My bloody telly went on the fritz! Now I have just a blank screen and perfect sound. This probably wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t living in a country where you must pay a TV licence annually and I wasn’t in the middle of watching some incredibly mind-numbing nonsense to unwind after an intense day of working on three major papers and a research proposal, simultaneously! (I will be so over the moon when my break arrives in a week’s time!)
Thanks to the sobering interventions of my sweet and calming 18 year old nephew who was chatting with me online last night, I think I’ve caught myself now. I adore my nephew. Simply adore him. I really do. (And just so my other nephews don’t get jealous – AND because it’s true – I must stress I love ALL of them to bits! lol!) My nephew, Naj, is in college in Canada and is wise beyond his years, that boy is, I swear. Anyhoo, last night was one of those moments where I had to wonder just who was the adult and who was the teenager as he told me, in his usual cool as a cucumber way, “Just calm down.” Trust me, the brevity and simplicity of his sage advice did give me a reality check.
So, I’ve woken up this morning refreshed and with a better attitude and I have reminded myself it’s just a telly and I need to be a bit more thankful. After all, some people don’t have tellies and at least I have sound which can hold me until I have time to get it to the store for repair. So, I’ve been (*ahem*) listening to BBC Breakfast as I tap away on my laptop. I’ve even been thinking of someone I know who is blind and is completely in tune with what’s on the tube just by hearing it, alone. (Yes, I know. It sounds so very I-grumbled-’cause-I-had-no-shoes-and-then-I met-a-man-with-no-feet sort of thing, but indulge me for the moment. It’s been a crazy week.)
Well done to this year’s recipients! It is a pity that this story made the very bottom of the news items list in the online edition of The Royal Gazette, though. (C’mon, RG, you can do better than that!) Now, more than ever, the island needs to be reminded that we have many exceptional young Bermudians who hold the promise of a superb future and these sorts of announcements deserve top billing. We should be very proud when we read the backgrounds of these students who have done well academically and have set impressive goals for further achievement. There is no doubting that they will make a trememdous contribution to Bermuda in one way or another and this is extremely encouraging.
Something that I did notice, though, was that the scholarship list was dominated by females. I’ve gone over the list again and have counted only two male recipients – John Adcock and Jeoffrey Chrisnall. They deserve special congratulations. So, extra well done to you, gentlemen. The imbalance is worrying, though. Why are there so few male recipients? It would be interesting to find out the ratio of male to female applicants. I am wondering whether there really were a good pool of qualified male applicants who just happened to be edged out by higher performing female students; or if there just were not a satisfactory number of male students meeting the criteria or putting in applications. Whatever the case, I’m left with the feeling that male students need to be pushed harder. Still, it’s something good in the news and a reason to feel proud of our young people…
I’ve been thinking about PRIDE Bermuda and Youth-to-Youth ever since I mentioned them in my last post, so I googled them and, to my delight, I see that they are still in existence and PRIDE Bermuda actually has a website. It’s great to see that Judith Burgess is still the Executive Director of the organisation, too!
Contact them and see how you can get invovled or support their work.
Earlier this week, I came across a quote in The Royal Gazette by Pembroke MP Ashfield DeVent about the decriminalisation of the possession of cannabis. According to the August 28th RG article, Mr. DeVent says:
“Let’s have a debate. Let’s at least discuss it. Rather than put them in a criminal court, they could be first sent to a drugs awareness course. Then you can explain to them how drugs can affect them physically.”
Mr. DeVent was speaking in the context of the recent violence among young people and gangs, with drug use believed to be at the centre of a lot of the unrest the country has been experiencing of late.
Indeed, there should be drugs awareness courses and the adverse affects of drug use should be explained; however, such things should be emphasised before drug offences are committed. That is where time and resources should really be invested – in the prevention of drug use. For example, give more support to programmes like P.R.I.D.E. Bermuda and Youth-to-Youth. (I assume these groups are still functioning. I have been involved with both groups in the past and I remember the dedication and infectious enthusiasm of people like Judith Burgess that helped to make them a success.) Not only do these kinds of organizations equip youngsters and parents with information about drug use and abuse, but they also create a network of support which encourages positive peer pressure among young people and parents. This breeds a culture that promotes positive lifestyle choices and intolerance for antisocial behaviour and drug use, in particular.
In addition to aggressive and effective prevention strategies, there must also be an emphasis on accountability. Decriminalisation proposals often stem from the desire to keep young people from having a criminal record because of the misguided choices of their youth. In some instances, many feel there must be particular compassion extended to these young offenders because some have been the product of a dysfunctional upbringing and it is felt that a criminal record only serves to stigmatise them further, setting their future in stone. These circumstances are beyond unfortunate and I do empathise, but the solution can be sought in effective treatment and rehabilitation programmes that move them away from drugs and any other associated antisocial behaviour and provide them with the tools and skills they need to cope with life and become productive and even exemplary members of society. It can be done. People in such situations have turned their lives around before and with the right kind of support and coaching it is possible for others to do the same.
We do a grave disservice to young people when we try to keep them from being fully accountable for their actions, no matter the consequences. It is all a part of learning and, yes, some lessons will be much tougher than others, but in order for them to get the lesson, they must suffer the consequences. It would pain me greatly to find someone close to me on the wrong side of the law, but if they were guilty, then, they would have to be held accountable. If you choose the behaviour, then you choose the consequences. End of story.
The harmful effects of cannabis use are well documented and I need not delve into them here, other than to underline how much they impair judgment, cognitive performance, and overall mental health. Quite frankly, the island already has enough problems with alcohol abuse. I think one would be hard-pressed to find someone who is not affected by alcoholism directly or indirectly. If it is not a family member or loved one, then it is a friend, a neighbour, or a colleague. There is always someone we know who has a problem with drinking and this affects their life and the lives of others in a host of unpleasant ways. The social, physical, and mental health issues are very costly. Let us not encourage the use of another substance that impairs performance and well-being.
The current method of classifying drug offences such that harsher penalties are meted out for harsher drugs is acceptable, although I am open to increased penalties and more stringent legislation surrounding drug use and dealing. And, yes, they must remain criminal offences.
If Bermuda is serious about getting a handle on the rising tide of violence and social problems it has been facing, relaxing laws on illicit drugs of any kind is unacceptable. Instead, what is really needed is a focus on the prevention of drug use, taking a hard line on offenders, and ensuring we have effective treatment and rehabilitation programmes – all while addressing the social problems that contribute to drug use and dealing in the first place. We must also teach young people to have a healthy regard for the law and set examples for them to follow, by respecting the spirit and letter of the law, ourselves. Everything we do in Bermuda must be about improving the quality of life for Bermudians and residents, in general; raising standards across the board for all of us; creating opportunities for residents to become the best that they can possibly be; and ensuring a safe and stable environment that is conducive to achieving this.
Decriminalising the possession of cannabis is simply not consistent with the standard of excellence upon which Bermuda should be building its reputation.
As the race for the White House intensifies, it’s sure to be an interesting ten or so weeks. When all is said and done, though, I am hoping that the American people choose Barack Obama as their president in November.
A friend asked me the other night if Obama’s race played a role in my support of him. I cannot deny a special sense of pride I feel in Obama being someone who “looks like me” – as someone who has a shared history on some levels. But I also cannot support someone just because of their race. If it was all about race, then I would have been a supporter of Al Sharpton when he ran for president a few years ago. Sharpton, a staunch civil rights activist, has sacrificed and championed the cause of many who have been victimised and I respect him for that, but his approach (which has it’s place at times, perhaps) is not one that I agree with or see as particularly unifying. I feel the same for a number of politicians and political candidates. So, to echo Oprah Winfrey, no, “I don’t support [Obama] because he’s black; I support him because he’s brilliant!”
With America’s international reputation in tatters these days, even here in the UK, one can sense the eager anticipation of a change in the White House. Sometimes, on the news, the reporters seem like they can hardly contain themselves when mention is made of Obama. It is possible that he will do well in improving America’s image internationally and if that well choreographed visit with heads of state in countries in Europe and the Middle East a few weeks ago is any indication of how he might fare, then Americans might have much that is positive to look forward to.
While his policies, style of communicating, and approach to issues, in general, appeal to me, it is the way Obama has run his presidential campaign that has probably impressed and persuaded me the most. His hugely successful fundraising strategy, securing donations largely from grassroots supporters (online) and refusing to rely on wealthy lobbyists, was the among the first things to catch my eye. His ability to surpass a fundraising heavyweight like Clinton in fundraising totals month after month during the primaries the way he did was astounding!
Obama’s commitment to running a clean campaign and not allowing himself to get distracted by attacks from his opponents is also refreshing and I can only hope this commitment is kept in the coming months as things heat up.
I found his handling of the controversial remarks by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, to be appropriate and the subsequent speech he gave on race/racism was timely, unifying, and outstanding.
Obama’s decision not to succumb to the pressure of the media and others and to not pander to disgruntled Clinton supporters by choosing her as his running mate was yet another impressive move. It showed good judgment because it suggests he might not be swayed but superficial pressure when making decisions and he really is committed to the change he has been advocating. Having Clinton as a running mate might have brought baggage – not least of which would have included her husband. Joe Biden seems a sensible choice with his extensive Senate and foreign policy experience and one who will play an active role in putting the Obama policies in action. Biden’s speech and passion at the DNC was excellent and it’s going to be interesting seeing the two of them on the campaign trail.
Finally, and most importantly, is the consistent unifying theme that is present whenever Obama speaks. Whether it is between Democrats and Republicans, blacks and whites, the rich and the poor, men and women, gays and straights, or Americans and non-Americans, his message is about bringing people together for the common good. It is a message about recognising that while we might have different backgrounds, lifestyles, and beliefs, most of us want the same things and share a lot of the same basic values in life…
Now that’s a message and style of politics I’d love to see unfold in Bermuda…
This morning, while blog hopping, I found a blog by Chris Gibbons called Breezeblog, and read a nice post he wrote on Meredith Ebbin, the Bermudian journalist who recently retired from the Bermuda Sun.
Something else that caught my eye over there was a link to a site in progress called Bermuda Biographies. I was glad to have stumbled onto it because reading the profiles of some of the Bermudians was both engaging and enlightening. Sometimes, it is easy to lose sight of how much others have done to make Bermuda the great place it is today, so I was happy for the read. (Yeah, yeah! I know! We have lots to fix, but you’ve got to admit, we have it pretty good in Bermuda.)
Anyway, while on the site I noticed that among the photos near the header is a picture of Madeline Joell (at least, I think it is). She died in 1999 of an aneurysm and she was about the age I am now when she died, if memory serves me correctly. I never knew her personally, but I do remember when I heard she had died. It was such a shocker and, now that I think of it, it is even hard to believe that it’s been almost 10 years since she passed away. Some of her family, the Grants, were my neighbours when I grew up in Dockyard and I’ve been sad to hear of the passing of 2 or 3 of them (e.g. Kirk and “Red” Grant) since I’ve been in the UK.
My first memory of Madeline is of her arriving for a meeting at the office of an insurance company where I worked as a file clerk before I went away to school. I was about 17 at the time and all I remember was this woman confidently walking in the office, impeccably dressed and marvelously fit, with two men carrying file boxes behind her. Seeing a black woman command such respect as I witnessed that day was very inspiring to me, particularly in that setting.
The only direct encounter I can ever remember having with her, though, was a few grey hairs and several pounds ago when my conscience used to occasionally lead me to The Athletic Club. (Trust me, it really was a LONG time ago, as anyone who knows me personally can attest!) She didn’t know me, but was very friendly and quite encouraging as I went to town on the rowing machine. One couldn’t help but notice how remarkably fit she was as she almost effortlessly zoomed through her chin-ups and sit-ups! Amazing!
I do wonder what further contributions she might have made to Bermuda had she lived longer. She had only just begun in politics the year before she passed. I imagine her influence would have been positive and her contributions great. Hopefully, her memory will inspire the same.
I’m adding the Bermuda Biographies link to my list on this blog. Have a look at it. I’m sure it will become a valuable and well utilised site.
Last night I was looking for new music to download onto my iPod from iTunes. Have you ever tried this? Heavens! It’s addictive! Just bloody addictive, I swear! Actually, I’ve even started downloading TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy! How could I not?!) and films, but that’s an obssession to share another time. Anyway, as I was doing my browsing for tunes, I came across some old Nina Simone gems, like I Put A Spell on You, Ne Me Quitte Pas, and Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood and it reminded me of the time I met her.
I was 18 and had just arrived at my new school in Switzerland and was going through the first week of orientation. My mother and sister had travelled with me to help me settle in and they stayed in a nearby hotel where, we discovered later, Nina Simone was staying, as well.
I remember sitting and having lunch with my new friends and a woman approached me and said Ms. Simone would like to see me. As she described who Ms. Simone was and I sized her up, I just had an odd feeling and politely told her I was sorry but had no idea who she or Ms. Simone were and that I couldn’t go with her. Looking rather incredulous, the woman turned on her heels and marched off. Meanwhile, my friends and I looked at each other, puzzled, and I shrugged my shoulders, thinking, “whatever”.
Later that evening, when I met up with my mom at the hotel for dinner, as we had been doing each night, she and my sister started telling me about how they met Nina Simone and that she had invited us to her room for drinks. As they spoke, I began to remember Nina Simone as “one of those singers that mom likes listening to”. As it happens, they were at breakfast that morning and the waitress had said that Ms. Simone had invited them to her table. My mother was nonplussed at first and then it registered that it was THE Nina Simone. Apparently, my mom was a bit apprehensive at first, but did go. She said that when they got to her table, Ms. Simone let out a warm and boisterous, “Hello! My people!” accompanied by a huge hug. (I could just see my mom, now.) It is probably worth mentioning that there were no other blacks in the restaurant or hotel, so this is likely why they got that sort of reception. It’s one of those things where if you’re in a foreign country where you don’t see any other black people and then you suddenly see some, then there is this odd, knowing acknowledgement of each other when your eyes meet. You don’t know each other, but then when your eyes meet and it’s like, “Hey there! It’s nice to see you!” Often it’s not spoken. There is a nod and a smile and maybe a “hello”. It’s funny when I sit here and reflect on it, but it does really happen. So, this espisode was, no doubt, a variation on that theme.
I told my mom about how the woman had approached me in the college dining hall and I learned that she was a friend of Ms. Simone who had, in fact, sent for me. My mother laughed, but somehow I think she felt reassured that her daughter would be just fine in this far off place, noting my cautious behaviour and good judgement. Overall, she found the whole experience rather amusing and ”nice”. Bermudians are not particularly starstruck people, on the whole. We’re not hugely into the whole gushing over “celebrities” thing and my mother, although gracious, is even less so. (Although, I’m not so sure how she would have been if it was Sidney Poitier!) Don’t get me wrong, she LOVES Nina Simone’s music and outspoken stance on racism during her time – especially as a black woman – but to my mother this was just another person who happened to be blessed with incredible talent – a musical gift. This could be seen in their conversation when we all met up that evening. It was like two old friends talking who understood and endured life’s twists and turns and ups and downs.
As for me, well, Ms. Simone gave me a bit of a hard time. She warned my mother that she would lose me by letting me attend “that” school. She believed that once I got settled and immersed myself fully in my new surroundings, that I would become so assimilated that I would later shun my identity as a black person and all that it represents. In short, she felt my mom would lose me to a European lifestyle, abandoning my family and culture. My mother did not think so and I definitely didn’t agree. My mom felt she set a foundation for me and I had a mind of my own; and I felt that I didn’t have to choose one or the other in terms of culture or race. Instead, my style was to pick the things that were good and appealing to me as an individual, whether they are found in black, white and any other culture. It remains my attitude today.
Nontheless, Ms. Simone stood firm and just kept telling my mom, “You are going to lose your daughter.” She spoke kindly, frankly, and endearingly to my mother and sister, but continued to give me a hard time (which I took with good humour), telling me I am not to speak unless spoken to and to “sit over there in that chair”. It was very much a “who do you think you are” sort of attitude towards me and I am guessing that my refusal earlier in the day to see her when I was called to, didn’t help things. It was okay, though.
Throughout the conversations that night Ms. Simone had shared with my mother how she felt she lost her own daughter when she let her attend a European school. It sounded like they had a strained relationship and it left a deep hole in her heart and soul. My sister’s first son who was about three or four at the time was with us and anytime he went near Ms. Simone she would ask that he move away. I didn’t understand what that was about at first, but my sister explained to me later that Ms. Simone’s daughter, who was grown by then, had a small child and so seeing my nephew reminded her of that and the pain of not having him or her in her life at the time because of the strained relationship.
When I looked at her that evening, I thought how tired and sad she seemed. Like a woman who had been through and had to fight for so much. Clearly, she had graduated from the school of hard knocks. She was an amazing woman and I don’t think I appreciated how amazing or important her lifestory was until I became much older.
In the end, she did ask me if I would like to go snorkelling with her one day and I chuckled and said, “sure”. She said she liked swimming and snorkelling and scuba diving. I also noticed her French was outstanding and she said she had picked it up over the years from spending time in France and Switzerland and other french-speaking places. I never heard from or saw her again, so we never did go snorkelling. When my mother and sister returned to Bermuda, I think they had some fleeting contact and then I guess it petered out, as such things do.
Years later, I read bits and bobs that suggest that she and her daughter did become close and have a relationship again. I think there was a video clip I saw of them together as well and that made me very happy for them. One never knows the real story behind such family relationships and mother-daughter relationships can be particularly challenging, even in the best of times, so good for them!
As I sit here and think of the conversation from that evening and much of the things she shared about her life, her experiences, her struggles…I wish I knew the value of that special evening then as I know it now. I wish I knew the value then of the stories my mother shared and the insights shared between her and Ms. Simone. But I do value it now. They were two clever women who gave me some important lessons about strength, dignity, and perseverance that evening. They didn’t even know or intend it, perhaps, but they did. It’s the way life is and I was a very lucky young lady.
My mother has dementia now. That is a terrible blow to our family because we miss her very much even though we continue to love her and enjoy her. However, this Nina Simone memory has me remembering today the many things I learned from my mother. I see her now and I wish she could know how much I love her and appreciate her and what a lucky woman I am to have her as my mother.
Somehow, that naughty twinkle in her eye makes me think she does.
There is this theory I’ve been more than a little obsessed with called the Broken Windows Theory. Some of you might have heard of it if you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point or if you are familiar with the approach used by former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Guiliani, back in the early nineties to successfully clean up the city and reduce crime and disorder.
In a nut shell, the theory, developed by George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson, suggests that when we ignore smaller infractions like littering, loitering, and graffiti, for example, then we make it easier for bigger social problems to flourish like drug dealing, theft, and violence. Imagine a building with a broken window. If it is left unrepaired and the grounds are left unkempt, then it sends a signal that no one cares and makes it easier for miscreants to smash more windows. Then it seems fine to litter and loiter in the area. Next, there’s urinating on the pavement and drug dealing and so on.
Get the picture?
Unfortunately, those who know and want better and who don’t care for such antisocial behaviour begin to retreat and don’t wish to get involved and register their disapproval out of fear of retaliation from the offenders. They avoid the area and don’t walk along those streets (much like those in Bermuda who avoid Court Street) which only allows offenders to feel free to continue with with their antisocial behaviour undeterred. This all helps to create a general sense of apathy in the community as crime escalates and disorder rules the day.
Back in the early nineties, when New York’s Giuliani and his team of city officials took the Broken Windows Theory approach to cleaning up the city, they aggressively targeted the turn-style jumpers at train stations, loiterers, prostitutes, and got rid of graffiti. Streets were kept clean, graffitti was removed within 24 hours of it appearing, and there was a zero-tolerance approach to law-breaking – no matter how minor. It seemed to work as NYC became a cleaner and safer city with crime rates dropping significantly over the years.
In Bermuda, since people are looking for solutions to end the disturbing trend of violent crime it might not be a bad idea to take a page out of Giuliani’s book and apply the Broken Windows Theory to policing on the island. Certainly, recent news of the government’s plans to tackle crime is encouraging. However, in addition to the raft of measures announced in the press over the past few days, we need to recognise it will take a community effort to support these initiatives. Yes, the government can take the lead with the necessary plans they have outlined, but in Bermuda we need to raise our standards, hold each other accountable, and be serious about enforcing zero-tolerance policies against antisocial behaviour. Our livelihood, safety, and comfort rest on it.
Here it is I’ve started a blog and haven’t even blogged for days after my intial post. But I do have an excuse. A good one. Over the past few days, I’ve been busy studying and doing research for a project. (Okay! I admit it! I still could have managed to jot something down!)
Well, let’s see if I can redeem myself by sharing a little something I happened upon this week when reading one of my fav online magazines. (Is that what you call an “e-zine”? Hmmmm…I’ll have to look that up.)
Anyhoo (my fav word…you’ll see this pop up several times throughout this blog, so take note!)…I love watching modern or contemporary dance and am known to pop over to New York near to the New Year to not only overdose on my usual trips to the theatre, but to specifically catch the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company’s special performance during that time of the year. I absolutely LOVE them. Come to think of it, I think I read that it’s their 50th anniversary this year, so it’s sure to be a coup to catch one of their performances before the end of the year.
However, I was excited to hear about this all male dance group called the Bad Boys of Dance. They look fantastic, judging from the video samples, and I MUST see them live!
Have a look for yourself:
This has me thinking that I do wish we had more male dancers in Bermuda. There is, no doubt, an unhealthy stereotype that young men and boys have about men dancing. Many of them think it is too girly and that they will not be seen as masculine if they get into it. I sense people, in general, share this stereotypical view and it further explains why more parents don’t, perhaps, encourage their sons to take on modern dance, either. That’s unfortunate, but I applaud the young men who do choose to pursue dance in Bermuda. There are great opportunities for those who work at it and demonstrate genuine talent and skill.
Okay, hopefully, I’ve redeemed myself and I promise tomorrow I shall write something a bit more cerebral. How’s that?
This little blog of mine has been sitting, unfurnished, in cyberspace for several months. Actually, I’d even venture to say it’s been “vacant” for about a year or so. Oh the shame. I know. But, then again, I’ve been busy. Busy living life and not feeling up to writing about it – not publicly, at least. However, I’ve now decided it’s time to move in – do a bit of interior decorating and get this blog a bit lived in. (Thankfully, minus the mortgage payments and land tax!…Now, there’s a topic!!!)
Trust me, I have no illusions about being some great writer, winning a blog award, or changing the world. I’m still busy, but I’ve just figured that for someone who is as opinionated as I am and who loves to talk and connect as much I do, a blog is most necessary. (I’m thinking they should have had blogs around when I was a kid and then my poor mother might not have had to endure every minute detail of my day when I got home from school; but as she did it with such adoration and encouragement, she surely brought it upon herself, eh?…and now you, dear reader!)
So, yes, I’m now, officially, a blogger.
Goodness! It doesn’t sound very appealing, does it? It smacks of some sort of sanitation job which, although a very necessary and honourable one, is not the glamourous image I was going for…
There’s no rhyme or reason to my musings. It’s whatever strikes my fancy. Knowing me, there is bound to be a bit of politics, psychology, human interest ramblings, and occasional humour for good measure, but all without the remotest intention of offending, of course; although that is bound to happen since we can’t keep each other happy all of the time on this little blue marble, try though we might.
Feel free to share your thoughts, but do be nice….Nice is good…
Last night I was looking for new music to download onto my iPod from iTunes. Have you ever tried this? Heavens! It’s addictive! Just bloody addictive, I swear! Actually, I’ve even started downloading TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy! How could I not?!) and films, but that’s an obssession to share another time. Anyway, as I was doing my browsing for tunes, I came across some old 
