There was no article by me in last week’s paper, because the article I submitted was a mess! I knew it and editor Russell knew it, so we decided to resubmit for Tuesday. I couldn’t get it done, largely because I was burned out on medical and other problems – my wife’s and my own – and I really needed a few days off. Diabetes is not easy to control, and it will affect you no matter how hard you try.
The real reason the attempted article was a mess was because I tried to bite my tongue, in other words, to hold back on some of the things that are burning me up. Why? Maybe I became too conscious of burning bridges behind me. As we get older we tend to become more conservative in outlook, and maybe a bit more careful. I became too careful. I won’t do that again.
So, what has me so pissed off? Let’s begin with governments and political parties! In these times, we need the best we can get, but we don’t get the best because “party loyalty” is the name of the game. What this means is that both the UDP and the PUP are quite capable of hiring Category Five morons. It doesn’t matter to them because these hires are loyal to the party.Meanwhile, deserving people with proven skills are left on the outside looking in, their abilities going to waste instead of helping to build the country.
I have been told in the past, “Look, the powers that be don’t want people like you here. Independent thinkers are not welcome in Belize. Either be like everyone else or there is nothing for you here.” I’m beginning to Belize it!
Look at what Barack Obama has done in the States. He opened a website that basically says, “If you think you are qualified to work with my administration in any capacity, apply here! You will have to submit to full disclosure and a background check, but if you are capable and willing, we need you!” Let me make a prediction right now. It is this approach that will make Mr. Obama’s administration the most successful presidency ever. Will this happen in Belize? When pigs fly!
My son and I talk about this stuff. He gets a pained look on his face and says, “Dad, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but you don’t dress properly.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Well, you wear your jeans a day or so too long before throwing them in the machine; you don’t always iron your clothes…..”
Okay, I don’t hold him wrong. I wore a suit and tie most of my life in the States and I hated it, but what does dress have to do with ability? Put the most well- dressed Belizean on a keyboard or give him a horn and see what you get, besides, does anyone think I’m stupid enough to attend an international conference in shorts and a tee shirt? In the end, it’s just an excuse in a bucket full of excuses.
By the way, I ride a bicycle. I do this for two reasons. One is that as a diabetic I need all the exercise I can get and a bicycle is the most convenient way of getting it. Besides, riding a bike keeps you in contact with the people of your neighborhood. I don’t live in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood; I live on the South Side of Belize and I need to know what’s up out here. Now, how do you keep your clothes straight up when you have been riding in mud or dust for seven months because the City Council can’t seem to get the downtown streets paved? Of course if I was driving an environment damaging SUV…..
The next target this week are some of my friends, yes, you heard me right! I’m a retired teacher looking for something, actually needing something to do while my retirement benefits get straightened out. I got a lot of promises, “Oh, with your music talent and otherwise we could set up this, set up that, etc. etc.” That was a month ago! I haven’t heard anything since! My friends are willing to help out, I’ll give them that, and that makes me more fortunate than a lot of people, but why do I get the feeling that the door is only 1/3 open? Are they afraid to open it all the way? What do they think my goals are – to f—- up their thing or to add to it and help it grow? C’mon, I’m not your enemy, I’m your friend.
Look, we are in difficult times. I shouldn’t even have to say this. US television has just admitted that their recession began in December 2007, a year ago, and that there seems to be no end in sight! How do you think this is affecting us down here? The shop where I hang out on Racecourse Street – that’s another issue, I drink on my free time but I have never appeared drunk in public nor do I disrespect anybody – has been losing business over the past year because people simply don’t have the money to buy as they used to. Obviously, remittances from Belizean Americans to their relatives are declining precipitously. What is going to happen here if we do business the same old way…party first, country second, push out those who can think independently and therefore help solve some of our problems?
I am not old enough to remember the Great Depression of the 1930’s, when Belizeans had to line up at the old jail to be fed a spoon of rice lab a day, but conditions are rapidly heading in that direction, and I doubt that the government of the day is even prepared to provide that much. Look out, Belize. All hell might break loose.