longer transmuted into gold, when the faithful old were succumbing to the passing of time, when things were not like they use to be.
Some say that was when the people began to change, moving away from the old values and attitudes. They wanted different things from their leaders. When one of their own, in whom they once rejoiced, did not live up to their expectations, they reacted with fury. They rebelled and rendered their former icon obsolete.
So it came to pass that from among them there arose, it is said, one who took power unto himself, not to lead as they did in the old days but to move the strings as a puppet master would. That was when really strange things began to happen.
Those who thought that they had power, soon found that they had none. Those who would not bow to the new dictates soon found out where water made its entry into the belly of the pumpkin. It was no use singing: "Let the power fall on I and I and I." The power had decided where it would rest. So the inevitable came. The push came to the shove.
Today, in the once peaceful hills, the sound of Brother Confusion and Sister Kass-kass is to be heard. Not even the introduction of a beautiful princess offered as a new propitiation to the gods seems able to calm the storm. It has served only to stir the anger to new heights - or depths - depending on your perspective.
So now, as we ponder this cautionary tale, the question of the day is - how will this end? Who really is in charge? Will Her Majesty be able to get the angry waters to obey and be still and "satta together" for progress? Will the wielder of power who they say still rules with an iron hand, be prepared to fight it out until his beloved sits on the throne?
And what of the beautiful princess? Will the roaring of the mob be stilled by her grace, her capacity to adjust from colour to colour? Mirror, mirror on the wall, can my beauty charm them all? Will all's well end well? Who knows? In this age of reality-shows, where fact has been subdued by fantasy, it only remains for us to invite Anansi over for supper and utter that timeless benediction - whatta preckeh!
THE MEDIA AND THE PM:
Just before the Beauty and Election Beast story snatched pride of place in the headlines, the town talk was about the prime minister and the media. The question of the day was, should she have spoken out about her discontent with the way at least one TV station, in her estimation, was treating her public meetings as opposed to Mr Golding's?
In media circles, they were saying that even if the PM felt that there is a case to answer in how TV prime time is shared up, she shouldn't have gone public with it, and certainly not at a party rally. Feelings run very high at such events, and if things go true to form, the intemperate and the hot-headed would need little encouragement to wreak havoc on anyone perceived to be the enemy, that is, media crews.
Another view says - instead of bawlie-out on the political platform, the PM should have lodged a complaint, in private, with the management of the offending media house. Some others inquire: Where are her press secretary, her minister of information? Shouldn't they be the ones to see about such matters? In the long run, it all boils down to how much power the media wields and how people relate to it.
In an age of hype, however, conventional wisdom demands media visibility. You know what they say - it doesn't matter what you say, so long as you say something about me.
While the controversy still held sway, two of the more interesting opinions passed on to me were: "Mrs Simpson Miller should take a leaf from Mr Patterson's book. Remember how harshly the media used to treat him, when he was prime minister and he never said a mumbling word?"
Another voice from the streets: "Oonu media people too thin skin. Oonu can dish it out, but oonu cyaan tek-i."
WHATTA GWAAN in the land of Canada, oh Canada? Why would it take so long for their prime minister to receive the credentials of our high commissioner - one of the finest diplomats in this part of the globe, by the way? And is there substance to the word that one of our most distinguished sons of this land, seeking to visit Canada oh Canada to do legitimate business was accorded a measly TWO WEEK visa and another, so distinguished that said Canada oh Canada once regularly sought counsel with him, but it was seen fit to limit him to a mere FOUR WEEKS, as if he was the type who would abscond down Bloor Street?
No wonder Jamaicans in the diaspora take a dim view, even if Canada oh Canada will be paying big honours to the late, great Miss Lou not long from now. Still and all... if Pierre Trudeau did still alive maybe the same Canada oh Canada wouldn't diss Winnie Mandela. Imagine!
FLY ROBIN FLY... up, up in the sky... Hot press release from Belmont Road, proclaiming - since Miz Simpson Miller has taken to travelling by helicopter on the campaign trail, then the party is pleased to announce that henceforth Brucie is going to do likewise. So, look out for the whirly-birds in the sky. Way to go!
PEACE AT LAST: Torrential rains couldn't dampen the outpouring of beautiful music - choral and instrumental - at the Glenmuir High School auditorium last Saturday morning when tribute was paid to the late Justin-Leo Whyte, former conductor/arranger of the famed Glenmuir Choir and one-time arts critic, who fell victim to murder most foul some weeks ago.
-gloudonb@yahoo.com
Barbara Gloudon
Friday, June 08, 2007
ONCE UPON A TIME, in a very beautiful community, where people lived in love and fellowship with each other, where the land yielded rich rewards and where the people flew the banner of their choice, it seemed that there would be peace and prosperity forever.
The people rejoiced in their traditions and chose their leaders with care and respect and were rewarded likewise. But one day, all of that began to mash up. It may have started, some say, when the magic weed which yielded prosperity, began to lose its place of importance. It could have been when the rich red earth was no longer transmuted into gold, when the faithful old were succumbing to the passing of time, when things were not like they use to be.
Some say that was when the people began to change, moving away from the old values and attitudes. They wanted different things from their leaders. When one of their own, in whom they once rejoiced, did not live up to their expectations, they reacted with fury. They rebelled and rendered their former icon obsolete.
So it came to pass that from among them there arose, it is said, one who took power unto himself, not to lead as they did in the old days but to move the strings as a puppet master would. That was when really strange things began to happen.
Those who thought that they had power, soon found that they had none. Those who would not bow to the new dictates soon found out where water made its entry into the belly of the pumpkin. It was no use singing: "Let the power fall on I and I and I." The power had decided where it would rest. So the inevitable came. The push came to the shove.
Today, in the once peaceful hills, the sound of Brother Confusion and Sister Kass-kass is to be heard. Not even the introduction of a beautiful princess offered as a new propitiation to the gods seems able to calm the storm. It has served only to stir the anger to new heights - or depths - depending on your perspective.
So now, as we ponder this cautionary tale, the question of the day is - how will this end? Who really is in charge? Will Her Majesty be able to get the angry waters to obey and be still and "satta together" for progress? Will the wielder of power who they say still rules with an iron hand, be prepared to fight it out until his beloved sits on the throne?
And what of the beautiful princess? Will the roaring of the mob be stilled by her grace, her capacity to adjust from colour to colour? Mirror, mirror on the wall, can my beauty charm them all? Will all's well end well? Who knows? In this age of reality-shows, where fact has been subdued by fantasy, it only remains for us to invite Anansi over for supper and utter that timeless benediction - whatta preckeh!
THE MEDIA AND THE PM:
Just before the Beauty and Election Beast story snatched pride of place in the headlines, the town talk was about the prime minister and the media. The question of the day was, should she have spoken out about her discontent with the way at least one TV station, in her estimation, was treating her public meetings as opposed to Mr Golding's?
In media circles, they were saying that even if the PM felt that there is a case to answer in how TV prime time is shared up, she shouldn't have gone public with it, and certainly not at a party rally. Feelings run very high at such events, and if things go true to form, the intemperate and the hot-headed would need little encouragement to wreak havoc on anyone perceived to be the enemy, that is, media crews.
Another view says - instead of bawlie-out on the political platform, the PM should have lodged a complaint, in private, with the management of the offending media house. Some others inquire: Where are her press secretary, her minister of information? Shouldn't they be the ones to see about such matters? In the long run, it all boils down to how much power the media wields and how people relate to it.
In an age of hype, however, conventional wisdom demands media visibility. You know what they say - it doesn't matter what you say, so long as you say something about me.
While the controversy still held sway, two of the more interesting opinions passed on to me were: "Mrs Simpson Miller should take a leaf from Mr Patterson's book. Remember how harshly the media used to treat him, when he was prime minister and he never said a mumbling word?"
Another voice from the streets: "Oonu media people too thin skin. Oonu can dish it out, but oonu cyaan tek-i."
WHATTA GWAAN in the land of Canada, oh Canada? Why would it take so long for their prime minister to receive the credentials of our high commissioner - one of the finest diplomats in this part of the globe, by the way? And is there substance to the word that one of our most distinguished sons of this land, seeking to visit Canada oh Canada to do legitimate business was accorded a measly TWO WEEK visa and another, so distinguished that said Canada oh Canada once regularly sought counsel with him, but it was seen fit to limit him to a mere FOUR WEEKS, as if he was the type who would abscond down Bloor Street?
No wonder Jamaicans in the diaspora take a dim view, even if Canada oh Canada will be paying big honours to the late, great Miss Lou not long from now. Still and all... if Pierre Trudeau did still alive maybe the same Canada oh Canada wouldn't diss Winnie Mandela. Imagine!
FLY ROBIN FLY... up, up in the sky... Hot press release from Belmont Road, proclaiming - since Miz Simpson Miller has taken to travelling by helicopter on the campaign trail, then the party is pleased to announce that henceforth Brucie is going to do likewise. So, look out for the whirly-birds in the sky. Way to go!
PEACE AT LAST: Torrential rains couldn't dampen the outpouring of beautiful music - choral and instrumental - at the Glenmuir High School auditorium last Saturday morning when tribute was paid to the late Justin-Leo Whyte, former conductor/arranger of the famed Glenmuir Choir and one-time arts critic, who fell victim to murder most foul some weeks ago.
-gloudonb@yahoo.com