I am deeply touched and humbled by the very serious attention paid to my article on the “Land of the Gods” in Amandala #2271 of Sunday, September 21, by my Maya brother to the north, Clinton Uh Luna, with his reply titled, “What we, the Maya, will not accept!”, in Amandala #2276 of Sunday, October 12. The length and detail of his reply, as well as the significant delay in releasing it, belies the fact that we both are turning over a “can of worms” here. I have likewise pondered long and hard in this response. And, my esteemed brother, Uh Luna, you have indeed taught me something; something very fundamental, and which has been lurking underneath my skin for a number of years; in fact, ever since our Independence, and yes, the announcement of our “national symbols”, including the altered version of the original poem, “Land of the Gods.”
Lawyers and the law - Christ said to the Roman governor of Judea, “For this I came into the world that I should bear witness of the truth,” and Pilate asked him, “What is truth,” thereby declaring himself a moral relativist. Moral relativists believe that all things are relative and there is no absolute truth.
During the summer break a group of young children began studying karate under the leadership of Mark Welch, a well known sense, who holds a black belt and has trained a number of Belizean youth in the past. The karate lessons were sponsored by KREM Radio and were held on top of the Kremandala rooftop. The KREM karate summer classes were free of cost to the participants.
The war cry was immediately raised in the United States and the Navy was mobilized at Key West. But Secretary of State Hamilton Fish succeeded, after prolonged negotiations, in extracting apologies and an indemnity from Madrid, while in the United States it soon became clear that not only was the Virginius a gunrunner and her crew filibusterers, but she was owned by Cuban insurrectionists and was probably not entitled to fly the American flag anyhow. Furthermore, it was suddenly realized that the United States had allowed its Navy to sink to such a level of decrepitude that the collection of antique hulks at Key West would probably have lost a battle to any maritime power in the world - even Spain. So the war fever died out.
An important part of Belizean history died this morning in New York City with the passing of Leigh Richardson. He was a strong and brave man who stood up for his people in the early, revolutionary People’s United Party. Along with the Philip Goldson (deceased), Mr. Richardson, who was the half-brother of UBAD’s own Edgar X Richardson (deceased), served nine months in prison in 1951 in British Honduras. He was convicted on a sedition charge created by the British colonial authorities.
Miss Garifuna Belize City pageant this Saturday... Garifuna Settlement Day - once a celebration observed only in Stann Creek Town (now Dangriga), has become a national celebration, and over the years the celebrations have grown from an event centered on the 19th of November, to several weeks of cultural festivities climaxing on that historic day marking the mass arrival of the Garinagu to Belize’s shores.
The skies cleared briefly this morning, but it was soon overcast again, as weather reports predict more bad weather later today and tomorrow. For some fishermen, this has meant a hold on their operations, as a number of sailing boats can be seen moored all week long in the Belize City harbor near the Swing Bridge and adjacent to the Commercial Center. It is not just the bad weather, but also the resulting massive amounts of flood water being emptied into the coastal waters that have affected the work of some fishermen, especially divers.
Big congratulations to Mr. Gregory Ch’oc and the NGO community on his selection to sit in the Senate to defend the people’s interests from rapacious politicians. Ms. Joan Burke would have been a good choice too. She has distinguished herself with BERT (a health person), and she is well respected by Belizeans all over. Mr. Ernest Castro would have been a great choice also. The President of the National Garifuna Council is an outstanding career public servant (a finance man) who is well respected by all.
I’m certainly not opposed to development. Very few people would be willing to go back to an era without electricity, without cars and roads, without mechanized farming, but one of the major problems of modern commerce is a very old human problem. It’s called greed! When we take environmental factors into consideration, it costs money. This translates into reduced profits. So, the Town Council says, “Its okay to build here.” They are looking at the potential property taxes. The farmer clears all the bush, including the big trees - more room for cash crops. The highway builders change the drainage patterns with culverts to protect the good roads that have been demanded by people moving into newly developed areas. And then, things like this happen!
In August 1851, at the head of an “army” of about five hundred mercenaries - mostly American, German and Polish soldiers of fortune, with four dozen Cubans mixed in for appearances - General Lopez set sail on his crusade. The expedition landed at Playtas, about sixty miles west of Havana, on August 11. Unfortunately, the Cuban people failed to rally around this international brigade, and within ten days the adventurers had been rounded up by the Spanish army. A few of the survivors were executed at Havana - General Lopez himself being garroted for high treason - while the rest were packed off to the Spanish penal colonies in Africa. The Americans, who a century later planned the Bay of Pigs disaster, were evidently unfamiliar with the melancholy story of General Lopez.
With the upheaval in major world economies across the globe you’d expect that our government would be discussing with us, preparing us to make the changes needed to get us through the forest. Nada. It’s like the head bushmen are asleep in their hammocks…and we’re on a picado to nowhere. All hands in the brand new full of promises GoB are busy interfering in the selection of candidates for municipal elections coming up next year. You see what’s happening? To heck with the people, secure the future for political careers!
It is incredible to see how the minds of a people can be distorted in such a way that it gives no way to comprehend the views of others. NO, BRAA, I am not easy to be indoctrinated. Assad Shoman’s 13 Chapters has nothing to do with my way of thinking. You are underestimating my psyche. I am a “Lobo Estepario” (Steppe Wolf, written by Hermann Hesse).
The first reading I gave it was about 3 p.m. on Friday 19th of the same month, and I must admit that it struck me like a lightning. Yes, Brother Charles X, it is a master work. I like to see how you got into Brother Samuel Haynes’ mind and explained what he probably meant in his poem “Land of the Gods.” My people, the Maya, will love it for the way how you had explained and interlaced “Kinich Ahau” with the Most High, the lesser gods with the Roman Catholic saints. Even Nachan Can would have been convinced.
Kremandala regrets to announce the death of our cousin, Karl Hugh Donald Harris Belisle, age 78, which occurred on Tuesday, October 7, at his sister’s home in Belize City.
