Submitted by Bad Man Saying Nuttin (as a comment)
I will point out the elephant in the room. If you are poor for more than one generation it is because you want to be. Education has been free and available for many years. Information is available now more than ever. life is what you make it; “Don’t blame life , blame the way how you live it.”
People have to stop breeding without knowing how they are going to support children. Condoms are cheap. nothing is wrong with attempting to plan a life.
We have people who indiscriminately get pregnant 3 times before reaching 25 and then say life hard. We have men who even though gifted academically rebel against the “system” instead of using it (the education system) to their benefit and then blame government for their “poor situation.
There are lots of people who make a good living in Barbados; lots of civil servants, Private sector accountants, engineers, land surveyors, sales and marketing professionals, insurance professionals, programmers, all sorts of technicians, electricians, auto mechanics, bodywork specialists, plumbers , carpenters, masons, tilers hair dressers, caterers, dee jays, radio announcers , promoters, landscapers, chefs, fishing, farming. Too many people believe that they are owed something.
There is something for every one to do. Find an area that you like and work hard at it. Your success is up to you primarily. We in Barbados have so much going for us, We have so many opportunities that people from throughout the Caribbean flock here for our money making opportunities. We are developing a nation of mendicants and dependents who believe that you should be able to live like a millionaire while working as a clerk. Our parents didn’t take trips every year. You don’t need a 50 inch flat screen to watch TV. Because you went to your bosses house and saw a Jacuzzi and a flat screen in every room does not mean that you have to copy those features.
This is not an “accept your lot in life” or a people are born to their status argument. Uplift yourself, strive for better but most importantly live within your means.
Everybody can’t be rich, stop subscribing to the western ideals of materiality. try to be comfortable save a little, conserve your money and stop spending it on foolishness . Enjoyment in Barbados is cheap for locals. Nature is always there.
I have noted that young professionals working for $7, $8,000 monthly guard their spending much more than people at the lower end. I see girls working for small salaries killing themselves in the boutiques, new outfits for every show, new hair dos twice monthly , some even weekly.
WHAT HAPPEN TO COMMON SENSE? being frugal? discerning with your money?
Spending money is not about whether you can afford it; it is about whether you are getting value for your dollar.
Very refershing piece. Do i hear a amen
I support this piece. Straight to the point, no round the bush talk. Look forward the next article.
@BMSN
Did you write about Barbados or a Utopia?
I said before and I’ll say again,,, In all my time lurking in the shadows and reading these blogs – and this is years now – I have never ever come across a more profound statement. Your sentiments should be compulsory reading. If only Bajans would get it. I wish great blessings upon you!!!
When BU published this video of a popular girls school dancing on desks which in our view is unacceptable behaviour, it was brushed off by many who commented. We continue to let the weeds overrun our lawns.
Today in the news we hear of the same school using the bathrooms to perform sex acts. Children involved straddle from first to fifth forms. Now the bathrooms have to be locked and a key asked for when students need to use the bathrooms legitimately.
“If you are poor for more than one generation it is because you want to be.”
The author of this statement is a smug misguided snob, blissfully unaware of his own ignorance and probably delusional. He has chosen to ignore the socio-economic history of this island, while looking down his nose at the less fortunate.
This collection of generalizations is simplistic at best and should not be taken seriously by anyone with the slightest bit of commonsense.
The motivation for elevating this comment eludes me.
I went to school in the 80s and even back then, there were rumours of such behaviour occurring there. I must also say that I attended a mixed school and the same thing used to occur there also.
I guess this activity has become more prevalent with the changing times, and is no longer taboo.
Did anyone else find it absurd that the Prime Minister intends to include on the agenda of the meeting of the National Security Council, the issue of a few school children misbehaving at school ? Once again Thompson show s that he is a master of manipulating those who will not think!
@”I am not etc”
who determines the outcome of the YOUR life?
That is the worst piece of socio-analytical piece of crap in have read since the white man blame all of social ills on black peple.People are poor because of differing reasons and to paintall poor people with the same brush is ridiculous to say the least.Maybe you need to define the word “Poor”.
I do not criticise for criticising sake so I would be logical with my review of this article. I except some of the points mentioned as true as John 3 16. Indeed we are blessed with a lot from the very little we have. We have progress within reason to a status that makes us the envy of many other Caribbean states. However I find your perception of the poor to be a little too bias and personal without giving total consideration for the many other factors regarding impoverisment. Also you seem to be advocating that education is a stand alone and an instant catapult towards riches and recognition. Please understand that they are many educated poor people who are poor not by choice but by circumstance.
If we accept the generally held belief that the purpose of living is to accumulate wealth, then one will be hard pressed to disagree with much of BMSN’s comment. But since the true purpose of life may be completely different to the generally held belief. there are a number of holes in the piece.
Suppose for a moment that the whole point of life was to create an environment which is perfectly designed to spawn, test and refine those characteristics in human beings that are required to qualify for acceptance for elevation to a higher plane of existence as defined by the originator of the whole exercise….
…and suppose those characteristics included attributes such as love, patience, long suffering, the instinct to repay evil with kindness, to be completely unselfish..etc
Then surely this puts a different spin on the issue.
Someone who understands this reality may well be ‘poor’, while experiencing the highest possible level of success in life….. and obviously the converse is even more probable – that one can possess all that is humanly possible- and yet live a completely failed life.
Indeed, the drive to pursue the material things of our world represents the greatest temptation to envy, hate, greed, murder etc – the diametric opposite to the actual PURPOSE for which life was created.
But Bush Tea agrees completely with BMSN summary that we should not blame ‘life’, but rather we should blame the way that we CHOOSE to live it. This also includes those who HAVE successfully accumulated the glittery things that we aspire to have.
If then there IS a bigger purpose, anyone who has launched into life without working out for themselves what the rules of the game are; what their goals are;..and how they plan to proceed, ….. but who merely choose to follow what everyone around them seem to be doing; qualifies in Bush Tea’s mind for BMSN ire, and can only be described as ‘foolish’.
Bush Tea therefore agrees with the intent of the comment, only I would replace ‘poor’ with ‘foolish’ and modify the summary to read….
WHAT HAPPEN TO COMMON SENSE? being thoughtful? discerning with your life?
Living is not about whether you can afford things; it is about whether you are getting value for your life experience.
*****People have to stop breeding without knowing how they are going to support children. Condoms are cheap. nothing is wrong with attempting to plan a life.******
Wasn’t there a commission of enquiry or one of some other sort that was titled “Thinking things through?” If so, can I infer that it is not a normal things for Barbadians to so do? After all it took a commission to do it.
Italy and some other European countries have falling birthrates. “Somehow,” while this is occurring, their immigrant population is growing. This increase is led by a people with three things in common; their religion, their high birthrate, and their resistance to assimilating into the host country’s culture. This is leading to cultural and ethnic conflicts.
In Barbados we have Economists (Clyde Mascoll) and others, who are highlighting Barbados supposedly slow or slowing birthrate, in the context of concerns about Barbados supposedly burgeoning immigrant population. The largest section is said to be Indic’s. As indicated by activities in their home countries of Guyana and Trinidad, Indic’s and Affric’s are having a difficult time coming together in national unity. No attempts in either country seems to bearing the fruits of reconciliation, and Unity, yet we are set to create a similar society in Barbados due to corporate greed, political calculations, and the pie-n-the-sky believe that we (so called Caribbean nationals) are family, are one and the same, and have a common destiny.
So let us stop breeding while the Indic’s don’t, and in so doing legitimize the Economist and Corporate leaders in the belief that our workforce can do with an injection of bodies.
The remainder of your contribution I am ok with.
As a product of a very very poor single parent Barbadian family,I have some concerns with the above topic.
Young ladies from poor backgrounds do not necessarily want to have 3 or 4 children before the age of 25 usually with different fathers just for the sake of having children.That situation usually occurs because of the young lady yearning for love that is not really present in their household.Some find themselves in that predicament because of financial problems and because a lot of unscrupulous,immoral men try to take advantage of the vulnerability of those young ladies.
It is usually the case in many instances where persons from the marginalized,poorer sectors of this society find themselves in similar circumstances as their parents or grand parents,For example,children from single parents homes with their mother having a fair amount of children from different fathers will more likely than not follow a similar pathway.Similarly,a child with a family history of crime, that is a family member, maybe a father or uncle or big brother will more than likely follow a similar lifestyle..
Statistics would indicate that a greater percentage of persons involve in criminal activity usually have a family history of crime.
I agreed with David that the writer of this article believes that Barbados is a utopia state and opportunities are abound.That is a false premise that must be challenge.Where are the opportunities for the poorer,uneducated,unskilled or semi-skilled young people in Barbados?I can even add where are the opportunities for the university highly educated graduates in Barbados ?I know of a few cases where university graduates in Barbados are working as cashiers,waiters or waitresses in hotels & restaurants in Barbados.
In some cases the indifference in some young people would necessitate the state some of them unfortunately find themselves in.However,that is a minor few and it is not a true picture of the situation.
As I stated at the beginning,I am a product of the lowest class in Barbados and it is only true sheer determination and a few lucky breaks that I was able to rise above my impoverished state and live the comfortable life I am presently able to live.There are a minor few of us from that sort of background who are able to succeed against the odds,but sadly the vast majority fails and ends up as the residents of Dodds Prison or dependents of the state.
This country Barbados has failed many of its children and the system we presently have to live under is very selective in determining who are going to make it and those who it is going to fail.
Agree with Negroman’s view, while individuals are responsible for charting their destiny there is the reality that the mindset/philosophy of many poor (economic/value set) people is driven by the circumstance they find themselves. Many are able to break free because of ad hoc factors but many are sucked in by the system.
I am glad that the post provoked some comments and I should say that should really define “poor”. I use poor in the sense of destitute , unable to provide for yourself and /or your children. Unable to maintain your place of living. One can be in the lower income socio economic bracket but not be what i was referring to. for example you can be a maid , raise your children provide for them and their education, pay for and maintain your home. Your kids while maybe not becoming status symbols professionals can become self sufficient, able to earn enough in Barbados to be comfortable if they make use of the educational and technical opportunities available.
At David and Negroman the circumstances which people find themselves in were much more dire 50 years ago yet succeeding generations were able to break free of the cycle. My grandparents like so many others were agricultural workers and fishermen, almost illiterate and uneducated but they always stressed that you should value school and education and grasp it firmly because they never had that chance. We make too many excuses for our failing society.
As for yearning for love that doesn’t mean that you can’t wear a condom.
At Adrian Hinds, The Indians keep reproducing yes but their offspring aren’t becoming a societal menace unless you mean the ones who own the PSVs. maybe we need to encourage middle class Barbadians to have more children but the answer is not for people who can’t support themselves to get 4 and 5 kids. I watch these children being raised and it gets worse and worse.
At Bush Man , I take your point. One can be a success financially but be a failure as a person, father, husband etc. I know of a couple who never were wealthy maybe not even comfortable . They always had a little extra in the bank and never had to beg for anything. they raised and educated their kids on jobs lived good lives and are happy and content.
@ I am not anonymous
I am the furthest thing from being a snob. I mix and hang with ppl you pass on the street with your head up. that is why I can make some of these observations. I have seen people that had so much weight and baggage heaped on them from young rise above it all to empower themselves with a marketable trait and through hard work and common sense reach a sustainable fiscal position and lifestyle. They may never become rich but they are self sufficient and self sufficient. That is all one can ask.
@ David again; i know Barbados is no utopia but it s better than a lot of places. it is however a land of opportunity. My parents would not have been able to send me to university unless the government paid tuition and I value that education tremendously. The opportunity to better yourself is there ; If not UWI then BCC or SJPP, Skills Training, the Police Force, Nursing. There are opportunities in lots of places. Go for them lots of Haitians, Jamaicans, Guyanese will never have that chance.
To the author of this post,do you really think people are poor because of their choices or by design?Until you realise that we live in a white mans world run by him with no intention of giving up power you will realise why things are the way they are.Americans are a good example,the richest country,land of opportunity,still there is poverty and sufferation…all by design,read this article and your awareness of the white devil will be heightened.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/124948-America-s-Darkest-Secret-The-Nine-Stages-of-American-Autogenocide
I am not dealing with America. I am dealing with Barbados. America does not have free tertiary education. In fact in many instances going to university in the US is prohibitively expensive. It is not so in Barbados.
How does one associate a person lifestlye with being poor. Some of the circumstances mentioned in the article can be attributed to rich people. For the rich in many cases opt to have abortions rather than have the babies at young ages.
The rich and the older generation have accumulated all the wealth without investing or distributing resources to the poor or the next generation.
@BMSN, Your article, generally, is on target, right on!
From the time that Adam in the Garden, sought to BLAME his Creator, rather than take full responsibility for his CHOICE to disobey, which Eve likewise did, there STARTED the Adamic-blame-syndrome, which has NEVER stopped, AND from that moment, when the spiritual desease of ‘Sin’ entered Adam, which was passed on to every single human, the global human crisis, with ALL of its attendant maladies, continues relentlessly!
@Badman sayinnuttin
Next time before putting pen to paper to try to tackle an issue which rans across all people of all race and color inthe country.Make sure you do some serious research on the topic because it is not always what you think but it is if you walk in those shoes.Most of what you have said is for an emotional point of view.
Happy Go Lucky Girl
@Badmansayin Nuttin
In your response on Mar 4 are you conceding that there are various sides to evey story?as in reference to the “maid”
@Zoe
Ihope you really read the article as it referto the “Poor”
Alot of mega churches hve been built with the blood sweat and tears of the “Poor” .I hope you haven’t forgotten the story of the widows mite. People like you always show yourself up for what you truly are “Hypocrite”.Didn’t even havea kind word to say
but did again what could you have said.
@KIKi
Can you download the song “You are a child of the Universe” don’t know if i got the title right.Alright………….Senda message to those who are quick to judge others. No Respect!
BMSN,
While you sit at your fancy computer writing rubbish on the people’s blog, recognize that there are none, that tries harder to live life, than the poor. None!
“See me and don’t know me, yet you passing judgement, how does that make you feel?” Nuff respect to a man like Garnett Silk.
I was trying to be diplomatic with the garbage Bad Man Saying Nuttin wrote,however,I must state that his article was nothing but a piece of simplistic,emotional garbage that one would expect from a first former at a secondary school.
It seems that that Bad Man Sayin Nuttin believes that all of society ills must be blamed on the already financially deprived poor people of this society.
Bad Man Sayin Nuttin your name suits the this topic because this article is a bullshit article.No scientific data and facts to substantiate the nonsense in this article.
Bad Man Sayin Nuttin the snobbery in you as AC highlighted is quite relevant in this article.Why are you blaming the unfortunate victims of the situation you highlighted and not seek to find out the sources or reasons for the circumstances?Why continue to emphatise the use of condoms by the young people of this country?Maybe if your father had use a condom while having sex with your mother,he would not had produced a cocky,arrogant condescending idiot like you.
If you are an university graduate,no wonder the professor Howard had to highlight the poor standard of students attending that institution.You are a classic example of professor Howard was trying to say.
Bad Man Sayin Nuttin,this Negroman has little regard and admiration for snobs like you.Anybody who ridicules the poor working class Barbadians,I have little regard for.I am from that sector of this society and I would not tolerate snobbish behavior from jerks like you because people like you are insulting the tremendous efforts my mother made in raising her children and the upbringing I had.
@Bad man Sayin Nuttin
I told you not to get yourself all emotional about the plight of the “POOR” because it would backfire in your face. But people like yourself think yuh always right. Hope yuh learn yuh lesson.
The Poor are people too who are struggling one day at atime to be as successful as you are. Just Leave Dem Alone. Yuh POOR THing.
What condescending crap from ….Negroman and others. BMSN has described certain behaviour and attitudes that in his opinion militate against a person’s material and spiritual progress. Suddently everyone identifies these as solely (or mainly) the behaviour of the “poor”. Well I see much of the same negative behaviour and attitudes among scions of well off families with the same outcomes BMSN predicts. Most working class Bajans are actually frugal (how else could the credit union accounts have grown so rapidly?), most working class Bajans are fairly conservative (who do you think make up the congregations of the churches?) and most working class Bajans fully exploit any and all educational opportunities (how else could UWI expand so rapidly?). Yet there are those (from all “classes” and creeds) that moan and complain about the world while doing nothing positive to achieve any goal. It is these that BMSN I believe is addressing.
@Anonymous
Bad man saying nuttin main focus was the”Poor”. and he said what he meant. well if you want to go ahead and pile on more crap on the poor be your guest. but guess what you are just as retarded as he is on this topic.
AC
is English your mother tongue? I have stated that most working class Bajans are frugal, conservative and eager to learn. I have rejected the view that profligacy, licentiousness and ignorance in anyway define working class Bajans.
@Anonymous
I did not overlooked your secondary comments,However you seem tohave missed the focus of the point of the article which have caused the racuss and yes you seem to have missed the very point of what the writer has said.Even the opening of your comment speaks volume as to your mind set. In your post you are trying to have it both ways.1 is to say that the writer is correct in his point of view and 2. Your interaction with working class people.
My mind set is clear. While a successful outcome in life cannot be guaranteed I believe that the choices, habits and values of a person can and do have significant causative power. So BMSN is partially correct in my opinion. I do not however deny the importance of the societal environment on the probability of success. More importantly, I reject the notion that working class people have any monopoly on destructive behaviour or even in the main display such. Now the fly in the ointment is the interchangeable use of the words “poor” and “working class”. I have made sparse reference to the former word as it can be so imprecise and pejorative leading to confusion. By the way I do not “interact” with working class people, I am a working class person.
Just take a look eh
Take a look at my face
You want to wipe it out
And leave no trace
Simple words to the government then
See me and them we ain’t no friend
Because they’ve BAMBOOZLED the people for much too long
A Campaign of propaganda
It seems they have a hidden agenda
Rastaman won’t take no bribe
We are going to be that thorn
in the Government’s side
You say you see no evil
And that you hear no evil
Why do you tell the children lies ?
• dan bowskill
@ AC
I cant find your tune “¿Dónde Estás Corazón?” any hints artist/genre etc
@KIKI.
All i can tell you is That a some of the words are connected to the universe.The person in general does not sing but talk with music in the background
AC
you really must be young. The piece you are looking for is the Desiderata.
http://www.fleurdelis.com/desiderata.htm
It was recited with accompanying music by Les Crane in 1971.
even the dull and ignorant they too have their story
__________________________________________________
You should never ask a woman her age
Happy Go Lucky Girl
This Is Reggae Music
_____________________________________________________
Song: Happy Go Lucky Girl (wrong link error)
__________________________________________________
♪ Daddy U-Roy ♪ Wayne Wade ♪ The Paragons ♪
Happy Go Lucky Girl
__________________________________________________
I have tried my best to change you
Oh, how much I’d love to control you
Ah, happy go lucky girl
Ah, happy go lucky girl
Ah, happy go lucky girl…
So because I am sitting at a computer and typing I am not a working class Barbadian?
I managing to keep my head above the water but i am not “well off”. I am not looking down, I am looking around.
As for the need for statistics, that is a politician’s response to avoid criticism or action.
And lots of places other than UWI are proud to call me a graduate.
Everyone can’t be a victim or unfortunate. Some people exacerbate their situations with poor choices. Some never strive to be better.
I will never forget my mother telling me that the rich can afford folly. Their bread is buttered . A poor man has to fight and work hard for everything he wants. A growing sub-culture or section are choosing not to fight or work hard.
Please take the time to read my definition of poor. As pointed out by some bloggers AC, Johnny postle and Bush Tea poor needed to be better defined.
@BU.David et al…
I’ve noticed that you’ve changed your “Template”.
And more…
I note that the exact time a post made is no longer available. Only the day.
I note that you’ve now implemented “threaded comments”, without notice.
I, for one, disagree that these implementations are better.
Anyone who wishes to comment *where it will be read* can go to the very bottom of this thread (rather than clicking on any “REPLY” label) and enter their message in the “Text Field” at the bottom of the page, and when they’re done entering their message press the “Submit Comment” button.
@BMSN you fighting a loosing battle, but i like your article. @Negroman, I did not see you at the Spice fete, you missed a real good mixed race party. People from all races and classes jamming together, peacefully, no bottle throwing, no weed smoking, nuff drink and food. Good clean fun, you should of attended, it might clear that warped mind of yours. lol.
@Chris
Go to Suggestion Box accessible at the top of page. BU tried to explain the rationale.
@Anonymous:
you are so correct on both . Thank You.
@Kiki
Please read anonymous comment mar5
@Bad man sayin nuttin
I think your article was well intended however their are certain sections of every societ who might have fitted well in the context of your article.Maybe your article should have been titled”The Entitlement Mentality.”
On a side note, why is it that governmental organizations find it sooooo easy to cut programs such a SCI-TECH EXPO and put children at a disadvantage from learning and showing their skills, talents and creativity. But fin it real easy to support thing that are not necessarily as important as youthful development and exploration.
Or am i too young to understand simple common sense?
Realistically can anyone tell me how much it costs to host the SCI-TECH EXPO, as a former participant it was very educational but also good to see what other students were doing at their schools and in society. It was not only schools that participated but community groups. Wonder what they will do now, we preach entrepreneurial experience but take away the same events that could simply inspire that very nature in youthful eyes.
AC I did put the YouTube link up
but here it is again
_______________________________________________
Desiderata
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
_______________________________________________
Why the blatant attacks and insults on an article that has pointed out some true facts relative to our society. But fail to provide a number of ‘poor’facts other than to say it is by choice, which lends bias. Is it not obvious that this article’s content is written generalizations? Come on people, let’s face it, we all are guilty of this type of writing, after all, is not most of the comments attacking the obvious weaknesses in BMSN ‘poor’ assumptions, not generalizations? I really do not think you need to substantiate matters of the poor with statistics (unless it is a scientific study for a specific purpose). After all we are sharing views and not necessary scientific research.
From time in memorial, they have always been the rich and the poor. And what ever have led to the state of the two extremes is simply a matter of circumstance. Is it not a reality that when we are dead and dry up there will always be the rich and the poor; just like there will always be lies and the truth?
BMSN has highlight some societal factors and have made some valid points so I really do not understand the attacks. You could summate many factors on this topic and still not exhaust it because many differnt pictures will still tell a different story.
However we must be careful of our perceptions of the poor because many who are rich may ‘choose’ to live ‘poor’ whilst those who are poor may ‘choose’ to take on a ‘rich appearance’ (sounds alot like our so called middle class). Whatever are the CHOICES, it is my opinion (which I am generalizing here) that the underlying factor(s) remains circumstance and in some instances, not necessarily a matter of choice. e.g a poor man winning a 30 million dollar lottery (Gaw Blimah he got nuff choices because that money just change his circumstances for life) and a pHD student coming hot out of University who cannot get a job on the rock is forced into a poor state. Who then is rich and who is poor. A MATTER OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
“Lonely Roads”
@Johnny Postle
What de hell did you just write?
Bad Man Saying Nuttin wrote ” My parents would not have been able to send me to university unless the government paid tuition ”
Dear Bad Man…
Excuse me, buty the government did NOT pay your tuition.
Your tuition was PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS of this country, including many like me who have not had the benefit of a university educaton.
So don’t get so full of yaself, not yet.
Wiat until you have had a sick child, or spouse or parent on your hands for a decade or more.
That will cure you of talking nonsense about self-inflicted poverty.
And tobesides Bad Man it is good to have children before the age of 25 (even 3 or more children) and with Barbados birth rate being 1.6 per woman over a lifetime, it is a good thing that some women decide to have 3 or more children. We should elevate those women to national heroine status instead of criticising them. Women between the age of 20 and 25 have healthier children than older women. Unhealthy children end up costing the the taxpayers and their parents a fortune.
And beside you idiot REPRODUCTION is hard work. Mothers of young children are NOT idle slobs.
Who do you think it is that creats and raises the work force for companies such as Williams Industries and the other big companies in Barbados.
You think that young workers drop down out of the sky?
No the hard working woman of Barbados , conceive, and work hard to raise these workers.
You understand that by the time a young worker is delivered to a corporation that a MOTHER has been in labour, sometimes for more than 24 hours, has cooked nearly 15,000 meals (2 meals per day for 20 years), has given about 5,000 baths (that is assuming 2 baths per day until the age of 6) that she has combed and washed her children’s hair more that a thousand times (BMSN have you ever washed and combed a little black girl’s hair, do you know that that task can take an hour or more, you think that nicely cornrowed hair drops out of the sky?) laundered maybe 10 tons of clothes (sometimes on a juckking board) , made dozens of visits to the doctor or polyclinic, if she is a poor mother without a car that she has walked thousands of miles taking her children to and from school, that she has gone shopping many thousands of times, and that in most cases she has done all this while holding a full time job in addition to satisfying the sexual cravings of men like you when the night come.
Why the ass don’t you get offa the backs of our young Bajan women, and let them do the REPRODUCTIVE work that nobody else can do.
If young Bajan women don’t bear and rear children who do you think will reproduce our workforce and our society? You think that we can ship this reproductive work off-shore? you think that we can contract it out? or that “successful” old men and “sucessful” old women can do it??
BMSN you are an unlearnted idiot.
Get offa the backs of our hardworking working class women. This society CANNOT get by without their productive labour and their REPRODUCTIVE labour.
J is back to remind you idiots that our lower class women are not irresponsible “breeders”. The are and have always been important contributors to the success of this society.
Maybe we should take down Nelson and put in his place a statue of a working class Bajan mother.
We all owe them.
Dear Bad Man Saying Nutting:
I’ve rewritten your statement for you. Don’t thank me. Thank your mother.
“lots of civil servants (raised by working class single mothers) Private sector accountants (mostly raised by working class mothers) engineers (all raised by mothers, many of whom became mothers before the age of 25) land surveyors (raised by mothers) sales and marketing professionals (raised by mothers) insurance professionals (raised by mother, yes many of whom were mothers by the age of 20) programmers (ALL RAISED BY MOTHERS) all sorts of technicians (raised by mothers every single one) electricians (raised by working single mothers) auto mechanics (raised by mothers) bodywork specialists (raised by mothers) plumbers (o heck, mothers raise these too) carpenters (mothers) masons (mothers) tilers hair dressers (mothers at work again) caterers (looka mothers here too) dee jays (mothers at work again) radio annoucers (mothers at work) promoters (Mothers doing thier thing again) landscapers (mothers again) chefs (mothers raise chefs too) fishing (and fishermen) farming (I hear that mothers conceive, give birth to and raise farmers too, but maybe that is only a rumour)
LET US TODAY RISE UP AND HONOR THE HARD WORKING MOTHERS OF THIS COUNTRY.
Talk yuh talk J … but don’t leave out the “mothers” who raise up criminals (of both the blue and white collar variety), good-for-nothing men, whores and pimps and useless twits that contribute little or nothing to society. All of dem got mothers fuh sure but in their cases maybe it is only de fathers to blame! Anyway what do I know, I only had a decent hard working mother …. and a decent hard working father (like the majority of working class Bajans).
Anon I am not blaming fathers here although if you want a gender based argument I can give you one.
But BMSN wrote “We have people who indiscriminately get pregnant 3 times before reaching 25″ Even though he says people and not women, the last time I checked the term pregnant was in COMMON use ONLY with reference to women. So yes BMSN was ‘dissing POOR WOMEN because nobody complains when rich women get 3 or more children before the age of 25 and then withdraws from the productive workforce to raise them with significant help of a poor woman maid. But if a poor women gets 3 children, and raises them even while working hard as hell at a job people have a problem with poor women’s pregnancies.
Tell me Anon and BMSN do you really think that all women should wait until they are rich before they start getting children?
And if women defer child bearing until they are rich, then tell me please where will the corporations find their work force???
I ent in na hurry ya can tek ya time finding the answer.
Why is it considered ok for a poor woman to raise a rich woman’s children, and not ok for her to raise her own?
We all know that even the richest people in this country were bathed by, fed by, dressed by, had their laundry done by, had their meals cooked by, were taught manners by, were taught to read and write by…yes by the same working class women that some people think are not good enough to raise children of their own.
And we are ony talking gender and social class here.
Do you want me to add race to the mix?
Do you want me to add religion?
My take on the matter is if poor women are good enough to raise other people’s children, then they are certainly good enough to raise thier own children.
I don’t (and can’t speak for BMSN) but here’s my take: this is a blog not a peer reviewed journal of sociology or whatever. BMSN has probably been too sweeping in his generalisations (as you have been as well) but hell he was only essentially (as I understand it) making the point that there are people who blame everyone and every other thing for their situation in life while refusing to assess the contribution of their own actions and omissions. I also believe that BMSN is also identifying the opportunities (e.g education) that the state has provided and bemoan those that fritter these opportunities away. My real concern not only with the original post but with some comments is that there is a tacit association of negative behaviour with working class people (and now you, with working class women specifically). This I believe is due to the use of the descriptor “poor”. This imprecise and pejorative word can and does mean different things to different people. BMSN does attempt to address the view that a “rich” life is one only of material bounty. He has stated that an enjoyable life “in Barbados is cheap for locals. Nature is always there”. So he rejects material acquisition as the sole measure of happiness and profoundly points to our environment as a more meaningful source of such. These are themes that could each occupy many pages of analysis. Give the guy a break he was voicing his opinion in a few short paragraphs not writing a thesis. I conclude by restating my “mindset”. Life is not fair but we each have to play the hand dealt to us. As to which women (and men) should ideally have children, in my simple view, healthy women (and men) who are aware of and ready to happily take on the responsibilities of raising a child or children. Ideally these women (and men) have a reasonable (realistic) understanding of these responsibilities. This characterization is not correlated to race, religion, economic status, or educational level. To quote myself from an earlier post: “Well I see much of the same negative behaviour and attitudes among scions of well off families with the same outcomes BMSN predicts”. And give us fathers a break. Most of us are trying and trying well. The women must agree, they keep coming back for more.
Anonymous wrote in reference to BMSN “Give the guy a break he was voicing his opinion in a few short paragraphs not writing a thesis”
And i was doing exactly the same. I’ve never written a thesis, I’ve never submitted an article to a peer reviewed journal. I’ve never graduated from a university. Since BMSN has told us that that MY TAX MONEY funded his education, then he OWES it to me to be more thoughtful. I want BETTER VALUE for my money.
Oh and by the way my rural working class parents neither of whom went to school past the age of 12 raised 9 children (same marriage, same house) and ALL have turned out well. A good number of our Prime MInisters, opposition leaders, university professors, doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, etc CANNOT say the same.
And my 8 siblings and I have raised 12 children all of whom have turned out well. 8 have graduated from university including many with graduate degrees, one is currently in university and the same is expected of the two younger ones. Of the three who are still works in progress 1 is at university and 2 are at older secondary schools. Neither my parents, nor my siblings nor I have graduated from any university.
Working class people, and specifically black working class women have ALWAYS been the PRINCIPAL child raisers in this country. They raised their own, even while raising the children of the middle and upper classes. Tell me if I lie?
If you come on this blog attempting to “beat-up” working class Bajan women, expect to “take some lashes” from me.
And for the sheer fun of it I’ll repeat
“Maybe we should remove Nelson and put in his place a statue of a working class Bajan mother. They deserve our respect and honour. We all owe them.”
Can any Bajan honestly disagree with this statement?
@J
no brothers?!! 9 girls! I notice you wrote about your “rural working class parents”. So Daddy was there for you just like most other working class Bajan families. Come on give we Bajan men a little scotch on de pedestal.
I said siblings not sisters, There are brothers, who have all been good fathers to their now adult children. One brother has 2 daughters who have 4 degrees between them.
I was blessed with the most wonderful father in the world.
I LOVE MEN.
Yes most of our men deserve a place on the pedastal. But hey!!!you guys already have the following statues, Nelson, Bussa, Adams, Walcott, Barrow, plus various busts ’bout the place, Walcott, Worrell, Weeks at UWI etc.
I think that it is time that the women get one too. They deserve a statue.
And ’nuff respect for their re-PRODUCTIVE WORK.
I was being facetious. Of course your brothers are good fathers, which is my point (among others) that I’ve been making all along. We (men) could always do better but we are doing our part. I want this damned myth of the “absent lousy working-class father” expunged from our psyches. Most of us are more than caring, protective and nurturing parents. Peace be unto you J!
I want this damned myth of the “absent lousy working-class parents” expunged from our psyches.
We are on the same page then.
Peace to you too Anon.
J,This is Negroman one of your harshest critic,I know we never agree on anything whatsoever,however,I must congratulate you on the tremendous work you have done to defend the dignity of poor,black working class mothers of Barbados from the nonsense Bad Man Sayin Nutttin posted.
My poor very poor mother raised 8 children practically by herself with little or no support from the fathers and each & everyone of her 8 children have and are making a contribution to the development of Barbados.Not one of us ever had to go before the law courts,not one of us ever caused her any unnecessary grief and many of her grandchildren including Yours Truly son are attending university.
Bad Man Sayin Nuttin,Your article stinks and it is very offensive to the efforts the poor working class black Barbadians mothers have done in producing some of the most productive & enterprising black Barbadians this country has produced as J has highlighted.
J,Negroman says thanks for coming to defense of the poor working class black Barbadians mothers and for ripping the nonsense Bad Man Sayin Nuttin to shreds.
Look at the nonsense students the University of the West Indies is producing.Bad Man Sayin Nuttin, you are a letdown to the high standards the University of the West Indies is famous for.
Yes we often disagree Negorman and I expect that our disagreements will continue. But today we are on the same page.
Peace.
when you think of all theolder mothers who worked hard and long to help raised the family because father might have been a seaman and gone for long periods of time,and still was able to produce outstanding and respectable children.Some of these women had many children and even though they were POOr they were able to instilled respect and good moral standards in there children.
J if you took the time to read carefully you would see that I praised the way Barbadians raised their children 30, 40, 50 years ago. They placed a premium on education and hard work even if they were the poorest of the poor as my grandparents were. This is increasingly not the case today.
We are supposed to be more intelligent today than then so when I see people getting children that they are ill equipped to feed, raise or educate and then blaming government for their plight I cannot be sympathetic. While men must share in the blame for indiscriminate and unwanted pregnancies, a woman should have the final say with her body. In this day and age she should insist on a condom or some form of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Today is International Women’s Day and I say congratulation to all womanhood. Continue to empower yourselves. The choice is yours.
You seem to have an agenda. If you are concerned about how your tax dollars are being spent then you should be even more worried about the numbers who drop out of UWI after costing the taxpayer thousands of dollars. You should be even more worried about those who dropped out of high school or who wasted their time there. You should be concerned about those who make use of the taxpayer’s hospitality at Dodds. And as for your tax dollars educating me, well my tax dollars will educate somebody else and I don’t want those resources to be squandered or inefficiently utilised.
My criticisms don’t fall on those hardworking prudent women out there who are struggling to stay afloat while keeping their dignity and pride. They fall on the ones who have never worked a day and don’t intend to. The ones who are living on welfare and raising children who will raise children who will live on welfare. The ones whose children will live on the block never having a productive day in their life. The ones who getting their utilities paid by the tax payer and gambling and feting out the child support money or the welfare checks. The ones who feel that the taxpayer owes them a living because society and the system treated them unfairly.
If you can’t see that Barbados is developing a welfare culture, one of mendicancy, entitlement and handouts then what I have written will always bother you. There is none so blind as those that will not see.
International Women’s Day is a good day to argue about women’s contributions to society
Strong Love
Any day is a good day to share opinions. I don’t need a day to tell me that I should treat my girlfriend/wife/mother/sister with respect and should be grateful for the contributions they have made. I am equally grateful to my father/grandfather/brothers. I treat all people I meet with a basic level of respect. If nothing else they are human and deserve at least that.
BMSN wrote “We are supposed to be more intelligent today”
There is no evidence to show that human intellegence can channge much in a generation or two.
BMSN wrote “You seem to have an agenda”
My only agenda is reason.
But isn’t it true BMSN that politicians, still mostly male cultivate dependence, because the perception is (or maybe the relaity) that dependent people will vote for Mr. X because they are so grateful for the pittance that he has provided.
@BMSN
Maybe you can redeem yourself by writing a new article about the people who have an entitlement mentality.
One thing is for sure and that is as in Adam …all die!