What Buggery is Dis? by Fayemarie Anderson Carter

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We have all heard the religious rhetoric surrounding  Sec 53, you know (in lowered voice) the gay law. Pastor Dis and Bishop Dat decided that they would just ignore the fact that we are NOT, I repeat NOT a religious state BUT a democracy. See, people get sooooo confused with the word DEMOCRACY but in simple simple simple words, it means  “the freedom to call something into being which did not exist before, which was not given… and which therefore, strictly speaking, could not be known.”[5] This type of freedom, which is connected to human “natality,” or the capacity to begin anew, sees democracy as “not only a political system… [but] an ideal, an aspiration, really, intimately connected to and dependent upon a picture of what it is to be human—of what it is a human should be to be fully human.”[6] 

Not simple enough? Mek ah try: it is a process by which what nevah exist before, could exist NOW!

Read on:

While there is no universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’,[7] equality and freedom have both been identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times.[8] These principles are reflected in all citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to legislative processes.

And then some more:

Majority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. However, it is also possible for a minority to be oppressed by a “tyranny of the majority” in the absence of governmental or constitutional protections of individual or group rights. An essential part of an “ideal” representative democracy is competitiveelections that are fair both substantively[16] and procedurally.[17] Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are considered to be essential, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests as they see them.[18][19] It has also been suggested that a basic feature of democracy is the capacity of individuals to participate freely and fully in the life of their society.[20] 

AHHHHH CRAAAAAAPPPPP!!!! NOW I SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!!!!!

Ok. Now that we have an idea of what democracy is, let’s look at RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. People like Pastor Dis and Bishop Dat feel that because God is on their side and they believe in Jesus that for some reason, they are superior to everyone else. At this point, you should all be raising your hands and asking the teacher, “But, Miss? Doesn’t that contradict what you just said about democracy?”

Ahm, frankly YEEEESSSSS! People confuse the right to practice religion with the rest of democratic principles. And don’t worry, it’s not just in Belize. I am not picking on you but I won’t let you get away with it just because al Qaeda blew up a couple a buildings and does it worse that you. The following is a case that explains it perfectly. And YES I know it’s an American case, but they’ve been doing this whole independence/democratic nation thing a lot longer than we have so…they could teach us a thing or two:

 

In Employment Division v. Smith, a pair of men who were fired from their jobs for ingesting peyote during Native American religious ceremonies sued when their applications for unemployment were denied because they had been fired for cause from their jobs. The US Supreme Court ruled that since the prohibitions on drug use is a neutral law of general applicability that the religious freedom argument didn’t come into play. From the decision:
“Laws, we said, are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices. . . . Can a man excuse his practices to the contrary because of his religious belief? To permit this would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself.”

In other words, lovers, lovers of Belize, we have the freedom to practice our religious beliefs BUT CAN’T HOLD IT SUPERIOR TO THE LAW OF THE LAND!!!!!! Soh dem weed smokers whe seh dey do it because  a JAH…dem Pastor Dis and Bishop Dat whe seh that homosexuals should be prosecuted because dat dah whe GOD seh? Dem Muslims whe mutilate girls, cutting off their sexual organs to keep them pure because ALLAH seh soh? YOU CAN’T DO THAT IN A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY AND IF YOU DO YOU ARE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION AS ANYONE ELSE IS.

Now…I am hard pressed to understand why the hell a country run by a bunch of lawyers couldn’t figure this one out and make a stand for the development and progress of our democracy…buggery..I tell you…just plain old buggery. Bend ovah and insert bukut.
 

Wifey and Sweetheart Get Di Bukut!!!! by Fayemarie Anderson Carter

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Suh…. I am so sure that you have heard EVERY Belizean man and woman seh dat dey don’t tolerate cheating but if da like how dey deal wid di palitishan dem? Well. You know exactly how dat end!

From the time we are old enough to talk, if you are a girl, people tell you to “keep your shape; lawn fi cook; nuh laff tu loud; cross yu leg; be a good girl OR ELSE yu nuh wa get a good man”.  Ting is, da whe dey tell di man dem? Caz ah nu tink dey get di memo. You might hear “be a man, stop cry; beat dat, nuh mek nobadi tawk to you suh; les go da Mile 8; tell u gial u gwen play basketball or tell shi da nun a fi shi business whe u goh; you mek di money, shi fi just shet up and serve you yuh dinnah!”

So girl marries boy. She might have a job but that doesn’t matter. She still washes, cooks, takes care of the kids, and cleans up after everyone. She doesn’t get a say in how money is spent or how decisions are made BUT she must honour whatever arrangements her husband might make so that they “look good”. So, she cooks for people she doesn’t like; she raises funds for causes she doesn’t support; she watches her man go to the bar and blow his pay check while the pickney need school uniform and books; and if she raises her concern, she bettah watch she don’t get slap right affa fi shi foot! Caz he da di boss and u bettah know your damn place. And if you dare nuh listen, he wa lef yu rass and tek a sweetheart. And if you reeeeeally piss him off, while you stay home and mind yu pickney? He wa ker she da fancy restaurant and buy ah sum chicken and suh Belikin fi wash it down. AND the cherry on top of that humiliating cheating, lying and beat up Sundae is? He will blame you and seh da caz yu get fat, or yu like rail up tu much or yu dah jus nuh fun no moh.

So den yuh get caught up inna wa love triangle, square, pentagon? Some wifeys think dey getting revenge by cheating right back; some stay deh and pretend like dey dont know, and den di Shali pickney staat show up da di back dooh. And one day, shi look inna di mirror and realize dat she’s all thorns and no rose. See, cause she told herself, “I live inna di big house”; “my pickney gat fi hi name”; “he come home to me” ;”I da Mrs”.

Di sweetheart she? Well, she get reputation so nobody in society wants to associate her and she finds herself being passed around from one married man to the next, each time, she tells herself  “dis one love me..si di pretty bracelet? si di new refridge? And mi baby got soft hair like ih daddy”; “dis one wa lef ih wife”. But he doesn’t and she cries again and soon shi look inna di mirror and realize she is all thorns and no rose.

The sweetheart and wifey might sometimes meet in public and wifey cut shi eye; sweetheart hallah bout “mi son da fi yu man!” Each one has her posse in her corner whe jeer and sweat fevah.  Wifey is the victim because of “that low down sketel di try tief wa good honest man like mi husband. Shi da jus wa homewreckah! Don’t that street gial realize that shi di tek mi pickney food outta dey mouth and dey pa from whe he belang? She so sleck, shi gat pickney fuh all kinda man, dey all gat different name!” The Sweetheart is the victim because “that fat cow nuh wa give mi man wa divorce! Don’t that old hux realize dat him nuh luv ah numoh? She da just di stupidest ass fi di try hold awn to something whe nuh wah she! He tell mi dat shi cant give a di sex like me!”

Now turn dat into a lovestory about the PUP, UDP and Belizeans. “Mrs.” da di diehard. Those voters will stick to their party like the wife to the husband. They hide the lies; they defend their behaviour and all the while, everybody can see that their eyes black and blue and swollen from the bitchlick. But, they hold on for dear life because they just can’t imagine no different and don’t believe they deserve better. The sweetheart? They are the voters just looking for a handout. They keep switching sides, chasing the one with the sweetest lines and the biggest promises, telling themselves  “this time will be different!”; “He da di one!” And, they do that because they also can’t can’t imagine no different and don’t believe that they deserve better. The two a dem fraid fi challenge because all of a sudden, they will lose their job, or they will be publicly ridiculed or they will lose funding for some project or a loan will be recalled or their children won’t get scholarships or even considered for positions they are qualified for. O and the latest one, you might get sued for slander and libel.

And the man? When him dead, him happy and content. After all, he get what he mi want right? And he tell himself that both dem bitches lucky he tolerate either one a dem. Dey bettah just know. He da di boss. Whe dey gat fi camplain bout? Wifey inna house and sweetheart get shi chicken. Ting dun. Him pave your street and give di other one wa ham. Ting dun.

Whe miya seh? Step back. The only reason this keeps happening over and over is caz like the Wifey and the Sweetheart, we, the Belizeans don’t believe it can be different or that we deserve any better.  We have allowed a bunch of self serving, egotistical, deceitful, unethical, criminal politicians to take over that which is ours and we settle for the pittance they decide we deserve. They don’t even fight their own battles cause like the wife and the sweetheart, dey posse do it for them.  I mean, we do it for them. We call each other names and refuse to work together against corruption and fight for our rights. Meanwhile, they ride around in their air conditioned rides and vacation on their private islands, whe dey just tief fram yu, by the way.

So…on this here Valentine’s Day..kick dey no good cheaters to di curb…wifey and sweetheart need fi tell huzzy who da di boss! Stop fight each other and fight together for what’s right. First you have to love yourself don’t you? Buy yu own damn chocolate and flowers numa! And make dat man know it is his privilege to be with you! Just like we need to let our leaders know “It is a privilege to serve US”. When Wifey and Sweetheart wa realize dat it aint about them but about the children they both have to watch suffer? And those kids got one name: Belizean.

Daily Dingleberry 02-14-12

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You can have free speech as long as you agree with me ’cause if  ya don’t, ahma sue yo a$$ for slander and libel.

UGH!!!!!

O come on now, put yo big girl panties on and pull on your big boy draws and step it up…all dis childish ego maniacal flish flash (I know that ain’t no real word so don’t write me about it) is making me tyad. And the Belizean people tyad…caz while you pullin’ rank, we still waitin’!!!!! We still want bread and medicines and education.

Can we have some good role models up in here? We got enough school yard bullies running around, bitches.

Do you trust a flip flopper? By: Aria Lightfoot

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“Arguments of convenience lack integrity … “   Donald Rumsfeld

 

Marcel Cardona

The term flip flopper is an American term. Other terms used are U-turn and back flip. Flip Flop et al is normally used in a negative way to describe a politician, normally in a declining political position, or to ride a new wave of support.  The flopper changes his position on a subject he has advocated in the past. It comes short of calling a politician a self interested political animal.  Many politicians actually get away with changing political positions because the electorate, for the most part, has a very short memory and many times are willing to forgive the indiscretions of politicians. In Belize’s case, even when those indiscretions amount to major corruption scandals.  However, historically, people are less tolerant to flip flopping when it comes to changing a political party.

Politics in Belize encourages an environment of distrust and disrespect.   As a survival mechanism, politicians tell supporters to mistrust any type of criticism. Any and all criticism, even when it seems unbiased, must be coming from the opposition’s camp. Political parties encourage unquestionable party loyalty; and discourage dissent by publicly punishing the dissenter. The status quo must be maintained and true  faithful political party followers must show love of their party more than their country.    

Marcel Cardona exploded on the political scene as a young, dynamic, intelligent and articulate politician. However, prior to his official political life, I shared several classes at St. John’s College Sixth form with Marcel.  We graduated from the same program.  Even back in the early 90s Marcel was an advocate for justice.  Marcel was a true believer in George Price and if memory serves right, he was in Jorge Espat’s political camp in the 90s. As a young adult back then, Marcel knew what he wanted while the rest of students were still trying to figure things out. He was no nonsense individual, always on a mission of change while taking on a tough course load at SJC.   Marcel shares some similar traits like me, so I can empathize with his passion.  He believes in people and causes and will fight tooth and nail for such and he is always in the position fighting for the underdog.  With that said, I will admit, I am disheartened by Marcel’s political move that may end his career. 

Marcel was never an official candidate of the PUP, but he was a PUP insider.  He has strong political family ties and history with the PUP.   When PUP was in power, Marcel distanced himself from the PUP, likely the same reason the electorate did. The corruption was wanton and undeterred and many were voting on a hope for change.  He was also in Jorge Espat’s camp, and that may account for his keen sense of integrity.   Unfortunately Marcel failed to realize that PUP and UDP do not hate each other (as I have said previously in my writings). They are masters at pitting the electorate against each other; however a casual browse in the genealogy will reveal close familial and business ties.

Marcel was the perfect UDP candidate.  He was a PUP insider telling the electorate how corrupted PUP was.  However, Marcel didn’t understand his role in the political chess game.  Once he jumped ship the first time, UDP was happy to use him for political mileage but in a system of distrust, he was never fully a UDP. How could they trust a person motivated by integrity and emotions in a corruptive environment?  Marcel believed he was making a decision to benefit the people. He was courted out of his relationship with the PUP; he spilled PUP dirt and found out that he was being used for political mileage.  He was not only used, but trapped in an embarrassing and humiliating position for 4 years.  Marcel in his attempt to now “punish” the UDP, has decried foul yet once again, and guided only by his emotions,  has returned to PUP.  And so he finds himself once again in the exact same position he was just 4 short years ago.  He is now once again, airing dirty laundry except now it is the UDP;   he has now distanced himself from UDP;  he has endorsed PUP and has been prominently featured in the PUP commercials.  Again nothing more than a political pawn being used for his integrity.  Marcel’s integrity is now wavering and if PUP wins, how could PUP realistically trust a man who has contributed to their worst loss in PUP’s history  and especially one motivated by integrity and emotions in a corruptive environment?

I know Marcel is not a flip flopper. His stance has always been integrity, however, how can I follow a man reactive to his emotions and one that has submitted himself twice to the role of political pawn?  If Marcel take a step back and realize he is misguided by emotions. He will realize his own potential both parties see in him.  Marcel would be far more effective and credible agitating changes as an advocate outside the system.  His reward may take many years, but if he is a true believer in change, time will not be an obstacle.  Unfortunately, our political party system identifies young talented and respectful people, steal their integrity for political mileage and later hang them out to dry while forever blinding  or discrediting same.  Take off the political lens Belizeans and Wake up!

Daily Dingleberry 02-13-11

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Epic Fail

I’m amused…is this a statement of intent on the part of the PUP?  Even if it’s supposed to hint at accusations against the UDP, it is in pooooooooooor taste (get it? LOL) Basically, the PUP could be seen as an unwitting contributor, even endorser of the “C” word: CORRUPTION. Look, when you tief from uself….half a nuttin, da still nuttin?! Mind u end up like the Emperor With No Clothes…

Daily Dingleberry 02-11-12 We Are The Petri Dish Of Corruption

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We throw the word corruption around like sand on a beach. This renders it irrelevant and does not contribute much to any discussion as far as I can see. Attempts to have serious discourse quickly deteriorate as the mud slinging escalates, both sides losing ground and eventually having accomplished nothing except perhaps, even more dislike for each other. So, I looked around and came up with something that may prove more useful. I found a list on Wikipedia that clearly outlines favourable conditions which PROMOTE corruption. I thought that instead of doing the “PUP is worse than UDP but UDP promised to be different” thing again, we could actually use an objective  standard by which to gauge the situation. It is a lot to think about and absorb all at once, perhaps even more so, as we are more than hungover on a Saturday morning 🙂 but I found it very useful in putting our situation into perspective. I hope that as we read through the list, we can identify these issues and in a very non-partisan way, acknowledge that which is blocking our bid for success as a nation.

It is argued that the following conditions are favorable for corruption:

  • Information deficits
    • Lacking freedom of information legislation. For example: The Indian Right to Information Act 2005 is perceived to have “already engendered mass movements in the country that is bringing the lethargic, often corrupt bureaucracy to its knees and changing power equations completely.”[12]
    • Lack of investigative reporting in the local media.
    • Contempt for or negligence of exercising freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
    • Weak accounting practices, including lack of timely financial management.
    • Lack of measurement of corruption. For example, using regular surveys of households and businesses in order to quantify the degree of perception of corruption in different parts of a nation or in different government institutions may increase awareness of corruption and create pressure to combat it. This will also enable an evaluation of the officials who are fighting corruption and the methods used.
    • Tax havens which tax their own citizens and companies but not those from other nations and refuse to disclose information necessary for foreign taxation. This enables large scale political corruption in the foreign nations.[13][citation needed]
  • Lacking control of the government.
    • Lacking civic society and non-governmental organizations which monitor the government.
    • An individual voter may have a rational ignorance regarding politics, especially in nationwide elections, since each vote has little weight.
    • Weak civil service, and slow pace of reform.
    • Weak rule of law.
    • Weak legal profession.
    • Weak judicial independence.
    • Lacking protection of whistleblowers.
    • Lack of benchmarking, that is continual detailed evaluation of procedures and comparison to others who do similar things, in the same government or others, in particular comparison to those who do the best work. The Peruvian organization Ciudadanos al Dia has started to measure and compare transparency, costs, and efficiency in different government departments in Peru. It annually awards the best practices which has received widespread media attention. This has created competition among government agencies in order to improve.[14]
  • Opportunities and incentives
    • Individual officials routinely handle cash, instead of handling payments by giro or on a separate cash desk—illegitimate withdrawals from supervised bank accounts are much more difficult to conceal.
    • Public funds are centralized rather than distributed. For example, if $1,000 is embezzled from a local agency that has $2,000 funds, it is easier to notice than from a national agency with $2,000,000 funds. See the principle of subsidiarity.
    • Large, unsupervised public investments.
    • Sale of state-owned property and privatization.[citation needed]
    • Poorly-paid government officials.
    • Government licenses needed to conduct business, e.g., import licenses, encourage bribing and kickbacks.
    • Long-time work in the same position may create relationships inside and outside the government which encourage and help conceal corruption and favoritism. Rotating government officials to different positions and geographic areas may help prevent this; for instance certain high rank officials in French government services (e.g. treasurer-paymasters general) must rotate every few years.
    • Costly political campaigns, with expenses exceeding normal sources of political funding, especially when funded with taxpayer money.
    • Less interaction with officials reduces the opportunities for corruption. For example, using the Internet for sending in required information, like applications and tax forms, and then processing this with automated computer systems. This may also speed up the processing and reduce unintentional human errors. See e-Government.
    • A windfall from exporting abundant natural resources may encourage corruption.[15] (See Resource curse)
    • War and other forms of conflict correlate with a breakdown of public security.
  • Social conditions

In the Indian political system, for example, it has become usual that the leadership of national and regional parties are passed from generation to generation[16][17] creating a system in which a family holds the center of power. Some examples are most of the Dravidian parties of south India and also the Congress party, which is one of the two major political parties in India.

It is alarming just how many of these conditions exist in Belize. For the whole article, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

Daily Dingleberry 02-10-12 REEEEEPEAT of 02-09-12

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After all the rubbish being thrown about last night, I figured we need to read this again. When churches spew biblical quotes reinforcing hate mongering and calling for death of homosexuals, they DO become responsible for inciting the terror now being spread, unlike what several people tried to say. This is the consequence of your words and gay bashing. Eat crow and re evluate. Everybody’s watching you.

 

Dail Dingleberry 02-09-12

I think Aria and I are both getting a little emotionally spent at this point…writing every day means a heavy commitment to reading a lot, discussing even more and then formulating a concise bunch of words that appeals to our audience. That said, we are not going to quit, not by any means; but, lawd a massi, as one of my friends says it, this is truly trying. I suppose we were prepared for opposition and discord, even outrage. What we weren’t prepared for, I don’t think, is the hatred. Aria and I are similar in that way. We have a keen sense of what is fair, what is right, what is just. We cannot stand aside and watch when others are attacked and belittled, demeaned and now, actually physically assaulted. Where is the Church now? Why have the leaders not come out against this crime? this sin? One doesn’t have to look far for direction on this matter. Jesus didn’t ascribe to the morality of the day, you know, stoning of the immorals; and, in fact, told religious bigots that the prostitutes would enter in heaven before they do. He preached tolerance of the ‘immoral’ you know, ADULTERERS, PROSTITUTES AND HOMOSEXUALS. He socialized with them and even made some of them APOSTLES…I’m just saying, if you are feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed…Jesus has been showing you for, oooh, a couple thousand years.

 

Hanging by a Rope. I’m at the End of My Rope.

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Billie Holiday croons in the heat of the afternoon, the soft sizzle of the old LP, adding to the melancholy she feels.  She remembers her grandmother and her grandfather telling stories of when they would visit the wicked south, the dirty south, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi. She remembers thinking as a child how lucky she was, that she and her friends didn’t live in a world like that: afraid to look into a another’s eyes; taking the back seats in the bus; being beaten just walking down the street minding your own business. Imagine seeing a lifeless body hanging from a tree on the side of a road: face unrecognizable; eyes bulging; tongue bloodied and swollen three times its normal size; limbs bent awkwardly, bones like broken match sticks. That’s what Billie is singing about. Emmett Till was only 14, lynched in Mississippi as late as 1955. Bernice’s own mother was born just the following year making the story still relevant, at least to her. Billie’s voice hauntingly sad, Bernice Toucan let the words tumble across her mind, over her tongue and spill into silence. She switched on her Nina Simone version on her cd player. It was hard to choose which one she preferred so she just didn’t bother and often played both. 

Her thoughts went to the events the day before. Little Melanie Chickadee had come home from school, clutching her raincoat against her forehead. She and her older sister, Marion had come straight to her. Marion was screeching her name, “Aunt Bernice! Aunt Bernice! Pleeease, come quick!” At first Bernice hadn’t realized what was going on and was about to send her housekeeper to check what all the noise was about, when she heard the flapping at her window. She looked out and there was Marion and Melanie, blood dripping from Melanie’s head. She rushed to let them inside and got the housekeeper, Maisy, to get a clean wet towel and some water for the girls to drink. She gingerly cleaned Melanie’s head while asking Marion to calmly tell her what happened.

“Aunt Bernice. I don’t know how ih end up dis way. We midi come home from school when one of the boys in another group started to make jokes about the man they stoned on George Street. He was singing “Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head” and the other kids were laughing and shouting “all batty man need fi get shot”. Melanie turned around and said to Leroy, the main bwoi who midi do it, ‘God seh fi luv eviadi. How you wuda like it if dami you?’ Then Leroy get vex and come up to Melanie and tellah ‘Tek dat back! I nuh gay! what? da musi yu gay!’ Melanie shake ih head and telah, ‘ah nevah seh u gay but my ma seh dat people whe talk di mos gat di most fi hide.’ Den he try push ah dung and Melanie push ah back. Suh I get Melanie and tell ah mek wi goh home. Den wen wi miya jus turn di cawna, ah feel sumting knack mi back and den ah si Melanie drop dung pan di street.”

At this point Marion’s voice is rising and her breath is quickened. She swallows and hi cupped a few times so Bernie reaches over and gives her a glass of water.

“Marion. Just sip it slowly, sweetie. Everything is ok now. Take your time.”

“Oh, Aunt Bernice,” wailed Marion. She was sobbing now and so was Melanie.

Bernice just gathered them both under her wings and rocked them as their bodies shook. By now, her own children were in the room, quietly standing by the doorway. She beckoned them to come and they did so quietly. Their eyes were wide and fear made them still. Bernie realized that she was still holding the bloody towel and could only imagine what they must be thinking. She smiled reassuringly and said, “Melanie and Marion were attacked by one of their school friends on the way home from school.”

Her daughter made a clucking sound and said, “Some friend.”

‘Katherine, I am sure the boy who hurt Marion and Melanie doesn’t even understand what he was doing or why he was saying what he was saying.”

“Oh, mom! Why you always have to be like this? Can’t you just get mad like everybody else? Nelson ma miwa dun di walk to da lee bwoi house fi bus fi hi head!” Bernice shot Katherine her ‘you bettah stop that now’ glare and Katherine stopped her tirade. Katherine sighed and asked in a lowered voice, “Whe hi seh?”

“Well, he was making fun of the incident that happened on George Street and saying derogatory things and Melanie stood up to him.”

“Way to go Melanie!” said Katherine.

Melanie raised her head and smiled weakly at the compliment.

Katherine tried not to react but Henry gasped. Even with the wound cleaned, it still looked frightening.

Bernice got up and said to the girls, “I think we had better call your mother. We can go pick her up at the factory and then go see your doctor or the ER whichever your mother prefers. I think you might need stitches Meli Mel.”

“Ok, Aunt Bernice,” Marion dried her eyes and hugged her sister close to her.

“Maisy, please have the driver pick up Lindsey and bring her and Darnell over here to stay with Henry and Katherine. You guys play some games while we are gone ok?”

Katherine and Henry nodded, not saying anything.

Bernice called her friend and quickly relayed the details. They decided to take Melanie and Marion to Bernice’s private doctor. She really didn’t want the girls at the public hospital facing all kinds of stares and even more trauma. Bernice felt it was the least she could do. Melanie had stood up to a bully today and she paid the price. She needed to know that it wasn’t in vain and that people would respect her for being so brave. Bernice felt that by taking care of the wound and quickly trying to get Melanie and Marion to bed with some dinner and tea, the sooner the girls could recover.

At the doctor’s office, while Melanie was receiving her stitches, Bernice and Dodes waited in the lobby. Dodes started to cry.

“How could this happen Bernie? They are just kids. Melanie is still just a baby. And this boy? What would possess him to stone my children? Did you see the bruise on Marion’s back?’ Of course she had but she just nodded. She knew Dodes didn’t really want her to talk. She just needed to cry and vent. “I feel like it’s all my fault. She told that little boy something I said.”

Bernice grabbed Dodes by the shoulders and turned her to face her. “Now stop it, Dodes. You only try to raise your children to be fair and just. She stood up to that boy because of what she believes and you are the one who gave her those beliefs. And they are good beliefs Dodes. Don’t let some ignorant little boy who has no idea what he is talking about change what you are teaching your children. There will always be bullies out there. And we all have to learn how to deal with them. Now. Get yourself together. We have to call the police as soon as we get home and the kids are gonna come out here any minute now.”

Dodes had nodded silently and sniffed loudly, trying to regain her composure. Bernice softened as she saw her friend try to calm herself. “Dodes. I am so proud of you. You are a great mom. Look at the wonderful children you raised. You need to let them know that you are proud of them ok? They did the right thing and they want to know that from you, ok?’ Bernice hugged her friend and felt herself start to tear up. Just then the girls came out all patched up and smiling, each with a lollipop their new favourite doctor had given them.

Bernice presses replay and listens to Nina again. She sings about murder and cruelty. Facts race through Bernie’s head. At one time, there were 4 million members in the KKK, made up of doctors, lawyers and even religious ministers. They justified their hatred with biblical quotes. They let their children cheer at lynchings, then let them go home to have the wives and sisters of those they lynched, cook their food and kiss their bruises and scrapes. And here it was, happening again, this time directed against sexual orientation. Did we never learn? History seems bent on repeating itself, lessons lost. Yesterday, a stoning, tomorrow a hanging. What would it take to satisfy these bigots? How could self-proclaimed devout Christians incite such hatred and not feel an ounce of Christian love and tolerance for their fellow creatures, God’s creatures? 

Bernice sighs and presses replay. She had begged Dodes to be strong and take pride in her good sound beliefs she taught her children. Bernice shared these beliefs and expected no less from her own children. But, she could not help but be painfully aware of the difference. Bernice was definitely more insulated against such assaults as that just perpetuated against two little girls by a little boy. Dodes was alone, her children subject to dangers Bernice’s weren’t. Melanie and Marion hadn’t gone to school today. It was Friday anyway. Dodes had decided she wanted them to recover as well as have the next three days for the incident to fade in the schoolmates’ memories. But Bernice decided that even though the police had been called and the little boy arrested, that was not enough. She needed to go to that school and talk to the principal. Dodes had not gone because she needed to go to work but Bernice could and decided she would. 

Nina sings  about bodies swinging and the image of  ropes hanging from trees flashes across Bernie’s mind. She is at the end of her rope. She is tired, tired of the inexplicable hate fueled by ignorance and fear. She could not just stand and watch this escalate. She makes a silent promise to all those who had hurt and all those who continue to hurt. She would not stand down or stand aside. She would stand up and stand beside and fight for what was only right and decent. She rises and goes to her room. She would go to that school and demand some sort of corrective action. She would get the media involved and send a strong message that this would not be tolerated. She wants to take that little boy, and others like him, and show him there is a different way to live, to think, to act. Plans blossom in Bernie’s head and hope flickers and then brightens. She is at the end of her rope but she will turn around and use it as a lasso, gather those wayward children and teach them to love and be accepting of difference. Bernice giggled out loud and shook her head. She marvels at herself. Even while she is thinking very dark morose thoughts, a funny image pops into her head of herself lassoing these boys. Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!  Her giggles give way to hysterical laughter borne out of her own anxiety and apprehension about what she is about to do. 


Daily Dingeberry 02-09-12

/ Twocanview LLC / 1 Comment

I think Aria and I are both getting a little emotionally spent at this point…writing every day means a heavy commitment to reading a lot, discussing even more and then formulating a concise bunch of words that appeals to our audience. That said, we are not going to quit, not by any means; but, lawd a massi, as one of my friends says it, this is truly trying. I suppose we were prepared for opposition and discord, even outrage. What we weren’t prepared for, I don’t think, is the hatred. Aria and I are similar in that way. We have a keen sense of what is fair, what is right, what is just. We cannot stand aside and watch when others are attacked and belittled, demeaned and now, actually physically assaulted. Where is the Church now? Why have the leaders not come out against this crime? this sin? One doesn’t have to look far for direction on this matter. Jesus didn’t ascribe to the morality of the day, you know, stoning of the immorals; and, in fact, told religious bigots that the prostitutes would enter in heaven before they do. He preached tolerance of the ‘immoral’ you know, ADULTERERS, PROSTITUTES AND HOMOSEXUALS. He socialized with them and even made some of them APOSTLES…I’m just saying, if you are feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed…Jesus has been showing you for, oooh, a couple thousand years.