I hate to sound like a cliche Michael Jackson song, but we are the future.
The average age of a Belizean is 20. {Man, this is one time it SUCKS to be above average. But as a woman, I'm sensitive about my age.} Our society is young, strong, and just right for mobilization. **Another blog for another day is the lack of youth representation in government**
Last night I was speaking with an esteemed gentleman in Belizean society. It was an average conversation, but I want to share the highlights with you. We spoke about school, problems facing the Belize, the recent American elections, war in Iraq and Afghanistan, drug trafficking, and other issues and challenges facing the world. As the night was dwindling to an end, he decided to bestow a little advice.
"Do you plan to return home when you graduate?" he inquired.
I nodded, "Of course I do. I can't wait to actively contribute to Belizean society again."
"Think about ways to diversify. Entrepreneurship. An industry that could hire 100 Belizeans." He peered at me over his glasses. "It's in your hands now. I'm an old man. It's the changing of the guard. It's up to you and your fellows to lead and to improve the country." He straightened up in his seat. "I refuse to give up hope in Belize. We just have to think of a better way."
So, I'll pass on the words of this gentleman, and I challenge you young folk to think of a better way. I do not live in Ross Kemp's Belize. I live in my Belize... my dream country... a country that isn't in debt. A country that operates on a surplus. A country where crimes are rarely committed, and when they do occur, the police and judiciary act swiftly to apprehend and punish the guilty party. A country where no child goes hungry, where no mother dies because of lack of pre and post natal care, where the education system is admired by the region and copied because it is so successful.
Do you want to live in my Belize? Let's work together, my friends.... and make these dreams a reality. It's in our hands. We CAN effect change.
Showing posts with label Belizean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belizean. Show all posts
Monday, November 10, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Infallibility
Life occurs in cycles. Happiness, Sickness, Joy, Hurt, Sacrifice, Pain, and eventually Death will be known to each of us. Yet, despite how vulnerable we all are, we still manage to hold a "It won't happen to me and my family" mindset. You know what I'm talking about... until some incident of great import occurs in our own life, until the last second, we think, "It won't happen to me."
But things do happen. Cancer comes. Tsunamis come. Floods come.
I think this mindset of infallibility has been following the floods, from Cayo, to Orange Walk, and now into Belize District. And our fellow Belizeans deserve our compassion and help, not our judgement and denial. Logically speaking, if I lived by the river, and the weather forecaster was preaching imminent flooding, I'd move. But emotionally, how could I leave my home, my belongings, my memories? How could I abandon ship when I'd lived in that same house by that same river for 40 years with incident?
Part of me wants to shout, "Fools, unnu move!", while the other half understands their stubbornness. Home, after all, is where the heart is.
Just my three cents for the day... for those affected, my prayers. For those in unaffected areas, don't forget to help the less fortunate.
But things do happen. Cancer comes. Tsunamis come. Floods come.
I think this mindset of infallibility has been following the floods, from Cayo, to Orange Walk, and now into Belize District. And our fellow Belizeans deserve our compassion and help, not our judgement and denial. Logically speaking, if I lived by the river, and the weather forecaster was preaching imminent flooding, I'd move. But emotionally, how could I leave my home, my belongings, my memories? How could I abandon ship when I'd lived in that same house by that same river for 40 years with incident?
Part of me wants to shout, "Fools, unnu move!", while the other half understands their stubbornness. Home, after all, is where the heart is.
Just my three cents for the day... for those affected, my prayers. For those in unaffected areas, don't forget to help the less fortunate.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Rubber Boots
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words..”
I believe a lot of the problems we face in our nation can be fixed with an attitude change. Maybe I'm an optimist. Our parents constantly lament about the way things used to be; it's within our generation that radical change have been occurring. But are these parents not the ones who raised and socialized us? Did they not plant a seed, and are now alarmed at the growth of the weed? We need realistic dramatic action.
I believe a lot of the problems we face in our nation can be fixed with an attitude change. Maybe I'm an optimist. Our parents constantly lament about the way things used to be; it's within our generation that radical change have been occurring. But are these parents not the ones who raised and socialized us? Did they not plant a seed, and are now alarmed at the growth of the weed? We need realistic dramatic action.
A human being with no fear is out of control. When we have no fear, we act on our most basic selfish animalistic instinct, with no regard for the other members of our society. By nature, we're a communal species; we have to have the well-being of our fellow man at heart for success and peace. As Belizeans, this used to be true. Now it is not.
There is no fear. A commuter has no fear, so she throws garbage out the window of a bus. A child has no fear, so he curses and back-chats the teacher. An adolescent has no fear, so he robs the Chiney around the corner. A gangsta has no fear, so he shoots his enemies out of beef. A politician has no fear, so he pours the national coffers into his pocket. There is no fear in our country.
Now me, I'm afraid. My mother put the fear of God into me... I fear, therefore I respect, the written laws of Belize, and the unwritten laws of common decency.
So put the fear into the little ones growing up now; talk to a child, and if necessary, discipline him or her. Remember the lessons you learned and home and in school and act accordingly. Clean your yard. Cut your grass. Don't litter. These little actions, my friends, they'll seep up like capillary action! It all starts in the little things.
Don't forget charity. Help people, when you can, if you can. Have a heart for the human condition. Don't forget your fellow man, and most of all, the generations to come. How then, my friends, can we as a people fail and be miserable? Without this attitude change, our Jewel will lose its sparkle. And I know none of us want that.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Looking back before running ahead
I usually take the time to look back on my life on my birthday. Since the birth of our nation is forthcoming, I think I'll take a little time to look at our country. Only in knowing the past can we fully and successfully take advantage of future opportunities.
I feel that we're at a crossroads. The documentary by Kemp, no matter how much I disagree with it, is a wake up call. Crispin Jefferies said it, and I'm agreeing with him {I can't believe I share an opinion with this man.} In this world ruled by the G7, where relations are governed by the rich for the advantage of the rich, we cannot live by the conventional rules of the so called first world countries.
We have to define our own Belizean reality. You know the days we used to yell, "Belize for Belizeans?" We need to relive those times. My knowledge of the past, however, is limited by time. Because I'm an Independence Baby... born Nineteen-Eighty-something, I've flourished under the shade of the mahogany tree...somewhat. Like those of my era, in my words, thoughts, and deeds, I've come to define what it is to be Belizean. I follow American fashion, I have a cell phone on my hip, and I eat rice 'n' beans with gusto every Sunday at noon.
There is so much of the history of Belize that isn't transcribed. I miss the blank spaces. They say you can't miss what you don't know... I have to contradict this long standing opinion. I've read and re-read 13 Chapters from cover to cover and I'm left wholly unsatisfied. There are stories whispered on screen covered verandas as neighbors pass to buy Boledo in the moonlight. There are so many things only the dying old people remember, stories and memories that are dying with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. I find it ironic that in a country where we so praise ourselves on our cultural richness and diversity, we're becoming quickly diluted in the "bling, bling" mentality of North America. The British were supposed to have left on September 21, 1981. So I ask you, why are our minds still shackled? Why are we yet to be freed? We're no longer slaves, yet we work hard to spend every dollar on 21st century skin and credit for our pre-paid phones.
We're composed of contradictions, we Belizeans. "This tranquil haven of democracy" our anthem cries out. Have you seen this haven recently? Between the bullet ridden bodies, skeletons in sugar cane fields, grenades launched in from of the hospital, and gun shots during Carnival? My homeland by the Sea.... I feel you slipping through my fingers, and all I can do is cry, because I wonder if we'll ever return to the days of open windows at night instead of sliding down a slippery slope into urban terrorism. Are we so in-confident in being Belizean that we must create an alternate ego? We have to be ourselves... or we'll lose everything.
Bottom line, the way to thrive, nationally {as well as personally} is by living within our means. Things may not move at the pace that we all wish, but brick by brick, we'll build our own success. On our own terms.
I feel that we're at a crossroads. The documentary by Kemp, no matter how much I disagree with it, is a wake up call. Crispin Jefferies said it, and I'm agreeing with him {I can't believe I share an opinion with this man.} In this world ruled by the G7, where relations are governed by the rich for the advantage of the rich, we cannot live by the conventional rules of the so called first world countries.
We have to define our own Belizean reality. You know the days we used to yell, "Belize for Belizeans?" We need to relive those times. My knowledge of the past, however, is limited by time. Because I'm an Independence Baby... born Nineteen-Eighty-something, I've flourished under the shade of the mahogany tree...somewhat. Like those of my era, in my words, thoughts, and deeds, I've come to define what it is to be Belizean. I follow American fashion, I have a cell phone on my hip, and I eat rice 'n' beans with gusto every Sunday at noon.
There is so much of the history of Belize that isn't transcribed. I miss the blank spaces. They say you can't miss what you don't know... I have to contradict this long standing opinion. I've read and re-read 13 Chapters from cover to cover and I'm left wholly unsatisfied. There are stories whispered on screen covered verandas as neighbors pass to buy Boledo in the moonlight. There are so many things only the dying old people remember, stories and memories that are dying with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. I find it ironic that in a country where we so praise ourselves on our cultural richness and diversity, we're becoming quickly diluted in the "bling, bling" mentality of North America. The British were supposed to have left on September 21, 1981. So I ask you, why are our minds still shackled? Why are we yet to be freed? We're no longer slaves, yet we work hard to spend every dollar on 21st century skin and credit for our pre-paid phones.
We're composed of contradictions, we Belizeans. "This tranquil haven of democracy" our anthem cries out. Have you seen this haven recently? Between the bullet ridden bodies, skeletons in sugar cane fields, grenades launched in from of the hospital, and gun shots during Carnival? My homeland by the Sea.... I feel you slipping through my fingers, and all I can do is cry, because I wonder if we'll ever return to the days of open windows at night instead of sliding down a slippery slope into urban terrorism. Are we so in-confident in being Belizean that we must create an alternate ego? We have to be ourselves... or we'll lose everything.
Bottom line, the way to thrive, nationally {as well as personally} is by living within our means. Things may not move at the pace that we all wish, but brick by brick, we'll build our own success. On our own terms.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A Dependent Nation
Ever since the election and ushering in of the new GOB, I keep hearing calls into the radio stations and people in conversation saying G.O.B needs to do this, or needs to do that and I can't help but think that most of us just sit around and wait for our government to do things for us. It gets me upset really because of the lack of initiative from our people and the expectancy that things will be done for us and it really isn't up to us to do somethings for ourselves.
Yes, government is responsible for many things when it comes to the needs of the country but if we as a people believe that when we woke up to a U.D.P country, that our responsibility as Belizeans ended there, then we are in for a rude awakening.
To be Belizean is far more crucial than just casting our very important vote on election day. It should carry through to our daily lives and how we take pride in the matters surrounding us. How many of us are active in our communities to see things get better? How many of us are mentors to disillusioned youth? How many of us partake in town/city council meetings to address issues in your area or take up the challenge of making sure our voice is heard? So many times the forum or stages is there for us to be active participants in the decision making or at least given the opportunity to vent our thoughts and frustrations and while some of us do take advantage of that, most of us are content with watching the activities unfold. Even long after the situation has become dire we still find in ourselves the ability to bitch and moan about our crosses in life but have no motivation to do something about it. We scoff at the Chinese/Taiwanese community with their shanty stores on every street corner but don't have the discipline to sacrifice a generation for the betterment of those to come.
Pipple seh life haad out ya... I don't believe we know what a hard life is yet, sad to say. I feel that we are complaining now because we have so long gotten fat off the tits of goodwill and charity that now when these aspects have become lean, we cry for help and more handouts. We complain about gas prices and high electricity rates in the privacy of our living rooms and expect the media houses and NGO's to champion our cause in the public forum. We fear the reality of what is to come and cry out for our government to do something about it.
I don't think we have the guts (for want of a better word) to objectively look at our lifestyles and see how to change the dependency of the way we live so as to better the way we live. We want it easy and we want it now in this world of $600 prepaid phones and living beyond our means. The keeping up with the Jones' has us hooked on the dream of living the good life while not feeling the need to work for it. In a country where we are quick to borrow the cultures of the US, we fail to see what makes us Belizean and what opportunities lay right before us. Far too often do we seek the "wise" accented words of paler faces than our own to guide us in a direction that we ourselves know to take.
Gimme gimme is our motto, as irritating as the song it reminds me of. Many fingers can be pointed for this mindset but regardless as to who you think is to blame for how we got here... we are to blame for staying this way. Its is time we take pride in being a citizen of this country and realize that the very opportunity of being a Belizean also comes with some responsibility.
Break the cycle! Get involved with your community! Know what is going on in your government! Hold them and yourselves to the highest standard! Love Belize for the jewel everyone claims it to be and maybe, just maybe things can better for ourselves.
Yes, government is responsible for many things when it comes to the needs of the country but if we as a people believe that when we woke up to a U.D.P country, that our responsibility as Belizeans ended there, then we are in for a rude awakening.
To be Belizean is far more crucial than just casting our very important vote on election day. It should carry through to our daily lives and how we take pride in the matters surrounding us. How many of us are active in our communities to see things get better? How many of us are mentors to disillusioned youth? How many of us partake in town/city council meetings to address issues in your area or take up the challenge of making sure our voice is heard? So many times the forum or stages is there for us to be active participants in the decision making or at least given the opportunity to vent our thoughts and frustrations and while some of us do take advantage of that, most of us are content with watching the activities unfold. Even long after the situation has become dire we still find in ourselves the ability to bitch and moan about our crosses in life but have no motivation to do something about it. We scoff at the Chinese/Taiwanese community with their shanty stores on every street corner but don't have the discipline to sacrifice a generation for the betterment of those to come.
Pipple seh life haad out ya... I don't believe we know what a hard life is yet, sad to say. I feel that we are complaining now because we have so long gotten fat off the tits of goodwill and charity that now when these aspects have become lean, we cry for help and more handouts. We complain about gas prices and high electricity rates in the privacy of our living rooms and expect the media houses and NGO's to champion our cause in the public forum. We fear the reality of what is to come and cry out for our government to do something about it.
I don't think we have the guts (for want of a better word) to objectively look at our lifestyles and see how to change the dependency of the way we live so as to better the way we live. We want it easy and we want it now in this world of $600 prepaid phones and living beyond our means. The keeping up with the Jones' has us hooked on the dream of living the good life while not feeling the need to work for it. In a country where we are quick to borrow the cultures of the US, we fail to see what makes us Belizean and what opportunities lay right before us. Far too often do we seek the "wise" accented words of paler faces than our own to guide us in a direction that we ourselves know to take.
Gimme gimme is our motto, as irritating as the song it reminds me of. Many fingers can be pointed for this mindset but regardless as to who you think is to blame for how we got here... we are to blame for staying this way. Its is time we take pride in being a citizen of this country and realize that the very opportunity of being a Belizean also comes with some responsibility.
Break the cycle! Get involved with your community! Know what is going on in your government! Hold them and yourselves to the highest standard! Love Belize for the jewel everyone claims it to be and maybe, just maybe things can better for ourselves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
