Politics

Do you trust experts? By: Aria Lightfoot

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Lately I have been getting into trouble with several people on discussion boards. I start-out thinking it is a logical, fact-based discussion. I try to use scientific information and studies and findings based on other people’s research or personal knowledge based on my own study. Before the discussion is over, it moves from discussing an issue to a personal attack, name calling analysis of my “immovable position”.  People seem to become offended when I question their information and logic. In a discussion, I expect more than feelings and inclinations. In a discussion, I will ask about facts and dispute information or simply point out the flaw in people’s argument.  However, when it deteriorates into the personal realm, I retreat, as I realize there is nothing more to discuss.

I was having a conversation last week with someone who said that Belizeans do not accept studies and information when it is presented to them from a fellow Belizean; however, if a foreigner would present the same information, they would be more open to it and more willing to accept it. I am inclined to believe such is true.  Prior to elections, Belizeans saw an onslaught of overnight “expert” pollsters who were actively conducting unscientific polls.  When I offered my opinion, or asked for scientific data to make a determination, it became a source of contention for some people.  I think that Belizeans are not fact loving people.  Many people argue points clouded with feelings and emotions, even if good scientific research suggests otherwise. Belizeans dismiss good scientific or expert information as biased, agenda based, unreliable or just unacceptable because it offends their belief system. Instead of examining their own failed logic, they dismiss experts in the field of study and conclude the study is faulty with no supporting evidence.  I have seen people dispute information based on the heading of an article without actually reading the article.  However, if you dare question positions and information source;  and if the person is unable to defend their position, they will attack you as a trouble maker and assert personality defects as opposed to addressing the said subject.  It is a phenomenon I have been noticing in many discussion forums.

The information age created a crisis for Libraries everywhere.  Suddenly people were no longer conducting research using libraries and as such the information superhighway initially caused libraries to close and book stores to close.  Now guess what? Libraries are now making a comeback as the information superhighway is now a cesspool of bad, confusing, and misleading information; creating a generation of pseudo experts reinforced by Wikipedia. This is the age of information and with so much information out there, people are unable to filter out the good from the bad information. As a result, people begin accepting information that supports their position regardless of source or credibility. Imagine spending thousands of dollars to study a subject, to have someone Google search a topic and use Wikipedia to dispute information.

Wikipedia can be a good source to help start a search for information, but it is NOT a reliable information source and just about any Tom, Dick or Harry can update Wikipedia.  Case in point, last week I was having a discussion with someone who decided to weigh in on the Trayvon Martin case and update Wikipedia. At no point did the person ever review the basic 911 tapes to form an opinion. His entire opinion was based on opinion pieces that he read from other people, rendering his opinion useless in the matter. However, he updated Wikipedia and many people are likely using his opinions as fact. When searching the internet, there is plethora of opinion based, biased based and non-scientific based information available through Google, Bing or any search engine.  When searching a subject, the results will not tell you whether you are getting back reliable information, it is merely giving you back information based on words you put in your search.

Belize has a wealth of intelligent people, but as Belizeans we need to learn to respect people’s expertise. We as Belizeans need to understand that someone who is an attorney, doctor, engineer, Ph.D. and Master’s degree holders are not experts in every subject; however, they are experts in their fields of studies.  An attorney with a LLB or JD should have the basic understanding of the laws of the country or state they studied in; a doctor is an expert in medicine etc.  We need to start appreciating that people who study for years to gain degrees, knowledge cannot be undone by one internet search.  And we need to learn to disagree without becoming disagreeable or personal.  Just because someone is an expert doesn’t mean that they are always right.  However, when disputing information, use reliable information to support your argument. Which brings be to my next point.  We don’t know to effectively argue in Belize.

We engage in debates to get our points across without appreciation for the other side point of view.   When our points are failing, we act offended, reduce the argument to derogatory and personal comments.  We refuse to examine our weakness in our argument, instead it is just easier to be rude and disparaging with our comments yet we sit and speculate why young people cannot work out their differences!  Our society is a reflection of us!  We are petty people!  Yes I said it!

We seem to be at a stalemate in our development in Belize. Never before have we had so many experts and yet it seems that maybe jealously, immaturity, pettiness, and negativity have hampered our growth.   We need to read some more, we need to spend time researching information, open our minds to experts in the field, accept we don’t know it all, respect differences and encourage healthy debate.  We need to grow up Belizeans and get over the tender egos that inflict us.

Finally, my last advice is that politicians are never a good source of information; like Wikipedia, you should use the information as a start and not as a conclusion to form an opinion.  My hope is that Belizeans can behave with civility and decorum in discussing our future, because we are creating the framework for our children and right now, the future is not looking good when adults are still behaving like a bunch of bickering, temper tantrum throwing 5 year olds!

Who do you identify with? by: Aria Lightfoot

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There is a theory which equates race and religion to social identity as opposed to actual race or religious belief system.   It is an interesting phenomenon as people identify themselves with a certain race or religion even though evidence is contrary to the person’s identity.  It may help explain the psyche as to how people function and why people seem to live such duplicitous lives.

I guess I first noticed this in the United States when I was asked to participate in a survey. The survey asked “What race do you closely identify with?”  I chose “African American” as a natural choice based on the limited choices offered. I later received a letter stating that I could not identify myself as an “African American”, unless I was an American.  I wondered “Whe kind a madness this and who cares so much to send a letter”.  It made me realize something else too.  Hispanics were identified by region and not race; which suggests manipulative statistics aimed at diminishing the power of certain races in America.   Whites in America are not subjected to regional identification. Therefore a white person from Europe adds to the population of the white race; however  other races are subjected to division and ultimately does nothing to give a clear picture of the different races that exist in America.  This method is cleverly disguised as a statistic where race and culture for minorities are intertwined and used to further separate races while the white race continues to statistically remain dominant.  I often questioned how a former slave colony that continued slavery almost 50 years after the rest of the world desisted would have such a small numbers of Black people.   Additionally being Black comes with many negative connotations that people prefer to be identified as anything else but Black. Also, by allowing people to self- identify further skews the statistics from the factual to the perceptive.  Interestingly, the 2008 Presidential Elections which gave President Obama and unprecedented win brought to light that there are many black races existing in America under the guise of “other”.  Many interviews identified blacks from the Caribbean, Africa, and Latin America who were disallowed from identifying as “African Americans”.

I know, you are asking why the nitpicking at race.  Simply because the word minority already signal lesser, or less empowered and therefore in some people’s mind hopeless.  It is these small indoctrinations of people that have them thinking that their thoughts, words, votes and in some cases lives do not count.  By separating minorities based on culture as opposed to race, and the constant bombardment of media demonizing Blacks further divides whatever power people may have.  People justifying the murder of Trayvon Martin is a perfect example of how such demonizing has become prevalent and acceptable in the American society.  The idea of dividing people into race categories and trying to decipher a common practice is racist in itself. We should be identified as one human race, where individuals are judged based on their individualistic actions and where people rally around each other because we all belong to one human family.  When we die, our bodies will fall apart and our souls will be judged according to our individual actions. Not on your race or religion or how much we were actively part of it.

As it relates to religion, we often hear Christians described as “one day Christians’; “hypocrites” or witness them acting and behaving contrary to their religious belief etc.  There is actually a simple explanation for this behavior.  Many people do not subscribe to their religion based on core belief in their churches’ doctrine; rather, many people belong to religion based on family relationship and social engineering.  It is estimated that 60 percent of Catholics disagree with most teaching of the Catholic Church; however, they continue to go to church based on family or social structures or standing within their society.  It is an amazing observable fact that many conservative members of the GOP stand on Christian principle but support policies that contradicts every teaching of Jesus Christ.

Even in Belize, people from the same families identify themselves differently based on the region of Belize they grew up, the families they marry into and their dominant language.  Some people of the same parents may identify themselves as Creole or Spanish depending on which parent they identify with or complexion they are born with. Belize racial mixing makes identification even more difficult.  Likewise as it relates to church, people can quote every scripture that condemns homosexuality but turn a convenient blind eye to adultery, lying, cheating, murder and every scripture that strongly condemn those practices.  The same people shouting God’s commandments at the top of their lungs are engaging in breaking quite a few them.

So what does that tell us about humans? We are the product of our social engineering. We identify and worship based on societal norms and not on facts or real belief systems. We love and hate each other based on who we identify with. We form judgments and positions based on how we are socialized rather on basis of right or wrong.  People need to wake up and realize that as humans;  we all want to belong;  we all want to be empowered; we are all seeking the same things; and we are all destined to the same end.  Creating categories of separation is as the most limiting and sad part of humanity and further evidence we are victims of a herd mentality.

The dichotomy of the Legal Advocate and the Party Faithful by: Aria Lightfoot

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“Never permit a dichotomy to rule your life, a dichotomy in which you hate what you do so you can have pleasure in your spare time…”
Pablo Picasso

The election season should be over in Belize; however, the Opposition feels slighted and has taken on a mandate to contest every conceivable angle available to them. I see both ridiculous and possibly legitimate challenges. The online forums that once promoted legal and political thought, advocacy, discussions, suggestions and challenges have taken a turn for the worse. Enter those forums now at your own risk; remember to put on your thick skins as the discussions have moved from issues to personal attacks. Party advocates are in no mood for logic, discussions or challenges.  Instead of addressing the issues, it has become a “bush doctor” psychological and accusatory evaluation of your position and if and when all else fails;  some good ole finger pointing, get out of here approach with a good mix of insults. I have deemed it the “bitch and whine club” (excuse the profanity). The opposition has literally hijacked certain social media forums and put out the “you are not welcome mat if you have differing opinions” approaches and tactics. . Their agenda is now set to promote their court cases through social media. They have no patience for discussion. Social media has become the battleground for free advertisements and agenda promotion.  A few people have confided in me that they now avoid certain sites because they have become attack sites for differing opinions. With that said, there were many issues that played out in the elections of 2012.  There were mistakes made by both parties and both expected to win. Every dirty trick was pulled out of the hat and only one winner prevailed. C’est la vie! Such is life! Be the change in the system;  but crying foul after engaging is the same behavior is  hypocritical!  I feel all the advocacy to promote party agenda disguised as social advocacy leads me to the following thinking.

Many times I have questioned the possibility for anyone, especially attorneys, to advocate positions which are contradictory to their party positions, and their personal belief systems. It suggests to me that having contradictory positions is having no position at all;  rather the person takes on a position based on public opinion, party trends or paid advocacy.  Such a clinical approach to advocacy forces me to make an observation that I think will manifest itself eventually.

I have much respect, unbeknownst to her, for one feisty legal advocate and party faithful. Her tenacity and ability to argue positions, even if it differed from previous positions just a month prior amazes me. And I am in no way being cynical.  She is the true legal advocate. She can argue from any position. She has proven her legal abilities to win hearts even if she loses court cases. However, I feel that her dual roles will eventually catch up with her.  The church agenda is popular in Belize and especially Belize City. I wonder how much the issue of gay rights played out in voting patterns. Everyone made an assumption that the elections was bought without ever conducting the necessary ‘after election’ poll to garner voter thinking.  A good friend of mine from a traditional PUP family and avid Catholic, refused to vote PUP because of the UNIBAM issue. She said it was the first time her family voted UDP because they saw the issue as of utmost importance to save Belize.  I tried to reason with her logic but religion is a powerful brainwashing tool.  I anticipate that my “friend’ the legal advocate and party faithful will be forced to make a choice very soon.  I sense these barrage of legal challenges signal political aspirations. If she has political aspirations, she will have to take a position on the issue. She will have to decide whether to advocate from the heart or to follow the drum of the party.  Both parties have distanced themselves from the unpopular issue. Some members of both parties have come out strongly against the UNIBAM position and no party wants one of their prominent members being a part of it.  So here lies the dichotomy of the legal advocate and party faithful.  How can you promote an unpopular position that your party prefers to distance itself from; how can you contest elected office on an unpopular issue and how can you continue to advocate from the heart?    Whose heart will be broken?

An interview with the Prime Minister of Belize by: Aria Lightfoot and Fayemarie Anderson-Carter

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Leadership is the ability to guide, energize or direct an organization, movement or country towards the accomplishment of a common goal. Leaders shape the destiny of that organization, movement or country and many times the organization, movement or country is defined by such leadership. Leaders are the force that determines the success of their organizations, movements and countries. The study of leaders and leadership qualities is vast and expands centuries. It covers numerous factors such as religion, politics, socio-economics, etc. It would be difficult to cover all the different types of leadership styles and theories in this piece.

Researchers have agreed that there are certain traits and characteristics that are normally associated with being a successful leader. The physical attributes are height, age, appearance, sex appeal, as well as, character traits such as honesty, integrity, vision, competence, integrity, enthusiasm and persistence. Leaders must be intelligent, progressive, decisive, and inspire confidence, trust and loyalty. Political scientist, James McGregor Burns, has examined presidents and world leaders and he came up with two distinctive type of leaders. He classified leaders as either transactional leaders or transformational leaders. A transactional leader motivates followers by recognizing their needs and providing rewards to fulfill these needs in exchange for performance and support. A transformational leader raises his/her followers’ aspirations to focus on “transcendental, higher level goals akin to self-actualization needs” .

Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of a transformational leader. He inspired followers to look forward to a new vision; to reject the status quo and to work for greater social justice. Barrack Obama inspired and raised the spirits of all Americans, especially African Americans, to once again believe that, regardless of station he/she is born into, regardless of race, anyone can rise to the highest position or status as long as he/she works hard. His rallying cry “Yes, we can” was shouted all over the world as supporters watched the United States elect its first African American president. George Price, implored Belizeans to break the grip of the colonial government and fight for and eventually win independence in 1981 so that today he is called “The Father of the Nation”.

The Prime Minister of Belize, Honorable Dean Barrow, despite criticism and naysayers is proving himself to be a powerful transformational leader. On March, 24, 2012, Twocanview had the privilege of interviewing the Prime Minister to get his perspective and to examine his leadership style. Twocanview has observed that much of the criticism aimed at our leaders is done without ever talking to the leaders. Getting a personal perspective before judgment is passed is definitely an important exercise.

The Prime Minister’s manner was very cordial, warm and inviting. This allowed us to just dive right in and begin our interview. Our first question to the Prime Minister was “why politics?” His answer was that he was born into politics. His grandparents, parents, uncle were actively involved in politics so that he grew up listening to animated and in depth discussions about current affairs right there in his living room. He watched as the different parties developed, declined and eventually, three of them would merge into the United Democratic Party (UDP). His involvement was a natural progression. He started as a legal advisor for the UDP was asked to run in city council elections,(which he won) then shortly thereafter in 1984, the general elections. His success in Belize politics is undeniable. He is the first Black Prime Minister of the Central American region and also the first leader of the UDP to win two terms consecutively.

The PM leads both his party, the UDP and the Government of Belize. Each has its own separate and particular challenges. He claims that at this juncture, the members of the UDP have coalesced to a strong cohesive unit, with no personality conflicts or serious grumbling. His biggest challenge is to maintain equilibrium, balancing expectations with conflicts.

As the Prime Minster of Belize, conversely, the challenges are innumerous. Belize is a small open economy. International trends can and do affect Belize: Europe’s struggle to balance its weakest members with the strongest in the union; shaky confidence in the United States’ leadership as the country faces an election year; the downturn of international tourism as a result of the worldwide recession. Surprisingly, Belize has not been as negatively impacted as other countries and our country actually did enjoy quite a healthy tourism trade last year, 2011. However, debt such as the “superbond” continues to obscure this progress. This creates increasing pressure to renegotiate terms so as to alleviate the strain on the economy and release funds for the continued development of our social programs.

Other pressing issues continue to include the Guatemalan claim, a complex conundrum spanning centuries which poses a constant threat to our borders and our resources as Guatemalan citizens ignore the laws of our land regarding immigration, agriculture and forestry. There is also the encroaching influence of the Mexican mafia infiltrating our justice system as they seek to cultivate means of transporting their illegal drugs and arms. Related gang violence is a real concern for many in urban areas and now even in the more rural villages.

Domestically, the PM faces the difficult task of providing immediate relief to our most impoverished while trying to develop sustainable, long term solutions for employment, education and proper medical care. All the while he is diligently pursuing these goals, he is bombarded by rambunctious advocacy groups with different agendas. Critics weigh in on his decisions and policies relentlessly and seemingly without any real purpose but to detract and create disharmony and fear. The Prime Minister must take account for it all, navigate a philosophical and realistic course with purpose and effectuate policy that is beneficial for all Belizeans.

When we asked the PM in what direction would like to take Belize, he said that social justice is the hallmark of his government. He wants to uplift the marginalized people of Belize. He describes his ideology as being similar to that of the democratic party of the United States. He was emphatic in juxtaposing the Republican philosophy against the Democrats’ in order to state that he does not believe that government should stand back and just let the corporations dictate the people’s fate. He believes that “government must function to alleviate the hardships in people’s lives”. His government believes in the ‘pro-poor programs” such as the Food Pantry Program in Belize, Cayo, Toledo Districts where the working poor can buy food at a reduced cost. He assists heads of households, mostly single mothers, with a monthly subsidy called Boost in exchange for compliance with truancy laws etc. He is determined to continue to develop more social programs in this second term of government.

A priority for the Prime Minister is increasing the growth of the private sector. As the world economy gradually improves, Mr. Barrow plans to seek ways of helping the private sector to pick up the pace through increase production. This translates into more taxes which benefits the people of Belize through funding of more social programs. He admits that one of the biggest impediments has been the increasing fuel cost. Although the government may benefit from exporting crude, Belize must turn around and import the refined oil at high cost. The Prime Minister tells us there are plans for a refinery. Belize National Energy (BNE) is the only company that has found oil and presently exporting crude oil so BNE will be initiating plans to build the refinery. It is the Prime Minister’s intention that Belizeans will benefit from the refinery through ownership of shares. He plans to ensure that BNE continues to act in the best interest of Belize by allowing for a certain percentage of the shares are owned by Belizeans.

We then asked the Prime Minster what he considers his leadership style. The Prime Minster said that he is not a “micro-manager”. He believes that people should be allowed to do their jobs without constant interference from him. He said that given the magnitude of his own responsibilities, that would make for an impossible situation. He has an expectation of professionalism, honesty, and utmost respect for the people. He admits he is a forthright person. He will directly address issues as they present themselves but it is not his style to be arbitrary or condescending to his staff.

This brought us then to the question of what the Prime Minister thinks about criticism branding him as arrogant. He said that he doesn’t consider himself to be arrogant but rather thinks of his approach as direct and confident. However, if his critics insist on labeling him as such, he would prefer to be known as arrogant rather than dishonest. He reiterated that he conducts his office professionally and with rigorous honesty. No one can accuse him of receiving bribes or collusion. He is honest with the public about difficulties we face as a nation. He refuses to conceal the truth and does not hide behind rhetoric. He further went on to claim that there is absolutely no incidence or occurrence of fact to substantiate the rampant accusations of antagonists. He feels that “independent and fair minded voters” could easily identify the strengths of his character. He believes that regardless of all the negative information that is propagated out there, people who believe in facts, will know the truth and that truth wins out in the end. Ultimately, he feels that he will be judged by his integrity and openness to the public.

We followed this by asking the Prime Minster if there was any one leader with whom he identifies. He said that he is a voracious reader and as such, he is familiar with many well-known leaders, but he feels that at this moment he can most relate to the President of the United States, Barrack Obama. He acknowledges that the population size of Belize is nowhere near that of the US nor is our government near the scope of that of the US. Nevertheless, he feels that like Obama, he was hailed as the agent of change and as they both began their terms, he watched, that similarly to himself, President Obama’s high approval ratings gradually declined as time progressed. The recession dashed hopes, demanded compromises and spurred economic crisis. He said that while Belize’s parliamentary system does not face the gridlock of the United States’ governing body, Belizeans are faced with similar economic conditions, expectations and challenges, thereby creating similar tensions, disappointments, negativity and disharmony. The Prime Minster said that despite the tense atmosphere and barrage of allegations cast his way, the President’s eloquence, persuasive nature and the way he balances his rhetoric is admirable. Along with paying keen attention to the goings on in our neighbour’s government, the Prime Minister also does a lot of reading. In order to keep up with world events and to make decisions with an accurate perspective of Belize’s place within a global context, the Prime Minster reads much about world politics and world economy in papers such as The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal as well as magazines and books. As for light reading, he prefers classics such as George Elliot, Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte.

The final question was more personal in nature as we asked the Prime Minister about the effects that a diagnosis like that of Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow has had on him. He said it was a tremendously difficult moment when he found out she had cancer. He describes the worst night of his life as when they were waiting for the results of the scan which would determine if the cancer had spread. Her diagnosis was Stage 3, but could have also possibly had advanced to Stage 4. He was absolutely relieved to find out that it was not a Stage 4 diagnosis. He said that even though he has had a tough time watching his wife undergo this fight for her life, he can only imagine that “it is a million times rougher on her”. He said Mrs. Barrow has been a “trooper” so that even though she has had some low moments during the course of her treatment, her courage has been a powerful testimony to her character. She is brave, unrelenting, calm and positive.

At the end of our interview, he thanked us for the opportunity to add clarity and definition to his position and that of his government. We in turn, thanked him for the opportunity to provide our readers with such an up close look into the inner workings of our leader. We also wished him, the First Lady and their family, all the best for the upcoming medical visit this week.

Our Impressions of the Interview:

Leadership is a process. It is such an arduous task that in fact, given the opportunity, most people could not function as leaders. In addition, leadership today is made even more difficult as society has grown cynical, disrespectful and doubtful. We are now in an information age where lies and propaganda can be disseminated in a matter of seconds. People can damage a person’s credibility and reputation in a matter of minutes.

I (Aria Lightfoot) met Justice Clarence Thomas in 2011 and he said something that resonated with me. “We can no longer raise a generation of children believing the game is fixed and raise them in a cynical society and cynical about leaders”. He said that children must believe in hope and possibilities for them to chart the future of the United States. As builders of Belize’s future, we must learn to be respectful in our approach to all our leaders. Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Dean Barrow, has given his entire life to the betterment of Belize. In spite of all the unfavourable political rhetoric that is out there, Belize’s democracy is more vigourous, informative and louder than any other time in our history. We have freedom of speech so our leaders are under constant scrutiny and criticism. Therein lies the most precious gift of our time: the freedom to be who we want to be, the freedom to want what we want and the freedom to demand it from our leaders.

In light of our economic crisis, crime rate, poverty and this recent underlying divisive agenda of anti-government proponents, Belize needs confident, skilled, experienced and unifying leadership. Benjamin Franklin once said “any fool can criticize, complain and condemn and most fools do”. We should be offering solutions to help build Belize. We are at a moment in our society where pettiness, vendettas and irrelevance should not enter into our public debate. We need to agitate for changes but we should not agitate with the sole purpose of undermining our society. We keep reading sentiments such as “this is not my PM or government, I did not vote for him”. Whether or not you want to accept it, once elections are over, the government of the day is each and every Belizean’s government.

We, at Twocanview, only have the best interest of all Belizeans at heart and wish only the best and most progressive leadership for our nation. Is the Right Honourable, Dean O. Barrow, that leadership we seek and need? Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s lend our best efforts to the development and growth of our country.

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

-John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

 

Hitler Who? by Fayemarie Anderson (yes, that one) Carter

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Look again. These are bodies.

What are you looking at?

Lately, as political debates reach ever higher summits of the ridiculous and maniacal, a common name hurled at people we don’t like is “Hitler“.  Now, we can all understand getting passionate about issues. The strength of our convictions and raging adrenaline gives us overwhelming courage to raise our voices and pump our fists. But to call your nemesis “Hitler” just because you don’t like him/her or don’t agree with his/her ideology is very immature, reactionary and truly tasteless.

It is very concerning to see OUR leaders act in such an  irresponsible and inflammatory manner. It almost always plays out the same way no matter if it happens in lee Belize or the big ole United States. Some high profile politico calls an opponent “Hitler”; it causes fierce controversy; the aggressor backs down but by then, the damage is done. That name, that image is forever linked in the voters’ minds.

Even people who are shocked and aghast at such vitriol, like the Germans in the 1930’s, we tell ourselves, “Oh, he didn’t mean that. It won’t turn into anything. After all, I know him. He is my cousin. He is a nice guy.” But that is the frog boiling. You know the metaphor: A frog, dropped into boiling water, will frantically try to escape. But if you place that same frog in a pot of tepid water and gradually raise the temperature, he will languish in stupor and smile his way to death. Is that what is going on here? I think so.

People with malintent and less than stellar ethics, are trying to colour our vernacular with the blood of millions of people who were murdered under the directive of a  lone, evil %$#&@!$*!@^#. Do you understand that when you use the name “Hitler” in vain, you insult the victims and the survivors of the most monstrous acts committed against humanity, EVER?  When we call others “Hitler” we minimize the horrors the whole world had to fight to overcome.

Imagine YOUR family portrait. Do you see your mother; your grandmothers; your father; your grandfathers; your aunts and uncles; your cousins; your baby brothers; your four year old sister. Do you see your mischievous 10 year old cousin pulling his sister’s hair? She is the one with her mouth formed in an “O” in surprise and pain. And then there is your tomboy of a 12 year old sister making googly  eyes at the camera.  Are you smiling? Now imagine putting an “X” on each and every face and telling your grandchild, “Hitler killed him”; “Hitler killed her”; “Hitler”; “Hitler”.

Lemme ask you something: Has any one of our leaders ever told millions of people they had to identify themselves by wearing a distinctive symbol signifying that they are the scourge of their nation? Have you ever had to watch your children being taken from you and put on a train to a concentration camp, your son is 4 and your daughter is a screaming 2 year old? Did you have to watch as soldiers lined up hundreds of the old and sick, each one being riddled with bullets in the blink of an eye? Did you have to watch your mother shrivel up from hunger and die slowly from the simple flu because she has no medicine or the strength to fight? Did you have your gold teeth ripped out of your mouth so some bastard can take the gold and melt it down? How about skinning your neighbour so a General can have a lamp shade made of his skin? Did you have to watch your daughters/sisters rounded up and sent to labs where there insides were mutilated and injected with poisons in “experiments”? Were you made to give up all your clothes and warm shoes then left to shiver in negative 30 degree Fahrenheit bitter cold winters?  And you better not stop working because you will be butted in the head by a gun.

No. You haven’t. And you won’t.

And before you dismiss my plea because you are telling yourself that it will never get to this point so why bother discussing it? It didn’t start with the gassing and the shooting. It started with toxic rhetoric. Beware words like: dictator, imperialist, unilateral, uncaring, supremacist, socialist,  or phrases like “threat to our freedom”; “if you are not with us, you are against us”; “it’s us versus them”; “take back our country”. And whenever you are not allowed to criticise a political proponent’s ideology and in turn are accused of being a “traitor” or identified as being partisan and blind, that is a huge signal that true democracy is NOT that proponent’s intent. Then, there is the actual poster with our Prime Minister dressed as Hitler himself. I’m not showing that picture here. That would give it more press and I refuse to be a part of that. Go look for it yourself.

It is a shame that politicos with self serving agendas are playing on people’s fears and emotions. Hitler took advantage of a depressed Germany to push his hate filled objectives. At first, the Germans didn’t even like him. He was unsuccessful at his early attempts. As the environment became more desperate and people sought a leader, he became their saviour, their knight in shining armour. None of them realized what they were heading for. Is this what we want for our people? More hate? More violence? More devastation? Check yourself. Check your motives. Check your tactics because it might turn out that “Hitler” is YOU.

Andre Alamina on his way!

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Lady Kim Barrow, Andre Alamina, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Alvaro Alamina

Andre Alamina, Winner of twocanview.com essay contest,  got an opportunity to be a guest at the ceremonial opening of Parliament today.  I am very proud of Andre…Keep up the good work and reach for the stars!

Kay Alamina, Lady Kim Barrow, Andre Alamina, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Alvaro Alamina

Lady Kim Barrow, Andre Alamina, Alvaro Alamina, Kay Alamina

Are you Sheep? by: Aria Lightfoot

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What is Propaganda?

Propaganda is literally translated into the “dissemination of information” and is the deliberate spreading of rumors to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution,  nation etc. to influence a person or community toward a certain position.  The information is many times geared towards telling the audience what to think about the issue or many times innuendos are used in a strategic way to get the audience to come to their desired conclusion.  Many times the propagandist appeals to your sense of emotions rather than intellect.

Where does the term come from?

The term originates from a committee of cardinals established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign ministries and the training of priests for these missions. After Pope Gregory XV passed away, he was succeeded by Pope Urban VII who established a school for the education of priest for foreign missions called the College of Propaganda.  Pope Urban VII waged war and propaganda to spread the “good news” …today, the Catholic Religion is still the most powerful religion in the world.

What are the tactics?

  1. Repeating information several times in different mediums until it is accepted as a fact without actually producing facts.
  2. Using catch words such as “reliable information”  or unconfirmed reports or “someone very close to me says” are telltale signs of the propagandist.
  3. Being vague, suggestive and illusive
  4. No evidence is offered
  5. The tone is accusatory
  6. Questions are rhetorical

How to overcome propaganda?

Remember, the propagandist may be your parents, who have held on to age old belief systems;  or your political parties, whose agenda is to win elections; or your priest or pastor, who interpret the Bible for you;  or your spouse that tell you how to think;  or some trouble maker gossiper.  Propaganda fails when the audience demands accountability and facts.  Simply by asking questions instead of tacitly accepting information one can undo the propagandist. If you ask too many questions the propagandist may become unraveled and unleash negative comments your way because they may not even know they are repeating unsubstantiated information.   When we begin as a society to demand sources and evidence we will begin to appreciate real integrity in communication.   When we accept propaganda, we diminish our capacity to think critically.  So my questions are…Do you accept everything you hear?  Do you ask for proof? Or are you sheep?

She seh, She seh: by Fayemarie Anderson Carter and Aria Lightfoot

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(Aria) I landed in Belize on March 6, 2012 and I was confronted with the political season from the get go. People were coming in to vote; there is was no doubting that. I saw political agents picking people up from the airport. My friend who is an avid UDP supporter and I met up in Miami. Her dad gave me a ride from the airport and the funniest thing he said was “Aria, I am not sure who you are coming here to vote for…should I just drive you in the woods somewhere and leave you there until the day after elections…” I laughed, maybe he was serious.

I had the opportunity to speak to several people regarding voting and I was a bit surprised at what people were telling me. I spoke to several people in Freetown who abstained from voting because they were not going to vote for no chineyman and not going to vote PUP. I even tried to reason with people about the importance of voting and people were adamant. I also spoke to well- known PUP (never voted Red) supporting family who told me they voted UDP because they don’t want Obama money encouraging homosexuality and Lisa M Shoman was going to change the laws. I met people who thought Dean Barrow wanted to take over Belize forever and were afraid of him…and all I thought was “how did we become so ignorant with the burst of information sources in Belize?” It seems to me that people were making choices based on fear and misinformation. I concluded that we are such a lazy society that we just sit and depend on other people to bring information to us without demanding sources, facts or evidence. So, it seems that politicians were playing on the fears and ignorance of people this election season and they played a dangerous game encouraging fear, spreading misinformation. It is really should not be just about winning, because fear and ignorance have been the biggest contributors to some of the worst atrocities in the world.
During my trip, I did meet some intelligent young people: kids who were savvy and open minded and were clear on the issues and mistrusted the information of the politicians, kids with no affinity for any party; kids who will represent the new swing voters in 5 years. I also met Andre Alamina, our winner of the twocanview essay contest. He was impressive in person, an intelligent humble young man who already knows what and where he wants to go in life. I see a light of hope for these youths since I met so many negative, fanatical older people who have accepted fear and hate were crucial voting factors.

I also noticed that some friends were so entrenched in the political game, that they avoided me, the ones who thought that politics were more important than friendship. It made me reflect. Why are we so divided in our society over something that really doesn’t impact us as much as we think it does? Of the 300,000 people voting, I bet 299,900 people lifestyle remains the same regardless of political party empowered, so it is truly a phenomenon and psychology that should be examined.

The highlight of my trip was meeting Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow. She was elegant and beautiful and very accommodating. She openly shared her struggles and pain and I see a fighter and a woman who will triumph. She transcends the political divide. She is something special. She has already touched the lives of many families who suffered in silence and took the shame away from the debilitating effects of cancer treatment.

We (Faye and I) also met the Prime Minster, the Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow. He was  very charming and accommodating and we met him in the midst of a crisis…dealing with the incident at Chetumal that “didn’t really happen.” I see why PUP hate him too…He is a formidable opponent and when juxtaposed against their leaders, there really is no comparison.

After that meeting, Faye and I met Glenn Tillett , who took us to Chaps in Buttonwood Bay. (Best tacos and margaritas I have had in Belize). To our surprise, Joe Coye was also there and after hours of conversation, drinks and tacos, I must say Joe was quite the charmer, story teller and philosopher. I am still waiting for the “rat in the cellar” analogy. A story he teased us with all night but never quite told.

Twocanview with Glenn Tillett and Joe Coy at CHAPS

Just before the night was over, the Hon. Said Musa (former Prime Minister of Belize) walked in. He also came over and exchanged pleasantries and took pictures with us. I was left with a favorable personal impression of all the politicians for that day. It is definitely a different picture from the thieving lying scoundrels that I have passively come to accept.

 

I realize, politicians are intoxicating individuals, I see why people enjoy being around them, why people become fanatical followers and also why people are many times disappointed when they fail to deliver. When I met Justice Clarence Thomas in the DC, I got the same impression about him. The sense of power and confidence exuded from him. He was a powerful Supreme Court judge and his essence was electric. However, if you don’t step back from their flattery and charm, you too may get caught up in the hypnotic gaze and fanatically follow them.

I guess I am most disappointed after the elections were over; it was quite disheartening to read Belizeans advocating and waiting on the sidelines for the Prime Minister to fail. I think that people think that supporting a political party is like supporting a basketball team or football team. They fail to see that if any Belize government fails, then we all fail. If you are celebrating crime increases, or price increases or devaluation, then you fail to see the big picture. What affects Belize will affect you, regardless of your political color or affiliation. It will affect you regardless of your race or ethnicity. We need to stop with the herd mentality when it comes to politics. Just because PUP or UDP says something doesn’t make it true. Investigate and ask questions. If a policy is good, it doesn’t matter if you are PUP or UDP, we should be encouraging good policies and discouraging bad ones. Opposition does not mean that we oppose everything. Opposition is there to act as a check and balance of the government of the day, not to criticize everything and find a way to dismantle every good idea.

So my ultimate thoughts on the elections: It was an election where bribery, racism, offshore drilling, immigration, corruption and every conceivable underhanded commercial or tactic was used by two parties. PUP crying foul because they lost by a razor thin margin is as hypocritical as any party can be. So my cynical side asks:  if both parties cheat, is the contest really unfair?

(Faye) Well Aria, I had some similar experiences. When I landed in Belize on February 24, 2012, obviously it was not for the same purpose. I was here for my brother’s funeral. But of course, politics was bubbling frantically. I had to travel up and down the Hummingbird Highway, the Southern Highway and the Western Highway, not to mention I was staying at the Pelican Beach Resort, so I was right next to the airstrip and I saw politicians come and go. The PUP machine was out in full force. Everywhere I looked in the South and West, gigantic blue and white flags covered trees and buildings. They were so large, that some voters jokingly said that instead of flags, the PUP should have made them into blankets for the homeless. On every lamp post was smaller, but no less distinct and impactful, blue and white posters. Sometimes, as I drove along, trucks carrying supporters to and from rallies almost ran me off the road in their zeal to get where they were going. Oh yeah, y’all need to NOT do that. It doesn’t speak well of your leadership qualities. The impression left is that of bullies. It wouldn’t do for you to get into accidents with people being flung out of the back of your trucks. Bad press, no bueno.

Along the way, I heard speeches being given; rallying cries shouted over bullhorns and secret support being whispered in the ear of politicians. I heard one PUP campaign manager definitively claim victory, reassuring whoever was on the other end of the phone that all the effort was not for naught. And he was working tirelessly, driving all over the countryside from morning till night, even going to immigration several times to ensure that certain supporters received their nationality. As for UDP, I heard a lot of complaints in the south. From the Rosewood issue to the bloody annoying as hell pedestrian bumps all along the flippin Placencia road. Seriously, that stretch added an hour to my drive time instead of the 20 minutes it should have taken to drive from Placencia to Maya Beach. I call them the “check if you left your wreck behind” bumps. I have to agree, they got to go. And the irony? Not a pedestrian in sight for flippin miles. And yes, that is a jab at my Uncle Melvin. Madafish!

THe Pedestrian Bumpah Scrapahs

My specific gut stabbing moment though, was driving through Dangriga. I know we are poor. I grew up there, but what I saw was just overwhelming. I don’t mind unpaved roads, ok? I understand that garbage barrels can and will get full to over running. I know that wooden houses sag and roofs rust BUT my goodness! It’s like as a collective people, the whole town is just depressed, so depressed, that noticing things like garbage on their steps is too much. Or noticing that the school is falling apart is too much. Or noticing that the grass is taller than I am is too much. It was seriously distressing. People walked slowly as if in unison, they all decided, it’s too much to even walk with purpose. And the only businesses that seem to have business were the Chinese grocery stores, and there were plenty of those. I am glad that the Chinese are finding success, but where are my Garinagu?

On a more positive note, there were many things that one could say is progress. Some will disagree I am sure but one cannot please everyone. The Kendall Bridge is being built…the road to Placencia is a flippin blessing! There is so much money to be made alllllll along the way: Hopkins, Silk Grass, Seine Bight…I am so happy that we have a highway finally! I remember it taking 8 long hours to get to PG one time because it had rained and our bus got stuck twice in the mud. Despite the poverty in some places, there is obvious development all over: Belize City; Belmopan; San Ignacio, Placencia, Caye Caulker, even some parts of Dangriga.

Sunrise at Tradewinds Cottages in Placencia, Stann Creek

My old school Ecumenical looks bona fide with benches, a cafe and nice little flowering bushes and trees dotting the landscape. Did I mention all the damn vehicles everywhere? And laptops and cell phones! SO…we do have access to information. I don’t want to hear that “we didn’t know” cas u damn well know what your neighbour is doin’ the minute she does it. So start paying attention to your political/socio-economical world.

Look good and find the brand new laptop.

Oh! And Prince Harry was a cutie-pie! Definitely worth the long hot wait! It was so much fun…made me feel like a little school girl again, I swear. I saw so many friends and family out there. And who could forget the two foot cow with no tail? He just walked up to my dad and said, “Awnisin?” like old times 🙂


This is a sentiment I heard toooooo many times: “me nah wah mess wid politics! me nah gat time” or “why bother? nobody nuh wah give me nuttin?” SMH my answer to that? “You better!” It is just so irresponsible not to be involved in our community in some way, shape or form. When our neighbour succeeds, so do we all. So the flip of that is: when our neighbour fails, so do we all. We can’t say crime is the police’s problem. That criminal is our damn son, our uncle, our mother, our aunt. We can’t say the school is the government’s problem because it is our children sitting in dank classrooms, bellies hungry while they swat at flies and struggle to read what is written on termite eaten black boards. We can’t say that the cancer victims and diabetics need to just go to the hospital to die because they deserve to be treated with dignity and their families need them to survive. We can’t just shake our heads and pump our fists when yet another little girl is raped, scarred for life. We need to take care of her and let her know we love her. Don’t shun her and pity her like she is a whimpering dog. She is strong and can overcome.

I heard desperation, I felt depression and I saw helplessness. Belize can be better but you gotta believe my people, in YOURSELVES. You’ve been downtrodden for too long but your voices ring in the night and your hopes shine on for all to see. Grab your life by the balls and take control of it. Stop waiting for that knight on the white horse. He ain’t coming. You have been your own hero all along.

Making our mark at Lazy Lizard's at The Split, Caye Caulker, Belize

(Aria) Our trip ended on a high note. Faye and I spent the last two nights in Belize at the beautiful Caye Caulker which was illuminated with the full moon.  Caye Caulker still offers the laid back rustic life for travelers who are weary of the rat race. It is a place where I can see myself running to time and time again for mental relief and visual ambience. (visit the split and look for our www.twocanview.com logo written on the railing).

Belize is our homeland and like every Belizean home or abroad, we all want the best for our country.  I believe in dissent as an important part of democracy but let’s elevate the debate to a professional and civil level. Passionate should not mean rude or personal. Disagreeing should not be diminished to mean and disagreeable. And my Belizeans start demanding verifiable information and stop accepting gossip and propaganda when making crucial voting decisions.  We must elevate ourselves first and everything else will naturally follow.  I love my blue friends and I love my red friends and I love my color blinded friends. But most of all I love Belize and I anticipate each government job is to create a better future for ourselves and children;  to ensure the safety and security of its citizens;  to provide a means for success we can take advantage of; and to ensure we remain a jewel. Let’s strive for utopia and let’s climb out of the gutters of politics in Belize.

Sore Losers by: Aria Lightfoot

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Look, I don’t mean to be a sore loser, but when it’s done … if I’m dead … kill him!

— Butch Cassidy

The elections are over and it played out like the final seconds of a heated game. Supporters from both sides held a collective breath as the magic 16 was reached.    UDP emerged the winner.  It was a well fought race on both sides.  Neither side seemed to have the advantage, and the final results indicated same.  The questionable tactics used by both parties did highlight some failings in our system. Corruption has spilled out and is now so open that it no longer offends the conscience of the reasonable man.  The standard has been lowered in our society. With that said, there seem to be a new disturbing cultural trend emerging- little or no respect for the highest office of the land; the Prime Minister of Belize.

Obviously the propaganda machine did not stop when elections’ season ended.  In fact, Belizeans are being told there was voter fraud, election cheating and just about every allegations and enough misinformation to convince people that their vote did not count.   I am seeing unfounded allegations being dangerously spread via the internet trying to convince people that PUP was cheated and they should be the rightful government; that Belize is headed for a dictatorship (for the past 5 years);  that our PM resembles a monster who murdered 6 million people, namely Hitler.

During the elections, Belizeans passively accepted the entire deterioration of our electoral process; however, the election is over and so should the silly season.  Belizeans tolerated the most distasteful, disrespectful and personal commercials ever seen in the history of our elections and it seems the deterioration continues, except with a dangerous undertone now. It stinks of poor sportsmanship and PUP is emerging as a sore mean loser with the rhetoric and lies to instigate mischief.  All these  allegations by the way,  attack the credibility of our public officers who conducted the counting in front of both parties and observers; it shows a lack of integrity of the people spreading rumors and it ultimately teaches our people and children to be disrespectful and distrustful of our leaders.

One more thing, anyone ever wonder what is PUP’s unhealthy obsession with Dean Barrow? Methinks racism albeit subtle! How dare this black man talk to ‘us’ this way?  Doesn’t he know his place?   We are so colonial in our thinking that even some black people are taught to believe a black man should not be as powerful and as successful as Dean Barrow.  Dean Barrow is no more or less arrogant than Said Musa was.  Dean Barrow is as successful as any intelligent attorney in his field and there is no doubting his personal success.     In fact, PUP rhetoric is a script from the Tea party rhetoric against President Obama.  The same Hitler accusations; the same rumors about “taking away the country”; the same talk about Obama’s arrogance. I find the recent posting and allegations to be salacious, tasteless, divisive, racist and inflammatory.  The election is over. PUP has lost! Accept defeat gracefully and move on.  I am turned off with the divisive and disrespectful rhetoric.  Please let us move Belize forward for all Belizeans.   Not a good look PUP…Not a good look!

My Vision for the Nation as Prime Minister of Belize by: Andre k. Alamina

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Our country is polarized by politics so much so that in the past 30 years of our short independent history, representatives from both political parties have rarely, if ever, united amenably for the betterment of our country as a whole. Instead, they eradicate or undermine policies set in place by the previous administration, essentially starting policy making from scratch. This, I believe, is one of the major reasons why our country has found such difficulty in making large economic, social and cultural strides towards a better Belize. If I were given the opportunity to lead this nation as its prime minister, my first order of business would be to create a master plan for the next 10 years in Belize. It will be a realistic, but challenging and robust blueprint that includes the prospective future for healthcare, industry, immigration, housing, education and other factors.

Among the many things I will need to accomplish with the initial establishment of my administration, one of the first things I will need to do is to seek and surround myself with people who are of high integrity, competency and committed to the development and betterment of our country. As the Prime Minister, I will never have all the answers, and I will need to be advised by talented and knowledgeable Belizeans living within the country, and those who are members of the Belizean diaspora overseas (who constitute for a large percentage of our educated population). These individuals will be chosen based solely upon knowledge of their proven efficiency, not based upon whether they hold a seat in the House or simply because they are members of my political party.

One of the greatest predicaments our country has seen is the vast marginalization of thousands of our country’s people, particularly our creole populace, due to the effects of poverty. For decades, these communities of poor people have been unable to break away from the suppressions of poverty, mainly due to the unconvincing efforts being made to assist them. The extent of government aid has been limited to issuing steady streams of cash handouts directly into the hands of these young, strong but often uneducated persons. Creating jobs for these people is the only real practical solution. How do I plan to do so?

In order to provide more jobs, I need to ensure there is more work created. Because of this, I will place greater emphasis on infrastructural improvement and waste management efforts that both require a large labor force the impecunious population of our country can supply. This will not only act to improve infrastructure and keep our nation clean, but it will provide these impoverished persons with a source of income.

I will also need to engender a climate that is attractive to foreign investors. However, I do hope to attract investors that will invest in fresh industries and develop them for the greater benefit of the people. Not those that will come in with rapacious intentions and exploit already profitable operations as has been the case with some existing “investors”.

Careful planning and strategy will be implemented to create the enabling environment that will attract, at the outset, foreign manufacturing enterprises such as, for example, garment factories and call centers. These will serve the purpose of employing our less educated populace as my policies in education bear fruit and produce a more educated, skilled and indeed robust and resourceful workforce. This initiative coupled with the sound management and investment of our existing and potential oil revenues will allow for increased and better quality job opportunities for our small population. The quick wins will portray themselves in lower crime and improved social harmony as undoubtedly this will strike at the heart of our increasing unemployment phenomena and chaotic way of life that currently prevails as a result. A nation that can achieve as near as full employment as possible, in my mind, is one that has the capacity to transform itself in the right direction.

These are just some of the areas that will engage my full attention as I lead my team, with a sense of purpose, to bring about tangible and sustainable economic and social transformation to this beautiful jewel of ours. Although I am just a boy, I am confident that given the opportunity to lead this country and manage the rich resources we possess here in Belize, I can make a tangible difference.

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