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The glue isn’t there

LettersThe glue isn’t there

Dear Editor,
This is in reference to Mr. Wilfredo Novelo’s letter, “Vilifying Samuel Haynes,” (Amandala, 9/18/2020). The candor in his spirited concurrence that Haynes’ “Gods” in his 1928 poem (our National Anthem), were Mayan, is evident.

Regarding his proposed changes to the anthem, I need to sound a caution. There is, in the Copyright Act of Belize, an offense called “derogatory treatment.” Any addition to, alteration of, deletion from or amendment done to an original text without the author’s (or his estate’s) consent, can be regarded as derogatory if the integrity, reputation or honor of the author is damaged as a consequence. (My suggestion for amendment has always been simply to return “Gods” to the original text.)

I’m not a lawyer, but I do recall that for some time leading up to Independence, the buzz was all about whether the Government of Belize (GOB) could get Mr. Haynes (who lived in the USA), to agree to the change from “Gods” to “Free” in his poem. The buzz-buzz was that Haynes was resisting. The matter was no milk run: it dragged, and rumors abounded:

He sold the copyright to GOB;

He retained the copyright, giving only limited authority for text overhaul;

He resisted the idea of eliding the text;

He sold the copyright but curtailed what GOB could change;

Etc., etc.

What is true is that the document evidencing the deal between Haynes and GOB has not been made public. Any talk, then, of changing the text is like Spanish Moss in a gale.

That being said, Mr. Novelo’s suggestions are:

•Replace “Manhood” with “humanity;”

•Replace “Baymen” with “Belizean;” and

•Change “clear” to “protect” in the phrase: “clear the land!”

In the line, Our Manhood we pledge to thy liberty, “Manhood” is a metaphor for resilience: it is genderless.

Again, the Hill Bank Lagoon, also known as the Blue Lagoon, was the lagoon Haynes had in mind in the phrase “…over Blue Lagoon”. His brother was headmaster there, and on his visits he could see firsthand, the cutting/burning done by the local farmers. “Put on your armor” and “clear the land” are unconnected directives: poetic shorthand in action.

Changing “Baymen” is a bit more challenging. Its origin is obscure: no inhabitant ever referred to himself as a “Bayman;” nor did official communiques.

•Wills between 1765 and 1900 attest to this. In George Rayburn’s (sic) 1809 will he is a Yeoman, and a George Tillett in his 1877 will is a logwood cutter. Neither are Baymen;

•None of the 12 Articles in Burnaby’s Code (1765) uses the word Baymen;

§A letter dd. Sept 23rd 1798 from Thomas Barrow following the Battle of St. George’s Caye, refers to the defenders as “Settlers”—not Baymen;

§ In The Beginning of British Honduras, 1506-1765, [1946], E.O.Winzerling, a Belizean historian, makes no reference to Baymen;

§ Bolland, Shoman, and King wrestled with the word Baymen. No provenance on the word is offered other than a glib “as they (the Settlers) were called.”

Baymen, then, appears to be a 20th century label, and until other information becomes available, Haynes, I think, gets the credit for it. He didn’t consult the Thesaurus, but rather made up the word. It was distinctive, poetic, and embraced all of the bay and became a shibboleth in later poetic patriotism. Erasing it from the anthem would trample Haynes’ creativity. It would be like replacing Mr. Price’s famous herald, “Peaceful constructive Belizean revolution,” with a less rousing chant like “Harmless beneficial nation-building!” No glue to it!

Hart Tillett
Belmopan

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