Denied NDC Rift labeled as Propaganda is Possibly True!!

I know the following video is somewhat long, but it gives a bit of baffling, yet necessary information about the state of the Grenadian ruling political party – the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This video was shown to masses on April 25^th, 2012 under the premise that the bad publicity video for the NDC and the State of Grenada has gone viral. (For common knowledge, a viral video can be defined as one that becomes increasing popular and is shared through online communities.) This video however, does have the ability to become viral because of the sensitive content of the video.

The short clip captures Mr. Glen Noel, the Minister for Information and National Mobilization in the NDC Administration addressing faithful party followers at a convention. Mr. Noel accuses Mr. Peter David, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture, leading a conspiracy to remove Political Leader of the NDC and Prime Minister, Honorable Tillman Thomas, as head of the party. 

Little Einstein’s of the Caribbean

Sometimes I do wonder what as human beings is important to our existence. What as human beings do we believe make our lives worthwhile? What makes us believe that one life is more perfect than another? 

Is it the colour of our skin?

The length and texture of our hair?

The shape of our body?

The friends we have?

The jobs we do?

The amount of money we possess? 

The qualifications we have?

The recent story that hit the Trinidad and Tobago headlines indicates that qualification and intelligence are major aspects that determine how society would perceive an individual. It is interesting though that in every instance; the media was used to highlight the accomplishments of these children.

·    In Jamaica in 2006 a 12 year old boy, Winston Chue received distinctions in CXC Math and English proficiencies.

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    In Jamaica again in 2010, Garfield Davidson, a twelve year old boy, received distinctions in Human and social Biology and credits in Spanish, Principles of Accounts, Office Administration, adding to the distinctions he received in the previous year in Social Studies, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Integrated Science.

·    

    The latest addition to the bunch of little Einstein’s, is 12 year old Sooma Chevalier, who received four 3’s in Math, Social Studies, English, and Principles of Business; one two in Principles of Accounts; and a four in Human and Social Biology.

As a friend stated on her facebook page, “it’s just sad! As parents and members of our community, we are pressuring our nations’ children on being number one in academics, but not everyone can.” She continued to highlight that there are other areas besides the academia that our Caribbean children can succeed in naturally within being pushed and aged beyond their years. She adamantly stated, that this sort of competition is becoming out of control in the Caribbean. This idea of being the best, is putting way too much pressure on our kids. This helps to create societies that are no longer based upon collectivism, but instead on individualism.

For instance, Finland is one of the most educated countries in the world, and they don’t compete in academia like we oh so try to do within the Caribbean region. Parents let us rethink our decisions, let our children had the childhood that the deserve, not assist them in committing suicide. 

The Effects of Media

I found this video on YouTube and thought it interesting. It gives concise definitions of terms associated with the effects of media.

I hope you learn something.....Enjoy!!! :)

A Follow Fashion Community

Here we go again! It baffles me every time. Why exactly is it that as a Caribbean people we are followers and not leaders? Our shows within the region all express how much the cultures of the “developed nations” influence our way of life. This in my opinion is another case of cultural imperialism. It is a situation that allows these North America and Western European media products to emphasize their dominant attitudes and values.

A friend once said that Caribbean people are very “flowery and creative”. I too, honestly do believe that; however the items produced by the various media within the region have me doubting.

Let’s make a list of all the shows that duplicate foreign media.

• · Digicel Rising Star
• · GBN Gospel Star
• · Mission Catwalk
• · Synergy Soca Star
• · Grenada’s Got Talent
• Synergy TV Supermodel

I am pretty sure that many more can be added to this list.

In my opinion, as a Caribbean community we need to be trendsetters. We need to use our talents and develop shows that are totally Caribbean. I pose this question to you,

Do you think that as a region, we should limit the amount of foreign media that invade our shores?

This technological era has its many advantages, but for the region and its availability and accessibility to the peoples allows these foreign media to invade our shores quite easily. Many also believe that these new technologies help to create and maintain the freedom of the press. In so doing it generates a problem of erasure of indigenous cultures. Once again I pose this question to you,

Do you think that as a region, we should limit the amount of foreign media that invade our shores?

Here's a typical example:

Shopping Toppin

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Shopping_for_women-142880765.html

Freshest Louis Vuitton Model

Kamla, Machel and Louis Vuitton?

What a combination?

Plastered all over Trinidad and Tobago’s print, broadcast and social media was this snapshot of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the stage with Machel Montano, at his infamous Machel Monday show, clad in a US$ 795 Louis Vuitton high-top, gold sneakers. It seems like the whole of T&T had a field day “kicksing” of the picture. Some began to question government finances, others wanted to purchase the boots, and yet others rooted for their PM, as women who knew style.

Despite, all of this I question the relevance of this article to the political economy of Trinidad and Tobago? I question the decision of the Trinidad Express Newspaper to put this as a headline at the front page. Is there nothing going on in Trinidad and Tobago that this is the only information of importance to the T&T populace? This in and of itself is a sad revelation.

This is a typical example of how the media tells us what we should be discussing at lunch or dinner tables. It is yet another way of the media highlighting to citizens what should be important to our livelihood. An image like this would help shape the identity of many persons; as identities can be easily influenced by images of class and notions of beauty expressed by the media.

The image shows the top woman in the T&T political arena, and along with the top man in the entertainment-soca scene with a Louis Vuitton in the picture. In my opinion, this says to onlookers, that only if you’re of a certain caliber can you be exposed to and possibly own the finer things in life. This is a case of subliminal messages cultivating false needs that are created, and can be satisfied by capitalism (Adorno and Horkeimer).  

But my question to you, should this have been the main headline for the newspaper issue on February 16^th 2012?

“No Bacchanal please!”

This picture I saw on the front cover of the Catholic News for the weekend preceding carnival Monday and Tuesday. It was an illustration by Fr. Tom Willemson, CSSp, titled “David Danced”. The drawing depicted the biblical words, “…and David danced before the Lord, with all his might!” (2 Samuel 6:14). An observation of the picture I saw iconic representations of Trinidad and Tobago’s traditional masquerades. From the pierrot grenade, bookman, fancy Indian, sailor mas to the midnight robber.

On closer analysis of the picture, it shows that the Catholic Church has no problem with the carnival festivities. Well, it has been proven that carnival celebrations are linked to European nations who colonized countries in the west, and bringing their religious practices with them. The drawing indicates that the bible sees nothing wrong with dancing. However, the church complemented the image with an article rightfully titled, “no bacchanal please.” The commentary implored readers to be modest in dress and behavior during the season. The general message of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) campaign was, “if you’re ‘reveling’ for the carnival, don’t become a ‘bacchanalist’”.

Carnival celebration is a time of drunken revelry, relatively lewd, sexual music and indecent exposure. In my eyes, the inclusion of the traditional characters in the drawing was a way of the Church saying; bring the old time festival back. A festival where masqueraders were fully clothed, and costumes where grounded in the historical contexts. This can be even connected to the theory of cultural imperialism. It shows that the uniqueness of the Trinidadian mas is being lost, as mas band designs are becoming homogeneous replicas of those of the Brazilian costumes.

This article in an unconventional format, is actually saying to Catholics to show dignity in their actions, and not lose their Catholic identity that is based on the teachings of the bible. On the other hand, they are telling all the Trinbagonian readers to not let the traditions of other cultures influence the content and direction of their inherited lifestyle elements.