Prisoners of Prosperity
Every now and again I read Melville Cooke, just to see what craziness he has come up with next... I find I don't usually agree with much that he has to say, but guess what? Today he wrote about a phenomenon that I have noticed too.
Now I am basically an up-towner. I have always lived above the clock (Half Way Tree). In the past, on a few (stress on the few) occasions, I have found myself in some of the more depressed communities after night had fallen. This was usually to drop home one of my father's workers or some other mission like that. I always used to view this as a task to be completed as quickly as possible, after which you would do best to beat a hasty retreat, as where I come from, you are taught how dangerous those places are, and you tend to feel very uncomfortable the whole time you're there.
Well, I did notice how those areas differed from where I lived. Down there, everyone is on the street until all hours of night, and they do this despite the fact that shots buss much more regularly in their communities than in mine. Where I live, when it gets dark, it is rare for people to go outside unless they are going to buy something! People tend not to go outside and just hang with the neighbours. Well, Melville Cooke commented on this same phenomenon... read what he has to say on the topic. He may have a point for once... Wonders never cease! 
Posted by Mad Bull at February 19, 2004 10:59 PM
Comments
Like you, I frequently disagree with this dude. He definitely has a couple chips on his shoulder....carries round nuff issues....colour of skin is a major one for him.
He may well have a point here, I agree. What he needs to remember is that none of us choose to be born into a particular social class. And, simply because one is an 'uptowner' or from the 'inner city' it does not necessarily imply that you cannot have a feel or understanding for others who are from a different social background to yours.
Those of us who live in 'uptown' may want to protect what we or our forefathers have worked had to earn. If this indeed makes us prisoners in ourhomes, den a jus so it go. The phenomenon is by no means restricted to Jamaica either.
He makes reference to an equal distribution of wealth....ideally, I have no problem with that. But, in the real world, I can think of few places (if any) where this does occur. Whoever said that life is fair and that people are born equal?
The weekend cometh....
Posted by: Dr. D. on February 20, 2004 08:15 AM
Bwoy....somehow I thought there would be other comments here!
The drought makes one consider calling it quits!
Posted by: Dr. D. on February 20, 2004 06:44 PM
I like reading Mr Cooke's comments. In this instance his comments regarding "prosperity prisoners. To a great degree it's true. It's not just Yaad, but all over the world would be my guess. Certainly here in my neck of the woods on the "Left Coast."
I remember one time when we were still school boys, we were at a friends house off White Hall drinking and playing dominoes until late. We (me and one of the twins.) left around 1:30 a.m. and decided to walk home (didn't have a choice really, because bus did stop run by that time) up White hall to get to Havendale and Meadowbrooke. There were still people on the street on White Hall playing dominoes and just shooting the breeze and not a soul on the road when we got into our neighbourhood!!
Posted by: Stringbean on February 25, 2004 12:27 AM
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Like you, I frequently disagree with this dude. He definitely has a couple chips on his shoulder....carries round nuff issues....colour of skin is a major one for him.
He may well have a point here, I agree. What he needs to remember is that none of us choose to be born into a particular social class. And, simply because one is an 'uptowner' or from the 'inner city' it does not necessarily imply that you cannot have a feel or understanding for others who are from a different social background to yours.
Those of us who live in 'uptown' may want to protect what we or our forefathers have worked had to earn. If this indeed makes us prisoners in ourhomes, den a jus so it go. The phenomenon is by no means restricted to Jamaica either.
He makes reference to an equal distribution of wealth....ideally, I have no problem with that. But, in the real world, I can think of few places (if any) where this does occur. Whoever said that life is fair and that people are born equal?
The weekend cometh....
Posted by: Dr. D. on February 20, 2004 08:15 AM