The Jeff Cumberbatch Column – On Nearing Fifty (iv)
The changing mirror image “Why should one man have a mirror image of you that you do not want to have of yourself? What kind of society are we striving for? There is no point in striving for Utopia, but you do not realize your potential…” – Mr Errol Barrow (1986) I am compelled to…
“Why should one man have a mirror image of you that you do not want to have of yourself? What kind of society are we striving for? There is no point in striving for Utopia, but you do not realize your potential…” – Mr Errol Barrow (1986)
I am compelled to begin today’s effort with a mea culpa or, in todayspeak, a “my bad”. In last week’s column, “Humpty Dumpty comes to town”, I wrote of the angst of Mr Ralph Williams at hearing Prime Minister Freundel Stuart refer to Barbados as “the freest black nation on earth” at the launch of the 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations earlier this month.
Now, having been provided with, and having perused, a copy of Mr Stuart’s speech at the ceremony, I am satisfied that the Prime Minister made no such claim then or at all, and I should wish to withdraw unreservedly the assertion on my part that he did so. I am further advised that the claim was in fact made in a video presentation at the event that listed a number of the ways in which Barbados has been described over the years. My error is purely to be blamed therefore on what I consider to be regrettably sloppy scholarship on my part -I trusted to faulty recall rather than double-checking the news report. My bad!
Incidentally, Humpty Dumpty has not as yet left town, if we are to judge from one topic of popular discussion this week, that of the incident relating to the punishment of a secondary school girl who refused to follow a teacher’s instruction to pick up from the ground a wrapper of some sort. Here, some contributors to the discussion sought to distinguish, depending on their view, between the toxic “garbage” and the merely untidy “litter”. I suppose that those who would “cavil on the ninth part of a hair” might convince themselves that there is a substantial distinction between the two, although it bears reminder that litter is ultimately placed in a garbage can…or is that a litterbin? Much like the issue whether Hog Food/King Dyal was indeed properly described as an icon or was merely a mascot.
Thirty or so years ago, the Leader of the Opposition as he was then, and imminent Prime Minister to be, now National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Barrow, inquired of our citizens as to what mirror image we had of ourselves. It is indeed intriguing that this interrogatory preceded the Michael Jackson megahit, “Man in the Mirror”, that was released the following year. For a people not usually much given to introspection, this question resonated significantly, although it appeared that this was more for the allure of maxim than for the message that Mr Barrow intended to convey.
That was then. Clearly, at 20 years of age, the individual may be obsessed with his or her full-length “mirror image” –the unlined face, the pert pectorals, the six-pack abdominals, the firm thighs…Likewise, by analogy, the relatively young nation might have been more concerned then with its physical appearance –the tall buildings, the other material accoutrements, the balance of payments. Now, as we near 50, and as the human being perceives in many cases the encroaching facial lines, the effects of gravity on a once proud chest and the pre-arthritic knees, the mirror image itself becomes less endearing and emphasis is placed rather on the stability and wholesomeness of the structure.
At this stage, regular inspection of the body politic becomes essential for the state as well as for the individual. This suspicious lump here –should it be excised or best left alone? That worrying cough – a mere allergy or something far more sinister? The frequent nocturnal acid reflux –a decreased resistance to spicy foods or…?
Now the state should be concerned more with its fundamental and other obligations to its citizens –Are our people being afforded their basic entitlements in keeping with their rights to dignity, respect and autonomy? Is each individual being empowered to exercise his or her economic, social and cultural rights in addition so as to become a more productive citizen? Do we permit the people to enjoy the benefits of those international obligations to which we have committed ourselves? Has there been an attempt to encourage the mutual trust and confidence that ought to exist between the citizen and the state in a modern progressive democracy?
Equally, the citizen should become more mindful of his or her contribution to the national good, among other things. Does he or she indeed care for the welfare of Barbados or does this vary depending on the colours of the administration? Do we give an honest day’s work as due consideration for a day’s pay? Are our civic obligations being adhered to?
I sub-titled this essay, “The changing mirror-image”. Perhaps it is not that at all… Mirror images may now be passé. It is time now for the report card.
I think a good 70-80% of Bajans are born out of wedlock.I would think it’s an undesirable choice given that on average,absence of a parent in the household tend to lend to unstable relationships as defined by behavioral scientists
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Walter Blackman
Gabriel February 3, 2016 at 10:03 AM #
“I think a good 70-80% of Bajans are born out of wedlock.I would think it’s an undesirable choice given that on average,absence of a parent in the household tend to lend to unstable relationships as defined by behavioral scientists”
Gabriel,
Did the 70-80% of Bajans born out of wedlock make this “undesirable choice”?
Because a child is born out of wedlock, does that necessarily mean that there is an “absence of a parent in the household”?
Are you aware that thousands and thousands of Bajans born out of wedlock, including those who were raised by a single parent, got married and stayed happily married until death?
Are you aware that many couples in Barbados lived lovingly and happily “in sin” for many years, and then became separated or divorced soon after “they went to the church”?
Frankly, I am at a loss as to why this discussion has surfaced. The admission made by the PM in parliament does not amount to anything worthy of condemnation, censure, or ridicule.
We have too many serious problems in Barbados to solve to be wasting our time on a non-issue like this.
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de Ingrunt Word
@Walter, alas it goes to the point made by MB re leaders/leadership. I too do not know the context of why the PM raised his birth history but clearly – as you suggest – its basically a non-point in the overall scheme of things —- considering he was elected PM despite that.
We will always palaver on this norm called marriage and family life with its ideal of a two-parent household.
But I think it’s fair to say that the two-mum/dad family dynamic in many western democracies; the dysfunctional male/female fam structure where kids learn more about crisis management, intervention and harsh word choices rather than growing up has long eclipsed the worn argument on the trials of single parenthood.
A good, solid, loving relationship — male/female, ideally my strong preference– is what it’s really all about. Period.
Maybe the PM was stressing that he turned out all right despite his birth status…and on that we can all agree to disagree…as we can, for example, re Mr Tom Adams whose parents from all historical reports were certainly ensconced in martial ‘bliss’ when he came into the world! He turned out all-right too…(refer to that agree to disagree ting)
If we go down that road on our former leaders’ birth-history and outcomes it could get very bumpy..proving nothing!!! LOL..
Seven paragraphs on a non-point. And I didn’t even touch on GP’s bastard remark (which the dict describes as “archaic and derogatory” . Oh lawd! lol.
Later.
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Well Well & Consequences
There are more bastards that are the products of marriages…….a survey would settle that once and for all, just start in the same house of parliament.
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Hants
For the record I is a real bastard too. Maybe I can blame that on my failures.
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MoneyBrain
@Hants
The word bastard in Bim is not worthy of time, discussion or ink, it should be banned from the Bajan lexicon.
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Hants
@ MoneyBrain,
I Hants am a person born to parents who were not married to each other. I was a bastard when I was born and I am one now.
However I would not use the term to describe anyone else.
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Jeff Cumberbatch
There are, by law, no longer any bastards in Barbados.
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Donna
I had married parents who quarrelled like cat and dog for twenty years. Is that any better?
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Hants
@ Jeff Cumberbatch,
You mekkin me search to see if I can still be a bastard since I is a Canadian citizen. lol
When contacted by CBC News and asked about the decision to deny the trademark, CIPO spokeswoman Sabrina Foran said “an initial report was issued on Oct. 8, 2015, wherein the examiner raised an objection pursuant to paragraph 9(1)(j) of the [Trade-marks] Act. The examiner relied on the definition of the word bastard as found in the The Collins English Dictionary.”
Hants
I feel real sorry for any victim who has to face cross examination from this lawyer she was trained by the very best, Eddie Greenspan!
The prosecution hopefully has prepared them for the psychological battering they most definitely are and will receive.
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MoneyBrain
Donna,
Excellent point! Some parents are much worse than being an orphan!
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Colonel Buggy
The word Bastard is also used in engineering to describe a type of coarse- cut file.
@Moneybrain,
Does a person not have the right to pursue the type of education or career they want to? Is it the choice of the individual to study accountancy; regardless of the number of accountants already in the system or Sociology, or Law? When in individual decides to further his/her career it is a conscious choice. Why ar so many of you critical of peoples’ choice.
Why is there any type of debate on the word bastard.?
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MoneyBrain
@Alvin
People have that right, sure. People also have the right to walk the streets of Bridgetown, post graduation hunting for an elusive job for years too! Most youngsters do NOT have a clue what they want as a career. They need realistic assistance, guidance as to what their job prospects will be, kind of incomes etc. How many would study X, if they knew that half the grad class of 3 yrs back still had not found work????????. Many Unis offering MBAs publish stats on how long it took grads to find work, average salaries etc. Average MBA providers cant charge $65,000 / yr if salary is likel to increase $25,000 post grad!
Certain courses should be priced differently depending on the Nation’s need eg we need approx 100 Sociology grads / yr. So we know that 50% of entrants wont make it to graduation so we accept and fully assist the first 200 entrants to YR1 but depending on demand the next 100 or 500 students admitted are charged MORE $$$$$$$.
We have witnessed the reaction when the Bdos Govt stopped paying for UNI the Social Sciences students dropped by half, why? How come Medicine, Eng, Law etc did NOT drop out significantly?
It is the choice of the Individual to PAY MORE for studying fields that the Nation does not require. I know Bajans with PhDs in International Relations that cant find proper jobs for years!
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Vincent Haynes
David
Lowdown in todays Nation is worth a read,especially where he talks about the 4 categories of whites in Bim and the funny part of that is that the same can be said of any grouping of people of the same pigment or tribes.
We like to lump all Eurpeans as belonging to the first category and all slave desendants as belonging to the fourth category,when this patently not true.
MoneyB…..Alvin is yet to understand that a major and drastic change has taken place re university to graduation to the world of work, he will only get it when the unemployment rate in Bim reaches 50%, but then will likely blame it on the people who can’t find work anyway.
By all means, don’t guide people to understand their bad choices can be to their own detriment, just let them choose whatever and deal with the consequences later, why not.
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