The Mad Bull's Blog

September 29, 2002

What will be, will be...

I'm just getting back home. I bundled up MB. Jr. and took him to see my parents and sisters. He hadn't been there for a couple of weeks and so they were missing him. They enjoyed the visit and so did he. They got to see him, and he got some people to pay him one hundred percent of their attention, instead of wasting time going to work, or cleaning up the house or watching T.V. or blogging... It was pretty cool, he had a lot of fun.

While we were there, I asked Mamacita (thats what I call my Mom, sort of a nickname) what she thought about Bruce Golding's return to the J.L.P. She said the same thing most people are saying; he's destroyed his credibility, and for what? His return will not serve to advance the cause of the party (though there are those who feel it will).

My Dad said that he thinks that most people think that this is a big thing only because they continue to expect a lot from the politicians. He said that he expects nothing from them and so he isn't surprised or excited when they get up to all manners of strange things, as Bruce has done with his return.

"I won't be worrying about who wins the election either", Dad said, "as all governments are given to us by God. Whatever happens, it is His desire, as they wouldn't come to power unless He allowed it. I can't really say why He allowed this set to form the Government, but I guess he wants to punish us for something." I had to smile at that one.

I asked him where he got that from, and he told me it was in the Bible. Sho' nuff, it is in the Bible...

Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. - Romans 13, Verse 1.

Its an interesting (low stress) way to look at things, but it appears to me that the Bible often takes a fatalistic approach... encouraging one to accept one's position here on Earth rather that striving to better it. It supports the status quo. God sure has put a powerful weapon in the hand of those who lead, hasn't He?

Posted by madbull4 at September 29, 2002 09:50 PM

Comments

want to write a comment but am too tired. will write one tomorrow

Posted by: SEVEN on September 29, 2002 11:25 PM

On the contrary...the reason the Bible is still Fresh and Relevant today is because it pushes us to be better than we are....and by extension encourages us to push our society (Governments) to be better than they are.....Jesus was somewhat of a revolutionary of His time...pushing to change the status quo, (encouraging turning the other cheek rather than an eye for an eye), but within the context of Social Justice. Buy the way in that passage in Romans, St. Paul was making the case that all LAWFUL authority derives from God, and that the Christian religion is not in opposition to Civil life....and that the Christian has the duties and obligations of a citizen.....this was written at a time when the Christians were about to be persecuted by the Romans.

Be mindful also that throughout History, many evil deeds were inflicted on mankind using the Bible as an excuse....through misinterpretation.

Posted by: Phleg on September 29, 2002 11:50 PM

Many things happen to us in this earthly life as we know it that can be attributed to being God's will. They can be damned difficult to accept sometimes. I have always thought that we can help to make the things in life that we desire, happen to us. I do fully understand that some things happen over which we have no control. However, there have been governments and leaders of nations that in all honesty really make you wonder, is this God's choosing? Maybe I am lacking in faith, who knows? Hope I am making some sense here, and in the event that I am not, let me go now!

Posted by: Dr. D. on September 30, 2002 12:32 AM

Off the subject, but the photos that I see of Jamaica during the current storm look bad. I hope that you and yours are safe and dry.

Posted by: wKen on September 30, 2002 02:04 AM

Phleg, the problem I'm having is who is to say whats lawful or not. For instance, Paul goes further (in verses 6-7) to say that we are to pay taxes, and submit ourselves to the law, and that those who don't submit to the law will be punished by God, etc. What if they up the taxes to 60% or higher? What if their practice of law encourages things like Braeton? At what point do we say that the authorities are no longer in the realm of the legal but rather illegal or extralegal.

My point was partly made with a look at the empirical evidence too, in that those in authority (throughout the ages) have used the bible to help to convince those below them that it would be wrong to revolt, that they are to live with the mean, paltry existence they now are experiencing, in the hope of reward in the after life. After all, "blessed are the poor in spirit, etc, etc." At the same time, I'm not saying the bible isn't true, just that the way its written, it often seems to suggest that we endure rather than try to change things we don't like.

Dr. D, yeah, like Saddam, Hitler, and George Doubya Bush

wKen, my family is lucky, we live in areas not prone to flooding. However, there are many, many people in dire straights right now. And we haven't considered the danger we will suffer as we begin to go out to work. Then, we will have to be careful that we arent attacked by man eating potholes

Posted by: Mad Bull on September 30, 2002 07:41 AM

Phleg, sorry, verses 2 - 7...

Posted by: Mad Bull on September 30, 2002 07:41 AM

Mad Bull, yes, note I called no names, but, you hit the name on the head. On the point of going out to work, drive slowly and remember , you have a Ph. D. my yute! I am not looking forward to work today myself. In fact, I'm giving my boss a call to find out, 'What a gwaan', seen? Tek care bredren.

Posted by: Dr. D. on September 30, 2002 07:50 AM

What about when a goverment keeps the people IGNORANT and they dont even understand what the hell is going on. "3 x 3 = 6! 4 x 4 = 8!" etc.
( This was the chanting of the massive crowd at the pnp meeting when the "prime minister" asked them those questions.) I cant believe it is an act of God when "blinded" people vote in such devil's advocates!

Posted by: Natty on September 30, 2002 08:30 AM

The Jamaican people deserve what they get because it is obvious that the majority of jamaicans are uneducated and licky licky(The PNP
are in power and will remain so because of this fact)
If it is GODS will for the majority of jamaican
people to be ignorant,then his wishes have been
fully realized!!!

Posted by: Midas on September 30, 2002 09:15 AM

Midas, the fact that successive governments (both PNP and JLP) have managed to keep the masses uneducated, is for one simple reason. They will vote for whoever without thinking logically, because they cannot (think logically) and make sensible decisions. To say that they deserve it, is a very narrow minded approach if you ask me. Simply because you (or I) have been fortunate enough to have been able to get a good education out of this country, it is wrong if you ask me, to say that all Jamaicans deserve what they get. The educated in this country form the minority (sadly). The masses are the people with the votes. The Politicians know this. Hence, the reason why they have kept them uneducated or 'functionally illeterate.'

Peter Phillips (rather an arrogant individual, but, a no nonsense Minister, and perhaps one of the ministers in the PNP who gets the job done) recently said that our biggest problem in this country is CRIME. I beg to differ. Our biggest problem in Jamaica is EDUCATION (or the lack of it). The uneducated have bred another generation of uneducated and these mere babes, have begun to produce their progeny as well. The result is, another generation of yutes who, nuh have nuh work, have nuff pickney fe feed, have no money, so dem turn to crime. All in all it is a vicious cycle. But, do the politicians care? Rass, no! Why? Because as you say, dem licky licky and will vote for whoever if dem can drop a money or buy a tin o bully beef near to election time. Why? Beacuse they can't reason. Simple. Don't blame the people (though I know it is hard not to). They are simply the way they are because their leaders have kept them this way! We are in deep shit friend. (And BTW, they are not concerned for the middle and upper classes, as even though they may well be feeling the pinch, somehow, they always seem to survive, or am I mistaken?)Mad Bull. Sorry to take up so much space, but I guess as a bredren, a nuh nutten still.

Posted by: Dr. D. on September 30, 2002 09:18 PM

Dr. D, I disagree with you too. A lot of the uneducated people you speak about reason quite well. Unfortunately, there are many reasons they vote the way they do. One is that the are "born" into a party. They are socialised to support it, no matter what. The next reason is that they prefer to take the bully beef now against a promise that they suspect (quite correctly, usually) will never materialise. You know, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I have reasoned with many of these people and they have similar reasoning skills to those that we possess. Also, you don't have to look too hard to see people who are just as educated as we are, voting for party above all.

Posted by: Mad Bull on September 30, 2002 10:08 PM

Oh, and welcome, Midas. I've finally found a topic you can warm to, hmm? Based on what I said to Dr. D. and since you're so smart (at least, it seems to me that you implied that you are), you will realise that I disagree with you too. No biggie... Come back and rant anytime.

Posted by: Mad Bull on September 30, 2002 10:11 PM

Well Mad Bull, I feel that you have already addressed the 'born into a party' issue. If that is the answer to the way that both educated and uneducated vote, then we will never make a change. I am not planning to get into any rant or argument about this issue and perhaps it is better spoken about over a drink rather than on this blog. Enough of me. My bed calls and I am no political analyst!

Posted by: Dr. D. on October 1, 2002 12:44 AM

And BTW, the fact that you disagree with me is nothing new. We have disagreed on many issues sice as far back as I can remeber that we have been bredrens, seen?

Posted by: Dr. D. on October 1, 2002 12:46 AM

I don't care how educated someone is or not,anyone can tell when something not running right.I believe the old saying"Fool me once,shame on you.Fool me twice,shame on me!!!
It is also not in the uptown peoples interest(not only politicians) to help get the education level raised among the poor because then they may not be able to afford maids and gardeners and all the other perks that middle & upper class jamaicans have enjoyed for so long.
Everyone in jamaica(including those of us that have left)has to take some of the blame for the
current state wi country inna !!
A government is a reflection of the people.
(I hope this doesn't mean that we are really all just teefin battymen who only care about ourselves and our close friends)
Naaaw.... thats just PJ .

Posted by: Midas on October 1, 2002 04:52 PM