28.3 C
Belize City
Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Down Syndrome Day

Photo: Students and staff of Stella Maris...

BPD awards 3 officers with Women Police of the Year

Photo: (l-r) Myrna Pena, Carmella Cacho, and...

Suicide on the rise!

Photo: Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator by Charles...

More heat for Major Jones

LettersMore heat for Major Jones

July 28, 2014

Dear Editor,

It was with grave disappointment and astonishment that I read the July 25 letter from Major Lloyd Jones entitled “Diaspora, What Have You Done For Me Lately?”.

What I have come to know of Major Jones is that he is an educated, intelligent, articulate gentleman with a stellar military career behind him, with the acumen to start and maintain at least a couple successful business enterprises. He is a dedicated Belizean patriot, unquestioned.

Major Jones’ letter began with all the potential to inject sorely needed soberness and objectivity into the public discourse about the call of some dual citizens in the Diaspora for voting rights and opportunities to elected office. His letter had all the potential to call all Belizeans, both at home and abroad, dual citizens or not, with political aspirations or not, to some honest soul-searching that would enable them to examine their true intentions and attitudes toward one another and country; that would have them listen to what each needs from and can give to the other with an eye to ending the mistrust and alienation and moving toward bridge-building; that would bring about a close examination through all eyes of what is to be gained or lost by granting or denying political rights to dual citizens, by having Belizeans in the Diaspora gift or not gift their skills; that would identify what tradeoffs all can live with for mutual benefit and the benefit of the country; most importantly, that would examine what patriotism really is, what national identity is all about.

Unfortunately, Major Lloyd Jones missed a golden opportunity to do some good for Belize. A mere one-third of the way in after the Churchill quote, the Major’s letter deteriorated into what comes across to this reader as an emotional-bordering-on-irrational tirade against the Diaspora in general, and against certain groups in Belize in particular. That serves no other purpose than to deepen suspicion and division – a colonial brainwashing fallout dare I ask?

He blames the Diaspora for the infusion of American culture/First World mentality (note that the phenomenon of cultural borrowing/exchange/adaptation, for better or worse, is a human activity from time immemorial, in modern times accelerated by television and the worldwide electronic media). He blames the Diaspora for the more grave social ills of Belize, ignoring the fact of the impoverished in Belize, a land smack in the middle of illegal drug trade routes, and implying Belize miraculously would have otherwise been spared the trade and its accompanying gang activity were it not for the Diaspora.

He disparaged the women of Belize who are unmarried with children, whom I’m sure prefer otherwise, and, may I point out, because of poverty, have been a noticeable presence in Belizean society as far back as one can trace. He disparaged women who are contributing to the economic stability of the country, the “independent women” as the Major labels them, listing them along with undesirables such as gangbangers and crack heads, even though their “independence” implies they have reached higher levels of education, professionalism and earnings.

If we cannot look to the Major Jones’s to exemplify level-headedness, fairness, objectivity, inclusion and compassion, who is left? The conversations seething with prejudices, biases and pettiness, the putting down of “the other,” continue. It is with irony I note the separate references to lack of leadership in the Editorial and the Letter to the Editor, “Educated Fools,” in the same July 25 issue.

Let me add in conclusion: the question “what have you done for me lately” is the epitome of selfishness, hallmark of the very American culture the Major denounces. Another irony?

Truly disappointed and disheartened,

Beryl Young,
Belizean in the Diaspora

Check out our other content

World Down Syndrome Day

Suicide on the rise!

Check out other tags:

International