So, last night the boards lit up like a krismus tree bc some blasted farinah wrote something about Belize and well, as usual, everybody get vex. BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It was hysterical y’all! Check it out for yourself: http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/16/tale-of-two-small-countries/#.TxTJaoyvbYY.facebook (You might have to right click and open it up in another page bc I noticed that this wordpress place doesn’t let the link automatically load) I wanted to get involved in the debates and tell people to calm down but people were so busy being defensive, I decided to wait until the fracas dies down a little. I can’t believe that we got mad at this guy. He only said what we already bloody know! But I suspect the reaction came from a place of shame and denial. It’s fine to live like this if nobody else knows our secret, then we could pretend that everything ok. Typical OSTRICH going on there. I say, if it bothers you so much to see your name in black being painted red, do something about it. I’m glad the secret is out. You can’t do nothing about something you don’t admit. It’s like the 12 Step Program y’all. The first step is admitting you have a problem 🙂
Belizean Politics
New Addition to The Aviary!!!!! by Fayemarie A Carter
MEET MILLICENT AVOCET
Millicent “Milli” “Blue Shanks” Audrey Avocet – “Blue Shanks” is the colloquial name for the American Avocet, earned for its thin, long, grey legs. Milli is an old school friend who has left Belize to live in Los Angeles, California in the United States. She is a nurse and lives in a multi-generational home, including her grandmother, her mother and her two children. In many ways, she has a mini Belizean community in her own home and this causes comfort and conflict. She enjoys having her own mother to take care of her children and to cook her food from her childhood but she resents living with the vestiges of traditional expectations for women. Her grandmother often admonishes her for the way she dresses when she attends church telling her she needs a lap cloth to cover her knees and when she would rather sleep in on a Sunday morning after a late night out, her grandmother blasts evangelical services on the television to bring “god” into her sinful life. Milli obviously will provide insight on the dilemmas faced by Belizean-Americans who dearly love their country but can’t seem to find a way to live home and as such, have created a new one abroad.
Milli is the Belizean citizen much depended upon by extended family left behind, to provide medicines, clothes and money via Western Union. She is more than willing to help as she keenly understands the lack of resources but often can feel put upon and over burdened by all the demands. She is the only one ever expected to contribute anything since she has an American job so that she becomes a de facto leader in every situation/family crisis. This creates tension among her family members because while she provides everything, the older members still feel that they can tell her what to do and treat her like a child. She is so tired of the constant requests that often she refuses to answer the phone. This causes her grandmother to start banging her walking stick on the floor, yelling at her to answer it because it might be an emergency. And to Milli, it’s always an emergency. Nobody ever just calls to ask how she is doing. If it’s not rent, it’s school fees, or money for milk and diapers, or graduation or confirmation. Sometimes, she wants to scream at them that she shouldn’t have to take care of pickney she didn’t have any fun making but she loves them all and doesn’t want to hurt their feelings.
Milli’s character is introduced to The Aviary when she returns home to bury her Granny Ray, an experience many Belizeans go through. While it is a time of grief, it is often a time of reunions and joy and there is much merrymaking at the wake which can last for nine nights or a novena. A novena is ritual performed in the Catholic Church lasting nine days, during which prayers for favour is asked. Mourning is only one of the reasons this ritual is performed and can be done in the home or at church or both during those nine days. In Milli’s community, they have integrated this religious ritual with cultural practice so that the result is very unique. Men and women dance and sing and play drums. They drink rum and play cards and dominoes. Neighbours come to participate at all hours; passersby can stop to spectate and are often invited to join.
The Avocet is an elegant bird with stylish plumage and a long thin beak suggesting the “nose in the air” many Belizeans resent returning Belizeans for. Education, sophistication and a certain directness is mistaken for snobbery and returning Belizeans can be shunned by their own family members. Many times, these Belizeans are told that “dey nuh memba whe de come from” but of course it is much more complicated than that. Hence, Milli is an important character even though her stay will be short. Milli embodies many issues facing a large, if not, the larger part of our Belizean population, the emigrants.
Daily Dingleberry 01-16-12
MLK Day. A man died for what he believed in. He had a clear vision. He had a clear direction. He knew the price he would pay and still, he would not be swayed, not by fear, not by intimidation, not even by the thought of the loss of his own life. It is insulting when his name is used to perpetrate lies and hate. It is insulting when we take the gift he gave us and spit on it. It is insulting when we use this day and his name to draw lines between black and white instead of what is wrong and what is right. Martin Luther King was an African American. He fought for the rights of other African Americans, yes. But Martin Luther King was bigger than that. He fought for human rights. He loved all his brothers and sisters. His own people didn’t agree with him about that, but he was insistent that as long as we all were not free, then none of us is free. So, show some respect for his sacrifice. Show respect for his vision. Don’t pick and choose pieces of his life, his message, to serve your less than honourable purpose. If you ain’t fuh all, you ain’t fuh none and you ain’t fuh Martin. Peace, brothers n sistahs.
Reunion by Fayemarie A Carter
Bernie Toucan and Doo Doo Chickadee are sitting on their usual spot by the junction of Fortification and Judgement Streets, having a bit of tea. It is a lovely afternoon and the long time friends are enjoying a lighthearted chat when they feel the wire dip. Both of them look over and give shrieks of surprise.
“Milli!!!! Millicent Audrey Avocet!”, exclaimed Bernie.
“Blue Shanks! Gial! Whe u di du ya?” asked Dodes excitedly. The friends come together for a warm embrace and kisses.
“Well girls. I’m here to bury my grandmother, Aurelia Avocet, memba shi? Granny Ray? She passed a few days ago and I brought her home. She insisted that she be buried here in Belize. U membah how shi does goh? Always have to have shi own way,” Mili smiled wistfully.
“I’m sorry to hear that Milli. I hope it wasn’t too difficult for you and your family?” asked Bernie.
“Well, she was almost 100 so we knew this was coming and the past few months, she was going in and out of the hospital. That was hard because it felt like I never left work, you know? Nurse at work, nurse at home,” said Milli.
“I’m sure she appreciated it, Milli,” said Bernie as she touched her friend reassuring on the shoulder.
“Gial but hmmm! Comin home da neva no joke! Dey harass me every step ah di way. Dey act like ah midi try smuggle drugs or something. Dey nuh know dat if a midi do dat, di coffin mi gwein di opposite direction? What di hell ah wa smuggle into Belize from States?” Milli’s eyes danced as she giggled. “Yu wud tink dey glad dat the immigrant di lef di country, right? Dey stop my rass da every station! Ah neahly miss mi connecting flight home. Ah tell di lady if shi nevah let mi goh, mi granny miya haunt shi rass sake a lef ah fi travel by shi self,’ said Milli.
“Haha!” laughed Dodes.”U nuh change nuh gial. U still di give trouble, big time lady and all.”
“Well! Dey piss mi off man! Ih does be dat I mi glad fi have a Belizean passport. I used to joke that I would nevah want a American one cause dey wa tek mi mek hostage. But hell! Ah di change mi mind. Ah mean, who wahn go thru da process da states? You have to pay almost a thousand dollahs den you hafi study and tek exam. Hmph! But lately, I might prefer be American.”
“Well, u know Milli, lately, wha latta pipple di rail up bout fi we citizenship. How easy it is fi get it and dat anybody could get it fi leebit a money or a simple vote inna elections. Jus di oddah day, PM give hundreds a pipple citizenship. Pipple nevah tek tu kindly. Seh how dey only di du it fi get votes cause dey desperate.” Dodes shook her head. “Milli gial. You might glad u live da States fi tru. Dis country jus di go to rass. Ah mean, why d hell u wa give a bunch a Guatemalans citizenship? Dey don tink we da fi dey? Now dey could vote and buy land and send dey pickney da fi wi school. Ih just bun mi when ah tink bout it.”
“Shit! Ah neva know tings get so bad gial Dodes,” said Milli. But dis rass nuh new mein. When ah midi go da SJC, dey used to talk bout di Chiney di pay like $45,000 fuh wa passport. At least den wi mid get something firit, right? But dis? Dey just di come tek whe dey done tink da fi dey already and we jus give it to dey!” Milli looked over at Bernie who had gotten very quiet, just sipping her tea every now and again. “Bernie. Whe di goh tru da maze a yourns?”
“Ahh.” Bernie sighed.”Ah jus di tink fi tru Milli. Ah mean, what do you do when something like this happen? Who u call? Is there even a process of inquiry?”
“Hey Milli,” said Dodes. “Di one good thing whe come outta dis? Dey gat deya 2 gial name Aria Lightfoot and Fayemarie Carter. Dey two deh awn gial. You know whe Aria seh bout di passport ting? Shi call Belize a prostitute! Something bout open fi business with evibady!” Dodes’ body shakes as she heartily laughs.
“Buwahahahahaha!” laughed Milli. “Dat da wa gud one Dodes! Suh wi da still ‘soldier taffy’? Wi jus do it legal like now. Wow!” Milli sobered as the thoughts swirled around her head. The Belize of her Granny Ray’s days definitely seem to be gone with her. This is one of the major conflicts she struggles with deeply. How can she, Milli, say anything about what is happening in Belize when she lives in a nice house and has a nice job in sunny California? She thinks of coming home often but she knows she is not ready to face this type of life where politics and one’s existence were one and the same. She shook her head as if to shake the thoughts right out. “Anyway, Dodes. Tell mi bout whe deya gial di seh.”
The friends sat on the wire for the next hour, until the sun sprayed its golden tendrils across the land, closing one more day, signalling one more triumph of survival over continued difficulties and challenges to all the good these friends knew as home.
What is your citizenship worth? – by: Aria Lightfoot
Citizenship means I am part of a country; it means I am co-captain of its future; it means I am a component of a blueprint; I belong; my future and past are interconnected. As a citizen, I can vote, agitate, engage, arouse, examine, and change the Constitution and legal framework of my country. It means that that Belize is me and I am Belize.
Every election season, politicians corrupt my citizenship for cheap votes. They “Belizeanize” hundreds and in some cases thousands of immigrants who share little or no historical, cultural or social similarity to me. They give away my impact as voter and further diminish my citizenship, so that immigrant citizens of Guatemala, a country that still claims ownership of Belize, can recreate the blueprint of Belize. Politicians of both parties have been guilty of the genocide of the Belizean people by systematically changing the cultural, ethnical, religious and social composition of the country. They have treasonously discounted the real citizens’ will and undermined their voting power.
What are the ramifications?
I am livid, outraged, insulted, dismayed to witness hundreds of immigrants lined up outside the immigration office waiting for their citizenship to be quickly processed before voters registration deadlines, a blatant erosion and devaluation my citizenship. Belize allows full rights as a citizen. It means that the person who was allowed to circumvent the process for an X on Election Day, enjoy the same citizenship as I do. That new citizen can run for public office, even the office as high as the Prime Minister of Belize; demand the benefits of taxpaying citizens such as social security benefits; influence the outcome of an election. It translates into zero political accountability as politicians continue to ignore the concerns of real citizens for ballot box stuffers.
Even more disconcerting is the long term effects. How much longer do politicians think it will be before immigrants realize their voting power? How much longer will it be before Guatemala will no longer need to claim us? Our politicians are handing over Belize vote stuffer by voter stuffer. How much longer before these political fools realize that their own children will suffer the encumbrance of such short sightedness.
In the US, I will never be able to run for the presidency if I decide to apply for my citizenship because I will not be a born citizen. Even a born citizen cannot run for public office unless they reside in the US for a determined amount of time and twelve years to run for the Presidency. The politicians cannot circumvent the citizenship process without a vote from Congress (a very open process). Even Belizeans value gaining citizenship from the United States because they know the process is arduous. After all the other qualifications, the immigrant must pass a background check, citizenship test, endure an interview. By the time you qualify for citizenship, the United States have indoctrinated the new citizens into the culture of being an American. Belize has no such system.
Internationally, travelling as a Belizean is becoming a difficult and a harassing experience. You know why? Our politicians are giving away our citizenship because they have no value for Belizeans. Our citizenship can be bought for money or votes. Have you tried getting a visa to visit the United States, Europe or Canada? The processes are becoming more intrusive, stricter, and costly to the average Belizean? In this post 911 era, Belize is like a prostitute, open for business for everyone with money or votes. Politicians have eroded the significance of my citizenship. I call on this government and future government to secure my children’s future and stop perverting my citizenship and start making laws to bring back an atmosphere of integrity and value to being a Belizean.
Daily Dingleberry 01-15-12
I don’t like when people make sweeping generalizations about entire groups of people. Those generalizations become nothing more than veiled accusations of the most dastardly kind and it just serves no purpose but to spread hatred and angst. Rebel! It is our duty to change that which we can but rebel FOR something. Today is Sunday, a day of rest for most of us. Give your maleficence a break and smile with your enemy. He’s hurting just as much as you.
Daily Dingleberry 01-14-12
Watched “Iron Lady” about Margaret Thatcher and it was a remarkable portrayal. Well it’s Meryl Streep, how bad could it be? But it was so stark a realization, to see this one lady surrounded by barking, patronizing, condescending men. No matter what we think of her, she fought a fight few of us could fathom, much less actually do. So, that brings me to the thought: why do we show such disrespect for our leaders? Ok, Ok…don’t shoot me! You can’t catch me anyway, I fly too fast 🙂 But really ponder: what must it be like to be a leader of a third world country, surrounded by the big, intimidating goons of the world? Can you do it? Would you know what to say? how to say it? how to dress? which fork to use? It is a daunting task so before you spew more vitriol and call our leaders horrible derogatory names, take a step back and show some respect, if nothing else for the fact that they are doing what you can’t or won’t. Her adviser said to her “Margaret, if you want to change your party, lead it. You want to change your country, lead it!” So stop talking and start doing lovers!!!!! Or else, sit down and shut the hell up!!!!
Re-View of Twocanview
The following is a reply I made to Aria’s post “Grade ‘F'” published on 01-10-12. As the debate on other pages heats up, I feel it bears further examination and continued discussion. We are watching Jamaica decide whether or not to remove the Queen as head of state and naturally we ask ourselves this question. It is important that we assess the situation from our unique position. We are not Jamaica. We are not Trinidad. We have to consider our culture, continued development as a new nation, our economy, our influences etc.
All of these assertions are true and any one of them is problematic and stymies true growth. Together, they become overwhelming obstacles. When looked through the lens of post-colonialism, however, the entire situation makes absolute sense. It is unfortunate, that in our zeal to become independent, we attempted to distance ourselves from all vestiges of anything resembling dependence and frankly, we didn’t have our big girl panties on. We hacked at the branches and tried to kill that tree but our roots were too deep and eventually, we were once again shadowed by colonialism’s canopy. On the outset, we appeared independent but what needed to become most independent didn’t. That, was our way of thinking. We are still waiting for someone to do it for us; we are still waiting for the second coming – a saviour who takes away all this chaos and solves our problems for us. How is that working for you? Daddy Colonialism and Mommy Commonwealth has done us a great disservice. They have created a situation of learned helplessness. The British Empire treated their subjects like children, incapable of making good decisions, incapable of being self-sufficient and in an attempt to break away, we cut off our noses to spite our faces. We have to revisit the impact of colonialism if we are to find the strength to overcome its devastation. Instead of being ashamed and embarking on denial to the point of destroying our heritage and history (referring to rewriting history or eliminating it completely to actually tearing down parks, bridges, monuments, anything that was British, under the guise of renovating/remodeling), we need to embrace that part of ourselves. Like it or not, they are our ancestors and I really think our great great grandparents would not appreciate that we are not only denying the British presence but we deny their struggle and survival too. We are survivors of the rape of our country, our people. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen or else we will never disembark from this self destructive path we find ourselves careening down. Let’s stop blaming the victims but lets also stop being the victims.
-Fayemarie, the other half of Twocanview
Thoughts? Rebuttals? Lemme hear it lovers 🙂
Who’s Who on Twocanview -Aria Lightfoot
Aria Lightfoot
On Faye’s initiative , I am writing my bio and my story leading up this blog for my readers.
Who I am is an ongoing journey in my life. The complexities of whom I am would likely bore most however, here goes:
I was born in Belize City but grew up in Belmopan. My parents were both career civil servants and were one of the “founding families” of Belmopan. As civil servants from the old colonial Belize, they were very ethics oriented and very much dedicated to their professions. My Mother and Father (both deceased) are still very influential in my life today. Both my parents were extremely intelligent and therefore having an intelligent child as myself was almost a given. J
My grandmother told me that when I was only two years old, I would beg her to go to the Indian shop next door to her house on South Street in Belize City. She said to me: “Aria, If I send you to the shop with 10 cents to buy something for 2 cents, how much change will you get” she said I sat and thought it out a while and said “Granny, why don’t you just send me to the shop with two cents to buy something for 2 cents! ” Need I say more..lol
As a student growing up, I excelled in school without studying much and without strict parents (I wish they were stricter with me on this). I would get lost reading our of encyclopedias. I use look things up to learn about it because I wanted to learn about everything. On the pleasure side of reading I enjoyed my mom’s collection of Sidney Sheldon books, Tom Clancy and Danielle Steel and some other hot romances, I was not suppose to be reading. I also enjoyed documentaries and biographies.
I am very nostalgic about growing up in Belmopan. May have been one of George Price’s greatest vision (before the politics began eroding the fabric we see today). Growing up in pan as it is affectionately known, was a very rich experience. I participated in ballet, contemporary dancing, youth groups, basketball and volleyball. I explored everywhere on my bike and on foot, visited nearby rivers and parks. I also traveled a bit as a kid, all over Belize and North America. My aunt was an archaeologist, so we visited many Maya Ruins. I was a big tomboy and as such was constantly chastised to sit properly, don’t whistle “ A whistling woman will never see the gates of heaven” , stop running around with the boys, stop with all the sports etc. I always challenged my Mom and others on these gender roles and use to ask her why would God give us the ability to do things men do, if we are not suppose to. As a child I have always challenged accepted status quo, especially when it came to the limitation of women. Honestly my parents spoiled me and I appreciate them for allowing me to grow in my own path.
One of my highlight (and so I thought), was meeting Philip Michael Thomas, the heartthrob from Miami Vice because my mom was a protocol officer at the time . I spent hours dressing up for him ..only for him compliment my sister on how cute she was…that ended my imaginary love affair. J I also got to go to political rallies with friends from opposing parties and found the entire politics rather entertaining . As students from Belmopan, we also got the privilege of visiting the Supreme Court in session and the House of Representatives and we were pretty much exposed to government all the time, so my interest in government is clear.
However, my world was not perfect. Within my diverse family, I experienced prejudice and classicism . My Mom married a poor black village bway who was a “nobody” police, while her friends and cousins and even siblings were marrying businessmen, “brand name men” (as I love to call them), foreigners etc. and in the social world of Belize creoles that was a “no no”…On my mom’s side of the family, the beauty of hair length, texture and everything Eurocentric was celebrated. One cousin even denied we were related once, obviously too poor to be affiliated with her. On my dad’s side, my cousins called me “white woman” and tease me because of the complexion of my skin. Such messages were confusing to me as a child as I personally could not see a difference, in my child brain, it seems that we were just all different shades of brown and I surely didn’t feel poor. “I didn’t know I was different until someone took the time to point it out” . It had a significant impact to shape who I am as a person. I realized from early that the outside of a person is the least important characteristic of that person.
I went off to SJC 6th form after high school. It was definitely a culture shock for me. The social dividing lines were prominent. People socialized based on status and similar economic background. It exposed me to the realization of the prejudices that is pervasive in our politics today. It was also the year of elections, the first time I actually got involved as a foot soldier, talking to people about voting and making a difference and the first time voting. At that time, politics was insignificant the day after elections was over.
My first year at 6th form years was also one of the most devastating chapters in my life. In 1991 my mom passed away from breast cancer. A disease that came back far more aggressive the second time around. She was my rock, I became a shell of a person for a while as I struggled with such a major change in my early life. All my pursuits was put on pause. I was accepted to the University of Toronto and did not pursue that avenue any further. The 90’s was not over with major losses and turned out to be the most devastating decade of my life. My mom and her two sisters fell victims to breast cancer. My uncle’s wife passed away and then my father. The most influential, foundational and important influences were gone. The biggest cheerleaders in my life were wiped away…in God’s saving grace my son was born in 1995 and it gave me some revitalization of the importance of my dreams.
After 6th form I worked for the airlines and the bank. The jobs were purposeless in making a difference, but secure and comfortable and eventually not for me. I worked at Prosecution Branch in 1999 and that job reignited the dimming light inside me. Working for government (against all the previous advice of my mom) was a difference between night and day, especially coming out of the private sector. The laziness and apathy was unbelievable. The corruption was rampant and the victims were the poor and uneducated and people without access to legal counseling. During my tenure there, I was offered bribes for cases, victim of political interference in cases, witness to unethical behavior of Bar members. The shocking perpetrators of such behavior made me realize I needed to continue pursing my dreams outside this corruptive environment. I walked out of that office with a clear conscience, never taking a bride, never prosecuting an innocent person and never succumbing to such an environment.
At the time, the Canadian Embassy was above the Prosecution Branch, I went upstairs, got an application (the internet was new for Belize), applied online to York University in Canada and the University of South Florida and got accepted to both colleges. The Canadian Embassy was a long arduous process, the US embassy was far more efficient and less bureaucratic, so I ended up in Tampa studying Political Science at the University of South Florida. I have a BA in political Science and excelled in that program. I have also completed one year of law school here in the US, but withdrew and today I am back at USF pursing a Masters in Public Administration.
I remember telling a businessman before I left Belize, that our country will become progressively worse as we selectively prosecute the poor and also because we have no compassion for our youths. I expressed by growing concern about corruption. A prediction easy to make but one I hate to see come to fruition .
I live in the United States but I read everything Belize. The news, magazines, and occasionally the Newspaper. I listen to all the Belize stations via TuneIn radio. The news has become increasingly alarming as the violence is becoming increasingly worse with attacks now being waged against law abiding citizens. Poverty and desperation is growing in Belize even though oil has been added as a major income earner. Corruption is now blatant and seemingly the order of the day.
I have reached out to other Belizeans about Belize’s situation but most people were oblivious, some were blinded by political affiliation, some defensive or offensive and some flatly didn’t care. Facebook has provided a great outlet to bring to light the growing issues in Belize. However, the idea of change has been growing in me for years. My hope is that Belizeans start addressing our issues from a Belizean perspective and not through the lens of politics if we are to forge a future for our children. Faye was one of the few people who I could debate with intellectually, passionately and even in disagreements, it never became personal. Faye is non-traditional, open minded and not afraid of her opinions. When she was censored on “Friends of Belize” Facebook page I realized that she was just the person that need to be uncensored. So here we are today. We started the face book page on Christmas Day and have had over 1000 hits. Our purpose is clear. We plan to discuss the issues in a serious and humorous way, away from political influence and pressure and hopefully in a balanced perspective. We are also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Twocanview. I hope you read, engage, and be part of a change to build a prosperous Belize for our children and many generations after we have gone.
Daily Dingleberry 01-13-12
I cian’t stand when people propose old archaic solutions that have proven ineffective ALREADY!!!!!! OR they insist it will work bc of some anecdotal evidence OR they fail to take into consideration that what works in one situation won’t ever work in another because they fail to take into account CULTURAL/SOCIETAL factors. Belize is like me 🙂 UNIQUE. As such, we really need to be careful about what changes we implement. Our people are a strange combination of fiercely independent, refusing to be seen as weak or bowing down to authority “nobadi wa tell mi wot fi do!” to very disorganized and under motivated. Figure out how to maneuver that, and you will find the winning solution. In the meantime, STOP REINVENTING THE BLOODY WHEEL!!!!! AND STOP SPOUTING USELESS RHETORIC!!!!
Twocanview LLC 