Dem ah Brainwash the Youth!
Last night I was chilling with MBJr., watching him draw stuff and play around in general. His mom came out and sat with us and so he started to get a little competitive with me. I don’t remember what it was he did why he started celebrating, but evidently he felt like he had won a point over me or something, so he threw his hands into the air and shouted “I win!, I ween, I win, I ween! I am the greatest! I am a star! U. S. A! U. S. A!” 
I was horrified! I mean, I don’t hate America or anything, but my yute is a Jamaican! What the ra$$ is he doing cheering for the U.S.A.? Its all this ra$$ claat satellite TV, you know! 
I’m not sure what to do, though. Its probably too strong of a reaction to ban the TV altogether… hmmm…
The U.S. media is definitely a very potent weapon though, see, right there you have a perfect example of them winning the minds and hearts of the kids of other countries! Chupse. 
Trust me, the big shots in the Caribbean need to get together and start to develop their own cartoons and kiddie shows so that this sneaky imperialism can be stopped! In fact, they need to develop all kinds of local programming, as the imperialism doesn’t only affect the kids! Perhaps the leading Caribbean media moguls need to band together to do it, but I really hope something is done, and sooner rather than later. Cho man!
Since I am on this vein, I read recently where Hugo Sanchez from Venezuela called GWB the devil. “The devil came here.”, Sanchez said. “Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulphur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of!”. - Click here to read more media coverage on Sanchez’ speech, click here to read the speech itself.
So, what oonoo think about Sanchez claims? Personally, I don’t think that Bush is the devil, but he is certainly seems to be falling more and more under the devil’s control every day!!! I was reading that Bush and nuff of the Republicans (including many prominent members of the churches in America) are trying to push through legislation that would legalise TORTURE! Only certain types of torture, sure, but then thats just the foot in the door! And look at the types of torture anyway! Simulated drowning. Long time standing (wearing shackles). Sleep deprivation. Hypothermia. Death threats. Come on, man! Bush needs to leave the torture business to mad people like me! Thats not the kind of thing we want to hear about world leaders dabbling in! Oh my God, people, believe me! I am so going to church to pray that the American people come to their senses and vote out the tyrants dem come the next election! The people who drafted the American constitution must be rolling in their graves, Rasta!
Anyway, I am going to run now. Got to go get ready, going to kick some ball in a bit… here is some homework (reading) for oonoo. See, some other people are bashing goodersgirl now for her comments on Tami Chynn. 
Some interesting reading there, for those who have the time to browse… oh, and big up to Damien Marley… and I don’t like Gyptian’s new CD.
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Hugo Castro–oops;)–Hugo Chavez is an Extremely brave man. That’s a laudable quality, if nothing else. He makes sense a lot o’ de time, & says what so many others R scared 2 say. In a world where more leaders R as independent, MB Jr might never have been bombarded wid imperialistic TV in de first place:)
Re Tami: nobody’s ever really proclaimed her a great beauty — most just understand that her ‘look’ works 2 her advantage. Don’t worry, she’ll still have 2 work 2 prove herself just like Jr. Gong & Sean Paul did. She’s not hurtin’ anyone. Reverse-racism isn’t racism’s antidote.
Chavez is in a unique situation - he has oil!!! The US does get some of its oil supply from Venezuela, so that puts him in a slightly different situation than if, say, Portia was to voice such an opinion. But just so you can appreciate how this touches Americans - apparently Citgo Gas Stations get their oil from Venezuela exclusiveley or something like that - and there is some word that Chavez has persona financial interests in Citgo, so there is an email going around calling on Americans to boycott Citgo…now whether Chavez has interests in Citgo or not remains to be proved, so this is a perfect example of how this kind of thing can put businesses out of business. I remember after 911 when the French declined to support the ‘war on terror’ there was a French restaurant nearby that was previously extremely successful, but after that, it went right out of business!!! Personally, I think Chavez’ language is a bit strong, but he has a right to express himself - FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, remember… and people have a right to be pissed off if they want! I think his comments were amusing, frankly. Its amusing to me that he is in a position that kind of enables him to speak his mind rather than being afraid of sanctions or whatever. Also, ifone wants a view into the reason he might make such a comment, what about the claim by Pakistani president Musharraf, currently visiting the US.
Musharraf claims that the Bush administration threatened to bomb Pakistan back to the Stone Age in the days after 9/11 unless it dropped support for the Afghan Taliban regime.
The accusation has enraged Pakistanis, and it has surprised the White House.
Bush was standing next to Musharraf in the White House yesterday when he was asked about the accusation.
After a moment of silence, the President said, “The first I’ve heard of this is when I read it in the newspaper today. I guess I was taken aback by the harshness of the words.”
Alright, enough of my diatribe…
7 Out…
I respect the voices critical of current U.S. foriegn policy and of the United Nations with their 5 permanent nations with veto power set up.
Take it from an American, that did not now or ever support Bush. From my perspective as a black American, Bush was not actually voted into office, either time. And thank goodness he cannot run for office as president again. I just hope that his party is voted out as well.
I also think that what Hugo Chavez said about the president was funny.
And regarding MBjr. I laughed at that too. I thought our media was pretty strong here in the states, I didn’t realize it was so there in Jamaica, too.
George Bush is too stupid to be the devil, or is that part of his master plan. To fool us into thinking he’s only a bumbling oaf. As for your son, expose him to more Yardie programming.
Hugo Chavez is a pig. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His own nation still wallows in third-world status despite its great supposed wealth due to oil. Indeed it is the recent record price of oil that has Hugo Chavez giddy with economic prosperity that was actually set in motion back in the early 90’s by Pérez and a 4 Billion US dollar IMF loan. I wonder if Hugo paid that back yet?
Hugo’s people love him so much that they tried to overthrow him with a coup and a general national strike. Hugo is almost as tenacious and ruthless as his hero, Fidel Castro.
I’m Jamaican but, I now reside in the US and quite frankly, I’m a bit fed up with third-world tyrants and people bad mouthing Bush and especially the US. Chavez is just such a tyrant who will no doubt retire in hypocrisy to Miami when his own people chase his corrupt a$$ out of the country.
Indeed, Bush has many ideas that I find undesirable but I feel that he should be credited with making some hard choices. Decisions that are unpopular both in the US and abroad but, decisions that are mandatory for the overall safety and advancement of the US. That is afterall his job!
People seem to have completely forgotten that Bush and the US were not invading anyone when, the US was attacked by the Taliban backed Al Quaeda. The US was going about its own business, chasing the almighty dollar until September 11. Only after being attacked did the US invade Afghanistan and rightly so.
Iraq, was a mistake. I said so before it happened and I maintain the same position today. But, the US is in too deep to walk away from that quagmire and frankly, Iraq seems to be acting like a magnet, drawing the “insurgents” to Iraq rather than them attacking US soil. So, even though the US shouldn’t have gone there to begin with, their presence there today makes strategic sense.
There is question about what was or was not said to Musharef. But, what else would you expect? As Bush stated, you are either with the US or against. Musharef supporting the Taliban would most definitely have put him against the US. He may have been forced to cooperate but, who besides Islamists would argue that it wasn’t the right thing for the Pakistani people. Had he continued to support the Taliban, then Pakistan would have been bombed along with Afghanistan. Frankly, I feel that Pakistan has done a poor job of “supporting” the US. The Pakistan Afghanistan boarder is far too porous with known incursions regularly going from Pakistan into Afghanistan but, the Pakistani government has be “unable to prevent them”.
Even Musharef doesn’t say supporting the US was the wrong thing to do, just that he was forced into it. Forced to do the right thing. We should all be so forced.
The US faces a tough struggle. An increasingly prevalent enemy is out to get them and there is little that they can do to effectively fend off the attacks. Twisted Islamists that are willing to blow themselves up for their twisted cause are the problem and the problem is growing not just for the US but for western society in general.
Recently the Pope said “awful things about Muhammed and Islam”, yet again raising the Islamic rabble with a call to arms. An ancient quote so offended these “peace loving people” that they were forced to yet again demonstrate in the streets, burn churches and effigies, and then to murder a Nun! What was said? He said that; Muhammed had said to spread Islam by the sword. Am I the only one that sees the Islamic dichotomy? No. Apparently George Bush sees it too.
I’m going off on a tangent again so, I’ll leave you with this. The US is not the only one that’s brainwashing people. It’s become popular to be anti American but let’s not forget what really started all of this.
Unfortunately, the US really does think it is the world. The yute needs to become more aware of his heritage…I am not sure that since you have relocated to Cayman that that will be very helpful in this regard…but I could be wrong. I guess yourself and Natty will have a lot to do and you need to start early…not when he is a teen.
Mek Chavez seh what him want. I support anything fe chop down Bush…weh de machete deh?
BTW, if you so inclined, I finally mustered up some posting energy.
Whereas I am not a Bushite myself…I think it is a tad rude for the man to go to Bush’s home town (so to speak) and diss him so. But that is just my opinion. As to MBjr. I would firmly correct him each time…by firmly I do not mean in a pusnishment sort of way…just every bit as loud and excited as he would shout USA I’d correct JA…JA….JA and explain to him why we should take our nationality proudly.
See, as with my kidlets who are a little older t
than MBjr I have proudly taught them some choice Ja badwords to use when they are being annoyed by the Canadians at school. I have warned them however, that if the words are used properly and with enough emphasis people will realize that they are cussing but not what they are saying…I have also told them that they are not to say that their Mother taught them these words. (smile)
Seven threatened to tell Mamacita when she first heard about this. (Smile)
we voted him out last time, MB!!!!
I want to think the devil smarter than Bush still.Chavez got money so he can afford to say what he wants.Castro now would have to be more circumspect
Mad Bull,
I understand how you feel and trus me, it gets dread. You ever check out what you think are just harmless cartoons from the so-called “old days”. I mean, even the Disney ones. Look at how they portray black people. And if you say, I don’t want you watching that, your kid says, “But, Dad, it’s only a cartoon.”
And what can you say to that?
I don’t think it’s a conspiracy–Americans love this land and they should. It’s a great place.
But what about us, shouldn’t we love the place where we were born and walk nuff hill and valley?
Cayman is definately not the ideal place to attempt to protect your child against the perils of North American programming, because in the grand scheme of things, Cayman is a mini-Miami.
If not from the Satellite TV, MBJ Jr. may bring it home from school. It is a struggle to impart the benefit of Caribbean life vs. the so-called North American utopia, but we must trudge on, and do our best.
Re: Bush: The man is a moron, and is definately not “El Diablo”. I did find Chavez’s comments to be quite hilarious, and apparently, there was a lot of agreement within the UN, as he was given a raucous round of applause at the end of his speech.
have you guys seen that this new movie haven touts a love story in the ‘crime-ridden’ Cayman Islands??? Is Cayman ‘crime-ridden’?????
@ Seven: Interesting that you should ask that, Seven. I think it warrants a small post. I may also go watch the movie. We’ll see…
@ Ciya: I don’t have a problem with him dissing Bush at home if he disses him in the U.N. The U.N. is probably the best place to diss Bush. All nations should be able to speak their piece there. It so happens that the U.N. meets in the U.S. but we can’t stifle complaints against the U.S. because of that fact.
@ My big friend Hellen:
1) So Hellen, whats your position on torture?
2) I am sorry to hear that you are tired of people bad mouthing Bush, but I guess you’ll get used to it eventually. I am sure that they will continue doing so for many years to come.
3) I do believe Bush told Musharef he would bomb him into the stone age. I don’t have an issue with that. If bin Laden was hiding there with the gov’t.s support, well, they just had to give him up or suck up some bombs! Nothing wrong with that. As you said, Iraq was a mistake. Personally, I think the U.S should get out, as quickly as possible.
4) You said : “…frankly, Iraq seems to be acting like a magnet, drawing the “insurgents†to Iraq rather than them attacking US soil. So, even though the US shouldn’t have gone there to begin with, their presence there today makes strategic sense.”
So let me see if I get you? The Iraqis are a worthless set of people who will be missed by no one and so its ok to use them to distract the terrorists into blowing them up instead of the U.S.”? Is that what you meant? Thats what I got from that statement. If so, I find it a bit distasteful, to say the least. It sounds like you need to be denounced too, like G.W.B.
has anyone clicked on the link for ‘i need you hellen!’? dude you got isues!
1. My position is that torture is unacceptable by anyone, anywhere, anytime. Note the line where I said Bush has many ideas that I find undesirable.
2. I’m already use to people criticizing Bush. Just as I am already use to “peaceful Muslims” blowing up civilians in the name of Allah and Muhammed. I’m just as use to millions of other “peaceful Muslims” complicit silence or outright celebration. But, it doesn’t change the fact that I am tired of hearing it or that I’m tired of hearing people whine about how Bush’s election was rigged and how he manipulated the election not once but twice as a poster above blathered about.
3. We are in agreement on Musharef. I feel that he walks a fine line between complicity with unseemly extremists in order to placate them and prevent them from attacking him, again, while also satisfying the Americans that he is their “ally”.
4. I beg your pardon but, I passed no judgment on the Iraqi people at all! You are reading what you want to not what I wrote. I clearly stated that invading Iraq was a mistake and, I also said that the US was in too deep to leave. What would happen if the US pulled up stakes and left right this minute? With the Iraqi police and military unable to hold back the violence Iraq would slide into a massive civil war with genocidal warlords trying to exterminate each other Shi’a vs. Sunni vs. Iranian vs. jihadist for hire in a situation worse than Somalia, DRC, or Darfur. Eventually, after months or years and thousands or millions of innocent deaths, it would subside as yet another dictatorial warlord rose to power and the place was worse off than it was under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship.
That there now appears to be a strategic US advantage to the Iraq crisis, acting as a magnet to idle jihadists is a simple fact. It does not in anyway affect how I value the Iraqi people or human life in general. I feel great sympathy for the Iraqi people but I do not see a quick or easy solution for them. I feel it would be a criminal offense against the Iraqi people for the US to pull up sticks at this late date. Naturally there are millions of naive people out there that feel the Iraqi crisis would end the instant that the US left and millions of others that feel the world would be a better place if the US did not exist at all. Wouldn’t that be an interesting world?
Denounce me all you wish. I’m use to that too.
@ “I need you Hellen”
Well, ok, I accept your explanation now, but what you said earlier was certainly open to all kinds of interpretation.
hellen says- People seem to have completely forgotten that Bush and the US were not invading anyone when, the US was attacked by the Taliban backed Al Quaeda.
the sole reason for al quaeda’s existence is to get the u.s. out of the middle east! the temporary military bases built up for “desert storm” are still there. technically any country with a u.s. military installation within their borders is, by definition, an occupied territory.
they’ve already been invaded militarily and culturally.
to imply that the 9/11 attacks were unprovoked is total ignorance.
and just ask MB about cultural invasion.
@Jeff - Ignorance is a good word to use. To me, you seem to be ignorant of the fact that regardless of Al Quaeda’s stated reason for existence, the US did not invade or occupy any of these countries. Just because a terrorist group makes a claim does not make the claim true or just. If I claim that I don’t like you living where you do and that I intend to push you out, does it make terrorist attacks against you justified? Most reasonable people think not.
You seem to be ignorant of the fact that the US was begged (BEGGED!) for help in pushing Iraq out of Kuwait. That was operation Desert Storm! It was Iraq that invaded Kuwait!!!
You seem to be ignorant of the fact that all of the ‘technically occupied territories’, as you called them, actually invited the the US to build bases in their countries and willingly provide the land for those bases even today! Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the others are all perfectly happy to host US bases and enjoy the protections that those bases provide.
You seem to be ignorant of the fact that Al Quaeda doesn’t have any say in the operation of these countries that invited the US and that NO ONE asked Al Quaeda for their opinion or for their “help” then or now. Even Saddam Hussein, while under attack, rebuffed the assistance that Al Quaeda offered!
Finally, let’s indeed ask MB about cultural invasion. MB, as a Jamaican residing in Cayman, how are you, and Jamaicans in general, regarded by the Cayman government and people? Are you and Jamaicans in general welcomed by Cayman or are you increasingly resented for your “unwanted invasion” of their island? Do you feel completely welcome, or do you feel that the Cayman government is making every possible effort to make you feel unwelcome and push you back out of their island? Will you live out your days in Cayman or are your days there numbered?
Finally, in their push to get you out of their island, has the Cayman government or people exercised any form of terrorist actions against you as in the case of Al Quaeda, or have they followed peaceful, civil and lawful actions? I get the impression that Jeff would in some way feel that such violent actions are justified since you are “provoking” the Caymanians with your presence.
**Please realize, MB, that I am not attacking you in any way. I simply feel that Jeff is being a bit loose and free with the facts and since he chose to use you as an example I feel that you could enlighten him a bit. I’m sure that Jeff didn’t realize the irony. While you feel threatened by the cultural invasion of your family by the US media, that you voluntarily choose to watch, the other side of the coin is that Cayman feels threatened by the cultural invasion of foreigners and holds Jamaicans such as yourself especially in disdain.
My #1,#2,#3 problem with GB is that he thinks that USA is the world and doesn’t think twice about doing whatever it takes to get his way whether or not it is morally reprehensible. I’m confused sometimes about his views on democracy as he says one thing then do something else.
Actually Abeni, I find Castro just as assertive and outspoken. The USA’s problem with Cuba is certainly not their politics, it is the fact that Cuba is the only Caribbean nation that doesn’t ask “How high” when the USA says Jump.
Re the ‘devil’ comment by Chavez, he was only saying what everyone in the world (apart from Hellen) been thinking.
Ok… Let me gather my thoughts…
Hellen, Jeff may have been wrong in saying that anywhere that has a US base is technically occupied, especially if the US was indeed invited to build these bases there, but at the same time, we need to consider whether the people who live in those countries are happy with their gov’ts inviting the US to build these bases.
I believe that there are several cases where the US was invited to build bases in some countries and the locals didn’t really like it. This is most likely the case with these muslim countries where US bases have been built.
Given how some of these people think, they may well consider this to be an invasion and a provocation on the part of the inviting country and of the U.S. and this may justify JIHAD!!! Shit, all the pope did was say something and look at how they are going on. These are very thin skinned people! Now I am not saying that their attacks are justified or anything, just that I think I understand why they are doing it! Do I agree with them? No.
Still, the bases would not be the main reason why the U.S. is being targetted by Al Quaeda, is it? I thought the major problem these terrorists have with the U.S. is that the U.S. is Israels biggest backer and they (the muslims) are all against Israel. They are following the view held by many, including the U.S., that “The friend of my enemy is also my enemy.”.
I am not saying that this feeling of hatred for Israel and her allies is right or justified. All I am saying is, this is the basic reason behind the terrorist attacks.
These people feel that Israel has stolen their land (with the assistance of England and the U.S.) and Israel maintains their hold on these peoples’ land mainly because the U.S. sells Israel all the arms and ammo she wants, and the U.S also will fight alongside / for Israel and so on.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Next: Cultural Invasion. How are Jamaicans regarded by Caymanians? This is a complex question. They feel differently about diffent Jamaicans. For example, I am universally loved and admired. So are a number of other Jamaicans. (tho not as much as I am
) Some other Jamaicans are not admired or loved at all.
I don’t think there is an unwanted invasion. They sought for us to come here, after all. Most of us are here on work permits and the Caymanians go through a lot of effort to get those out for Jamaicans, from what I am told.
At the same time, I believe the Caymanian Gov’t (and perhaps some Caymanians) feel that there are too many Jamaicans here. They seem to feel that our culture is overpowering theirs. As such, they are trying to bring the number of Jamaicans on work permits here in line with the numbers of people from the U.S., or Canada, or Honduras, or the Philipines, so that no other country’s culture will become dominant over their own… or at least thats my understanding of whats going on now.
How does the Cayman Gov’t. feel about me in particular? Do I feel comfortable? Will they try to make me feel unwelcome and to push me back out of their island? Will I live out my days in Cayman or are my days here numbered?
Like I said earlier, I am loved and admired here, and why not? I am a nice guy!
I do feel comfortable here… I am loved.
I think the Caymanian government doesn’t really spend too much time thinking about me, and I think that over time, those members of gov’t who come into contact with me will also come to love me. They won’t try to push me out, and I will live out any length of time I choose to stay here. Why not? I am loved.
Finally, my post about cultural invasion was actually kind of “tongue-in-cheek”, because as you pointed out, it is I who have chosen to watch their media. It is I who at different times have gone to much lengths (some legal and some not so legal) to attain those tantalising satellite signals! How could I really complain?
Still, if our region were to offer something competitive media-wise, I would certainly appreciate it and watch that instead! As an example, I watch way more of Hype TV and Tempo than I do of MTV, VH1, or BET!
Phew! Its been a long time since anyone has got me to write a post in my own comments. Congrats. Got anymore hard questions that I might find interesting to answer? If you give me one a week, I will have more time to spend with my family instead of thinking up blog posts.
Finally, I want to ask you and others who may be tempted to join in, to tone down the aggressiveness of your comments where they refer to my other commenters. I am sure you could have found a nicer way to address Sir Jeff. I want this site to be comfortable for anyone who is commenting, because it is hard enough to extract comments from them. I am not Doctor D, after all, who gets comments with the greatest of ease.
If you start to diss my commenters too much, I may not allow yor comments to stay up.
If you use your comments to slag off someone who is attacking me though, I will probably run them, after all, I never said I was perfect.
At the same time, if you want to tell me about my rass, go ahead. My response will vary from good to indifferent to responding in kind, but unless you say something really, really awful, I will prolly run your comment anyway.
Now go ye forth and sin no more.