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!!!!
Fayemarie A Carter
Corruption and Hypocrisy – by Aria Lightfoot
Corruption. Social Security corruption is just another example of my previous blog. (Grade “F”). A decline in the ethical standards of our society. Part of the problem in our country is this accepted belief that when one person blatantly and corruptively thrives in Belize, there is nothing wrong to if others conduct in similar behavior. Our society will continue to decline until we are so sick of it that that we put barriers and serious consequences in place to offset it. Shame! Shame! Shame! on the Social Security employees that engaged or encouraged corruption. The average Belizean worker pays their hard earn money, hoping to receive some benefit when they enter into their golden years, only to be mercilessly raped by those who are responsible for the public trust.
Social Security is just the tip of the iceberg. It seems to me that the allegations suggests a culture and comfort with such behavior. If someone knows something is wrong, they would act covertly. Hide their actions, be ashamed. These Social Security individuals allegedly went around advertising and encouraging other staff members to get in on the tax payers money grab. I am personally disgusted and sick of it. To hell with some poll suggesting that Belizeans people don’t care about corruption…I do… and even more insulting to the Belize taxpayers is that the same person was charged with investigating corruption of others.. How hypocritical!
Hypocrisy. The worst kind of hypocrisy is the kind when you condemn people, cost them their jobs and you are responsible for similar behavior… case in point, politicians! Until we begin mandating an open society and government, demand everything that involves tax payers money become an open process for review, we will continue in this culture of corruption. House of Representatives members, Senate members, Public Officer and Quasi Public Officers , Cronies, and connected family members- the Belizean tax payer is paying your salary, benefits, extravagant lifestyles, trips around the world etc . Please STOP with the pillaging already! We cant walk the streets, we cant live securely in our homes, we cant afford our daily bread because you are contributing to the growing poverty and social decline by your insatiable greed!
Who is “Who Who” on Twocanview
Apparently people didn’t find this on the site but it is under “Welcome to Our Blog-Fayemarie Anderson Carter”.
So…who am I? First off, I am a woman. I am a citizen of the world and I belong to no one. I have faced unbelievable circumstances all my life and even before I was born. Basically, I shouldn’t be here. My mother had a difficult pregnancy and was on bed rest the last months. With all the precautions taken and advantages of having a father who was a medical intern, it still didn’t prevent me from being born premature and kinda dead for a while. That should have been the clue to the world “Watch out! She’s a fighter!” Well but, I didn’t always know that and many things knocked me down and there were times I felt hopeless and helpless.
I had a very confusing, complicated childhood. I felt like I had each foot in a different world so that I was constantly trying to balance between them. There were a lot of misconceptions about my family and our intentions. It went from “You’re white, you don’t care”; “You’re rich; why do you care?” to “Oh you’re poor, who cares?” Despite all that, I couldn’t help but grow up with an intense feeling of obligation and sense of civic duty. I was a quiet child (the irony, I know) so I was often unseen as I observed adults (many of whom, became leaders of our communities) discuss, argue, make plans and sound ridiculous. I was in the back of a government vehicle once, when an adviser to a minister (no names) actually recommended that we remove social studies from the elementary school curriculum and I was just stupefied by this intense stupidity. His estimation of social studies was “it is a waste of time”. With this attitude, we wonder why we are where we are????
On the other hand, living in Dangriga, I couldn’t very well insulate and isolate myself from the realities of regular folk. First of all, I lived smack dab in the middle of town. All the shops, the police station, the banks, churches, schools, government offices and the hospital was right there within a two block radius. Secondly, I didn’t want to. I wanted to play “toad” and punta and “bathe sea”. I wanted to crack my supa seed with the door stop by the church. I wanted to “plait” my hair and “walk bout street”. Even if people wanted to think that I was not part of the society because of my parents, my ancestry (I lived on a street named after my paternal family for goodness’ sake) anyone who looked closely would have seen that I faced many of the same issues everyone else did and then some. Not only did I have to wait every day for my dad to see a patient so I could get $10 to buy bread and milk, people wanted us to donate to everything. I always got picked, in school, to donate the most expensive item like a chicken or the cake. Multiply that times 4 Anderson children and that was half our weekly grocery budget.
I was often ashamed and proud at the same time. Crazy making, I tell you. Case in point. My dad loves to spread Christmas cheer to those who wouldn’t otherwise know it. I understood that about my dad and actually, I am so guilty of it myself. The price for that? I wrapped hundreds of gifts for everyone else while my Christmas gift was the bloody Christmas dress I needed to wear to church. Some gift. LOL. Or how about that time I got a blanket, or the time I got a fan? (I was glad for it don’t mind me) but I was a kid too dammit and I wanted toys! I really did only have two church dresses. My snobbish middle class friends loved to make feel me inferior because they had the latest styles from “States” and would tell me things like “Gial, u noh fraid da dress staat to talk?” Stupid, mean girls.
The blessing of this kind of upbringing is that I learned to empathize. I learned what it feels like to not belong and I didn’t belong anywhere. Too po fi di rich pipple, too white fi di po pipple and when I moved to the States, not white enough for the Americans. So, I learned to like myself. I had to. Nobody else did! I read and read and read. I would get lashin’ because I was reading books and not washing the dishes or I let the clothes get wet on the line because I forgot to pick them in. I learned to make toys out of old seasoning cans and match boxes; I turned them into doll house furniture. I made dolls out of mangoes and tried to sew my own doll clothes (I say try because I often made them too tight LOL). Books were like gold to me. Everything I read, I depended on the library for so that the highlight of my year, was when the ship came from England with new library books. I read about Judy and Maisy and nothing was more hotly traded than the latest Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. When I was actually GIVEN a book, I treasured it and read and reread till it damn near fell apart. I still had the books Mary K Carridi (I called her Aunt Kath, back then) gave me until 1998 when I left them with my parents, not knowing that they would be following me not a few months later. Sorry, Kathy, but I think the books, a copy of Jack and Jill published in 1898 and B is for Betsy, were lost in one of the hurricanes . Those books, the latter, especially, gave me dreams of another kind of childhood, filled with pink clouds and fantasy, sweet memory for sure.
Today, I am married to an American and I have two girls, 19 and 10. I have lived in different countries and states. Just look at my Facebook page and you’ll see all the colleges/universities I “visited” 🙂 I graduated in 2006 from Adler Graduate School with an MA in Counseling Psychology but I haven’t written my thesis yet (long story) so I may never actually get that piece of paper :P. Fingers crossed, I’ll get it done soon now that I am a work at home mom, again. Before now, I worked in the Bloomington, MN school system as a contracted therapist/case manager in a special education program. I worked with children and families struggling with challenges that come with diagnoses of emotional/behavioural disorders such as ADHD, ODD, Bi-polar, Depression, Anxiety, Autism.
I was asked by Aria Lightfoot to be part of this blog addressing the issues facing our Belizean people and I didn’t hesitate for more than a second. Politics have scarred my heart but I decided to take a chance anyway and be a part of what I hope becomes known as a “revolution”. I hope to impart knowledge and insight but mostly compassion and empathy for our fellow citizens. We won’t get anywhere if we don’t understand that we are all in it together. Blue and Red makes PURPLE and that’s where we are: bruised and battered.
Ten Alarming coincidences and the “damage” system of Belize: by Aria Lightfoot
1. A poll that claims to speak on behalf of the average Belizean. The poll was conducted in secrecy and by a prominent member of the Republican party, who campaigned for McCain. Why am I disturbed? McCain was reportedly linked to a group called the World League for Freedom and Democracy involved in influencing politics in Central America and the world. Conspiracy theory maybe or maybe not.
2. A system that demands no accountability. When we live a life without demanding facts, we are simply gullible sheep being led to our slaughter. Never accept a word any politician says. Let them show you the facts. Spreading rumors and propaganda to achieve their ultimate goals have been the accepted practice for way too long. Our media should hold politicians to a higher professional standard.
3. Nardia Garcia, prominent member of the PUP and other members of the PUP seeking elected office are closely linked to the Guatemalan President thru very close family relationship. Disturbing in that our political parties are linked indirectly to a country that continues to claim ownership over Belize.
4. The Port of Belize was foreclosed on by the Ashcroft Alliance. It seems that Ashcroft is strategically acquiring prime real estate that will eventually derail any governmental power so we can become subjects of Ashcroftville formerly known as Belize.
5. PUP battle continue to spill out into the media. Belize need an effective opposition and if the new government is PUP…a stable government. Grow the fuck up already!
6. 17 million dollars of tax payers money will benefit only 770 families. Thousands of people pay their bills. How can people notes be written off without oversight? If you thought giving away $100.00 was generous…try $50,000 to unknown beneficiaries. Who will benefit and who is footing this bill? Show me the facts.
7. The enforcement of our laws are at the pleasure of the government of the day. We are declining socially because of wanton corruption. Selective enforcement and poor prosecution. Where else in the world would a DPP and Attorney General boast a 5% conviction rate and be rewarded with a Queen’s medal and job security?
8. Our children continue to fall victim to crime and violence. What will our future look like, if children are being traumatized by street wars, weekly death of family and friends, and no consequences for bad behavior. We need a 5 year, 10 year, 20 year and 50 year visionary for Belize.
9. There is not a mandated set date for elections. Not having a mandated election date creates uncertainty for investors and citizens. Let us mandate a day every 5 years for general elections and end this atmosphere of uncertainty in our country.
10. Disproportionate representation of citizens. Time for each citizen of Belize to have equal representation in the House of Representative. Until each citizen is equally represented, the people power and influence will remain in the hands of a very selected few thru the “ spoil system“. Spoil literally means to damage severely or harm something. To diminish and impair. Belizeans are victims to the “damage“ system.
Da whe da gial Aria seh? by Fayemarie Anderson Carter
Bernie Toucan is sitting on her perch high in the tree when Doo Doo Chickadee calls to her from her perch on the electricity wires crisscrossing the road.
“Hey Bernie…yu heah bout di new blog whe suh gial name Aria something write bout dem politicians?”
“Yeah gial…what bout it?” answered Bernie Toucan.
“Well, shi talk bout all a deh…suh ah nuh really andastand whe shi di try do. Ah midi hope u coulda explain it bettah to mi?” asked Doo Doo Chickadee.
Just then, Buster and Paulie Piam Piam, the twins, landed next to Doo Doo.
”Happy New Year’s Bernie and Dodes. Whe di go awn?”
Doo Doo looked at Buster and said, “Well, ah midi ask Bernie if she know whe dis gial Aria di talk bout pan dis new blog bout di politicians dem. She talk bout all a dem so ah nuh know whe shi di try seh.” Doo Doo Chickadee shook her head with a look of true consternation.
Buster put his arms akimbo and looked up and down at Doo Doo, “Whe deh fi know Doo Doo?” and then in a sing song voice he bellowed, “Times haaad fi true!”
“Don’t give a damn; don’t give a damn, “ chorused Paulie Piam Piam. The twins busted into a fit of giggles and nearly fell off the wire laughing at their own joke.
“Aye uno two,” said Bernie Toucan. “Well, mek a si di blog Dodes. Ah could go through it wid u and si if we come up wid something.”
Bernie reads quietly for a bit and then says as she continues to read,” Well di fus paat look like shi just di seh dat neither one a di paaty dem do whe dey promise fi do. Hmmm, shi seh dat dem liad and tief and dat wi all tyad ah the same shit, different liar approach.”
At this the twins start to giggle again.
“Shi tell di PUP basically dat dey di fight like sum two year olds and dat deh nuh have no leadership, no direction…den shi tell di UDP dat dey no do when dey seh dey miya do but dey still di blame PUP fuh eviting and how dey da big cover artists and dey need fi fix dis shit and be mo responsible”
“Ooooooooooooh,” sing songed the twins.
“Hmmm, Bernie gial. Da who dis Aria person? Dey wa fire fi shi rass quick ting fi di seh alla dat stuff inuh?” said Paulie Piam Piam.
“Well u know dat da tru if shi mi live ya but shi deh da faren soh ah tink shi wa be ok. Shi family? Ah nuh know bout deh!” said Buster Piam Piam.
“Si dis da di rass ret deh!” exclaimed Bernie. “Evibady tu gaddamn fraid fi seh what needs to be said rung dese parts.” She shakes her head with indignation. “Da why uno so damn coward fa? If evibady tell dey rass off like dis, maybe dey wouldn’t do stupidness!”
Silence settles for a second or two as the birds shake their heads in agreement.
“Shi seh anyting bout VIP, Bernie?” asked Buster quietly.
“Well…no much inuh. Shi just seh dat dey got a good grip a di situation wid di corruption and ting but shi ask if dey religious. Ah wanda why shi seh dat?”
Just then Charles “Charlie” Crow sat next to Bernie and injected his usually highly respected opinion.
“Well I think that that is a very valid question. We have to be very careful how we allow religious agendas to infiltrate our politics and consequently our laws.”
“But den Mr. Charles, we da wa Christian nation. How we nuh wa bring God into di convasation?” asked Dodes. “Look pan di United States. Dey gat gay people inna di army and now dey cud get married! Dat ciant be right? Ah mean, I nuh gat nuttin genst gay people…do whe uno want inna di privacy ah yu own bed but ah nuh wa my pickney di si dat. Wat if my pickney decide he gay tu?”
Paulie Piam Piam snickered and looked at Dodes like he could kick her off the wire. “Now dat just stupid Dodes. And ah surprised at u. U, whe goh da church evi Sunday and talk bout acceptance for all. “
“Nuh get mi wrong Paul. I nuh want dey get hurt or nutting but really…ih jus gross mi out mein” Doo Doo made a shivering noise and ruffeled her feathers.
“Well but si. Da pipple like u allow dey cracked ones fi do whe dey do! Cas u turn wa blind eye and pretend dat dey one whe seh dey religious jus really di spread hate and fear. Come on Dodes. You bettah dan dat!” Paulie hawked and spat as if to emphasize his point. “Anyway Bernie, what else shi seh?”
“You really wa continue? Dis bloody depressin inuh,” asked Bernie.
The friends look down but they all shake their heads yes.
“Well, shi jus seh dat di media nuh di help cas dey belong to di diffrant paaties dem so how wi fi know what da what?”
“Tru ting mein. Ah hafi turn it off sumtimes. And wuss di newspapahs dem. Ah tink ah rather read ‘The Enquirer’!” chuckled Buster Piam Piam.
“It looks pretty dire,” said Charles. “I’m not sure what to say or think about our future as a nation.”
The friends looked out towards the setting sun as they each pondered Charlie’s heavy words.
Jingle Bells
by Fayemarie Anderson Carter
Refrain:
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, all the way to hell
All dem palitician do da greedy up deyself.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, all the way to hell
All dem palitican business unda di jail cell.
An election or two ago, dem promise wi a change,
But all we get instead is even more a di same
Red nar blue no mattah
Dey shoulda all just scattah
Cause inna di end, di money dem spend, da nuh pan me nor you NO!
Refrain
Time and time again, when election de rung di bend
Dem cum and tawk to you and seh how “we da fren”
But either way you vote, no wa rock di boat
Cas all a dey deh inna bed “tugethah forever”, dem said.
Refrain
I’ll Be Broke For Krismuss (tune of I’ll be Home for Christmas)
by Fayemarie Anderson Carter
I’ll be Broke for Christmas
Can’t afford a tree,
We’ll eat crow and my big toe,
‘Cause we depend on Dean.
Krismuss Eve will find me,
In a great quandary,
Pay the rent, it’s all been spent,
On doctor bills and school fees.
I’ll be Broke for Krismuss,
Can only afford some beans,
I’ll be broke for Krismuss,
It’s not the one I dreamed
Season’s Greetings
by Fayemarie Anderson Carter
I hope everyone had a lovely time and if you didn’t, tell me all about it! As I have been reading all the posts made by fellow concerned citizens, one thing seems recurrent. No one knows who really has the Belizeans’ best interest at heart. There appears to be no front runner who encompasses the qualities we wish to see in our leaders. There is a sense of frustration, hopelessness and despair. Our society seems to have come to accept blatant thievery and corruption as status quo. Each side accuses the other of the exact same thing. So, who is right? Who has the answer? Is there a silver lining in this at all?
Merry Christmas Baby
by Fayemarie Anderson Carter
Merry Christmas Baby,
You sure don’t treat me right.
Merry Christmas Baby,
You must not be too bright.
You turned down US AID,
You will ruin our paradise.
I feel like cryin’ y’all,
Listenin’ to the news on my radio,
I am now cryin’ y’all,
Listenin’ to the news on my radio, oh, oh, oh, oh
Feel like I’m gonna pass out,
What the hell is this all about?
Who wa feed mi pickney, baby?
Only me, y’all.
Nobody gat no money, baby
All I can do is bawwwwl.
Merry Christmas, Baby,
You sure don’t treat me right.
You act like you have our best interest,
But all you is fiiiiiight.
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