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Advice Of A Freedom Fighter

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Here is what Kammie Holder is writing elsewhere – Credit to Nation Newspaper 30/07/2010

Kammie Holder

I recently had a rather enlightening dream that involved freedom fighter and National Hero “General” Bussa. The general was in tears. I think it necessary for me to share with you the wise counsel of the general. This is no ordinary general or freedom fighter; he’s barefooted, unpretensive and forceful with his strong African accent.

He reminded me that no struggle in life is easy and there will always be house slaves, who will forget they were once field slaves. They will betray you in order to maintain their fickled token status.

His succinct advice to me was be ethical and honest in whatever I do and never sacrifice morality for material wealth.  The calmness of this man who fought many a wars against the coloniser was baffling.

I enquired of the general, why he was crying. He calmly said the freedoms we as Barbadians now enjoy are being taken for granted. Much blood was shed, women were raped, houses were burnt and even children were hanged, he reminded me. What we now know as souse, said the general, was actually tossed to the yard slaves and dogs as waste. However, it was a good source of protein.

As a slave he would have endured many a cruel beating from his masters whip. But that is nothing compared with the agony of seeing those who inherited freedom showing no reverence to those who fought for the freedom they now enjoy.

Bussa expressed much concern that in 2010 a successful Tuesday and Saturday night show by the Showtime Band and Wayne Jackman is being  cancelled at a hotel that has Government as a shareholder.

There were more questions than answers on the issue. What ever happened to the slogan Tourism Is Our Business Let’s Play Our Part? Have we become strangers to each other in Barbados?

I remain dumfounded by the general’s pointed questions. As he continued, choked with emotions, he asked me to remind David Comissiong that the life of a freedom fighter is lonely and unpopular. History, is replete with instances where persons neglected their history only to repeat the unproductive events of the past. In a pleading tone the general instructs to “please tell the Minister Of Culture to leave Emancipation Day alone”.

This counts as one of the saddest dream of my life!

Are we so blind we cannot see, or  is it a case of historical and cultural ignorance?  It’s shameful!

Kammie M Holder, the boy from the village is thanking those who sacrificed their lives on July 26, 1937 for my freedom.

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28 responses to “Advice Of A Freedom Fighter”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Inwell requested that BU facilitate print friendly versions of BU blogs. We have added a page at this link. BU will post a blog in due course promoting the addition.,

  2. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    “Tourism Is Our Business Let’s Play Our Part”

    Bajans have no business with tourism. Bajans have no business with Crop Over. Crop Over business now belongs to Trinidad. Even NCF outsource valuable business to Trinidad… Trinidad buy goods from my family. My family very interested in your tourism business …no?

  3. Nonimus Avatar
    Nonimus

    You know, BAFBP, some questions do suggest the answer “yes”. You end every query with “no”. It may be your command of Mandarin though…yes?

  4. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Nonimus

    No No… You must not say these things… I am learning the English… but it will take time …no? What is meaning of this new word “yes”?

  5. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    In ‘Lord of the Rings’, we see the power the ‘Ring’ has over the bearer. The Ring consumes and eats away at the soul of the bearer, whomever that may be at any time.

    Money and materialism in our world, has taken the place of the ring, to eat away at the soul, to take away all that is good and replace it with an illogical desperation for social status and wealth, at all cost, not only to the individual, but more importantly and more devastatingly, to society.

    We are told that too much is being spent on heath and education.

    These are tow basic pillars of a civilisation, yet some would tell us to cut these pillars.

    Pull the ring off, listen to Bussa, our past should guide our decisions, to enable a future for our children and the future of the ‘Bajan’.

    Make the right decisions today. Think of what is important to our civilisation.

    Cast away the Ring friends, save your souls and that of our nation.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @Crusoe

    You raise an interesting point regarding the importance of education and health. It is interesting to note an economist from Scotia Bank who was in Barbados this week was quoted as stressing the importance of education. Essentially he stated words to the effect that the skills and knowledge of Barbadians will be what drive our success. In Barbados we seem to have this reverence for economists at the expense of others. Isn’t it true the economists live in a world of theories and forecasts?

  7. G.C.Brathwaite Avatar
    G.C.Brathwaite

    Good article from Kammie Holder. Indeed, David’s last comment about education goes hand in hand with the view of Marx’s self-consciousness and fits right into Kammie’s assertion that we are so caught up in vain glory of materialism, we fail to recognise the struggles from which we came. Yes, I have more than tolerance for the historians, sociologists, political scientists and other social scientists who refuse to let the gutter be our eventual pathways. Emancipation day is something for us to reflect upon with pride, it was our fore-parents’ struggles that made the difference between being free and being slaves to the bling of this world.

  8. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Oh but no one disputes need to educate …no? What is in dispute is type of education… For your General Bussa would be NOT pleased of legacy of modern day education is one that promoted teaching Bajans at all levels to SERVE …no? My intelligent agent informs me that it is your high priced house servants that enjoy saying that Barbados on other hand needs to “produce”. So maybe your system is flawed and as a result is too expensive to maintain… no?

  9. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    I have no problem with economists per se. Economists fall into the ‘category’ if I am so allowed to label, of finance persons.

    Their speciality should be to assess macroeconomic status, direction and remedies.

    I deliberately did not address the nonsense on other threads about Senator Boyce being an economist, as with his economic degree, then his professional accountancy training, he is more than capable of assessing finance and economic factors, if anything he has a broader training, capable of understanding much wider implications.

    Added to this is the CB Gonvernor’s remarks re economists and taking the two points together we have the conclusion that what matters is not the qualification per se, but the quality of the individual / s, being assessed or making assessments, as to their capacity.

    That said, remember that three major previous Ministers of Finance were lawyers and a doctor i.e. Barrow, Adams and Haynes.

    Any attempt to make much of that issue is merely introducing a political red herring rather than addressing the issues at hand.

    A small mind attacks small issues, a great mind focuses on holistical assessment and approach.

    I reiterate however, in an analogy that you have mentioned, that a batsman can look good or bad depending on the wicket and a sticky wicket requires much skill and careful action, aka your Chanderpaul.

    Sadly, I am convinced that many are still unappreciative of the true predicament of the world economy and hence ours, as reflected in their comments and approach.

    How does this relate to the article above?

    What we need is a quantum leap in life understanding and acceptance, that a change of lifestyle, focusing as ancient civilisations did, on learning and spiritual understanding, rather than merely chasing materialistic things.

    Hard work and earning are necessary, to all of us to survive and thrive, make no mistake.

    But, for the nation to grow in spirit, such must be balanced by a wider understanding of our purpose here.

    As I get older, each day the nature of our existence becomes more important, the beauty of life and the necessity of spiritual acceptance becomes greater to me.

    That is where our future lies, not just GDP, albeit the latter being included as representing measure that are necessary to ensure economic security, in the world environment.

  10. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Clarification ‘I deliberately did not address the nonsense on other threads about Senator Boyce being an economist ..or not’…

  11. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    @BAFBFP ‘h but no one disputes need to educate …no? What is in dispute is type of education’

    On the contrary, some have indeed disputed the wide scope and financing of our education.

    That said, I agree that the type and focus of our educaiton needs consideration.

    Not only practical with practical work involved, but also high level theoretical is still necessary, aka ancient civilisations focused much on education, that we need to emulate and revere.

    There is nothing more sacred than these worlds and learning.

  12. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Comrade Crusoe

    The East is result of ancient civilization…no? Again my family cannot understand need for Bajan tax payers to foot bill for training of high priced lawyers, historians and macro-economists .. Architects and accountants thrive in Bajan system..no? But they pay for private training… In the East we foot bill for technologists and health care professionals of all kinds ..no?

    My intelligent agent is concerned that you not think it BIG issue to ask individuals with no experience at running anything that makes money. to run a whole country at a time when it hugely important to make money…new money..no?

  13. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    @BAFBFP ‘concerned that you not think it BIG issue to ask individuals with no experience at running anything that makes money’

    Do not quite understand how you derived that one. As I said, having to return to that now, he is highly qualified and trained for the purpose, most suitably so, in fact moreso than anyone previous.

    Further, many leaders in Barbados and universally in the past were no so trained, but it is the individual that counts.

    You also make one mistake. Training and learning should be revered, but understand too, that some are inherently more capable at certain things.

    As someone once told me Form is temporary, Class is permanent.

    This may sound discrimatory, but is merely practical.

    One mistake we make is not considering individuality as the issue.

  14. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Comrade Crusoe

    “Form is temporary, Class is permanent” equals Class is permanent (consistent) form …no?

    My family sees Class as going outside of Text and training… Class is attributed to those about which text is written? That is, those that create text…no? My intelligent agent acting on best information does not inform of any such person in this administration or last…no? But we from East hold greatly in admiration those that defend good friend…

    Countries like small island Barbados require leadership by person with entrepreneurial instinct and sound, fair and clear judgment… This not class, this just good business…no?

  15. ac Avatar
    ac

    ‘Have we become strangers to each other”?Absolutely! I recently read an article in one of the newspaper in which much thought was given to the selfishness of todays Bajans when compared to those of yesteryear. The article speaks specifically to the way our foreparents shared what little they had with each other family or stranger. Bajans may have come along way but in the course of doing so also lost their way. Bussa must be crying in his grave at the one thing most of us share “selfishness” in our aggressiveness to have made “it”

  16. Avatar
    Anonymous

    It should be a constitutional requirement that to be Prime Minister of Barbados, one should have lived and worked in a country outside of the Caribbean (and Central America) for at least five years.

  17. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Anonymous

    OH NO NO NO… this is sacrilegious comment worthy of reformation of scalp..no? You want to make things more difficult for my family… This is a very very bad comment that you make… You must retract right away… Latin new worlders are product of revolution… Bolivar..no? We in East no want this tradition to spread to piece or peace (the English in confusing ..no) loving people. We in East understand revolution… we now want no more revolution… You must retract..right away..NO?

  18. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    ac

    “Bussa must be crying in his grave at the one thing most of us share “selfishness” in our aggressiveness to have made “it””

    NO NO NO You must not say these things for there are not true. What your General would complain of is evil creature called “GROWTH”… You must substitute word with “CHRISTIANITY” and you will see sense in historical context …no?

  19. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I no retract. Such a requirement would have saved us from St.John, Sandiford, Arthur and Thompson.

  20. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Ha Ha Ha.. You make things very difficult for my family now…no?

  21. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Also I think anyone putting themselves up for PM should be fluent in a second language like Mandarin, Hindi, Tamil, Portuguese, Farsi, Arabic or Spanish.

  22. ac Avatar
    ac

    @BAF_BFP

    What is not true!is that you are not true!HA!HA! HA!………………………….

    BTW . You family is having a hard time selling all them poisionous products which they send to the west because of the recession. NO jobs in the west! No people to buy de product!NO!

    @Anonymous

    Your comments should be be moderated You are going on a tangant about whatsoever. Nothingto do with the topic at hand,

  23. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    No NO ac

    Anonymous

    Is not at tangent…. The topic at hand is not what is in wake of enslavement experience ..?

    We from the East cast off many chains including religion …no? We had many powerful leader that challenge status quo Western opinion and after many many years are beating West at its own game. Vilify me all you want but we are winning …no? IMF and World Bank and Open Markets and War On Terror and Growth are weapons of West that St.John, Sandiford, Arthur and Thompson.would have Bajan believe in. This make my family happy, make life easy for my family..no? South American leaders are not very good for me even though we buy their oil cheap cheap..no? Morales, Chavez, Ortega and comrades Castro are from same gene as my forefather… This is not good for me for they are not easy to persuade …no? They see me at a distance and be friendly with my family… but I no treat them as I would St.John, Sandiford, Arthur and Thompson. No No No….no?

  24. Priceless Avatar
    Priceless

    Interesting forum !! Just the beginning for me..

  25. For BAFBFP from Anonymous Avatar
    For BAFBFP from Anonymous

    Check out the Wikipedia entry on Thomas Sankara.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara

  26. Kammie Avatar
    Kammie

    @ Anonymous,I think every should Thomas Sankara story its a sad state the we are only taught European and American history. Where are the investigative journalist in Barbados?

  27. Avatar
    Anonymous

    On this date (4 August) in 1984, Sankara changed the name of the country formerly known as the Upper Volta to its present name of Burkina Faso. In the memory of his youth, his vision, his courage …

    “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
    None but ourselves can free our mind.
    Have no fear for atomic energy,
    ‘Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
    How long shall they kill our prophets,
    While we stand aside and look?
    Yes, some say it’s just a part of it:
    We’ve got to fullfil the book.
    Won’t you have to sing
    This songs of freedom? –
    ‘Cause all I ever had:
    Redemption songs –
    All I ever had:
    Redemption songs:
    These songs of freedom,
    Songs of freedom.

    – Bob Marley “Redemption Song”

  28. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    We in East very respectful of Thomas Sankara… My intelligent agent inform me that he not known to Barbados or region. His name not disclosed in history books..no? We in East respect Mugabe (we bar him from visit Olympics but apologise in secret)..very very powerful opposition vilify Mugabe..no? We help these people… We help Husein and other leaders when West turn back to them.. We in East really not bad people, but we not as powerful as press make us out to be.. We make friendly with every one .. no?

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