Some Notable Quotes...

In researching to write I stumbled on the following quote by George Orwell: 

"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act. "

Having thought of him through the prism of Animal Farm, I was amazed at the depth of his wisdom, and the clarity of thought in some of his quotes. Funny how I thought him a writer, in another time we would have called him Teacher.

Some others by him:

"All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others." - This is the underpinning philosophy of every racist who has ever walked on the Earth.

"Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - Advertising & Marketing Agencies are now indispensable to Political Parties, whose sole function is to weave lies into truth and to disguise the real intentions of those who they campaign for. 

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - Real Leadership speaks truth to everyone regardless of how unpopular that truth might be, in its service of the greater good. 

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - How very well said.

"Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power." - In other words, every thing said to you in an election on a campaign is a lie, and your willingness to be a part of that lie determines how much you benefit from the plunder.

"War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent." - I have said and I confess I have also heard others say that a truly educated and informed electorate would reject every single candidate that have so far made themselves available for election.

The plot set aside for another offering, I now went in search of other wisdom, other writings that have been etched into timelessness, their contributors mounted on timeless pedestals for all eternity.

Here are some of those that I found:

An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. - Arnold H. Glasow  - ENT?

Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.- Robert Byrne - watching Warner and Manning in the last election, I literally had to squint and vote.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander. - Napoleon Bonaparte - Prudent knowledge, this.

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. - Will Rogers - I would hope the media adopts this policy at some point.

I think it's a terrible shame that politics has become show business. - Sydney Pollack - Could not have said it better Sydney, all odor, no substance.

If a politician murders his mother, the first response of the press or of his opponents will likely be not that it was a terrible thing to do, but rather that in a statement made six years before he had gone on record as being opposed to matricide. - Meg Greenfield - In other words, lie, lie, lie.

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable. - Louis D. Brandeis - Extrdite them Anand, really.

In politics nothing is contemptible. - Benjamin Disraeli - Panjack, Ramjack, Gypsyjack, and now Kamjack. Hey, whatever works for you when ethics is not a consideration.

Politics have no relation to morals. - Niccolo Machiavelli - Patrick Mervyn Eustace Dhanraj Leeking Sabga Manning.

Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable. - John Kenneth Galbraith - Manning vs Warner

So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we'll be called a democracy.  - Roger Nash Baldwin - ENT?????

The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river.  - Ross Perot - Those who only see the dirty water are called MP's.

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. - Dante Alighieri - for the mocking pretenders, the centrist deserters, those who resist the call for Country First. Fire Bun Dem

The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal, that you can gather votes like box tops is, I think, the ultimate indignity to the democratic process. - Adlai E. Stevenson - And will eventually undo us all

The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. - John Stuart Mill - All that is required for evil to prosper is that good men do nothing.

The secret of getting things done is to act! - Dante Alighieri - This is specifically for the MP's still in campaign mode. 

The world will never have lasting peace so long as men reserve for war the finest human qualities. Peace, no less than war, requires idealism and self-sacrifice and a righteous and dynamic faith.-   John Foster Dulles - Hmmm

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. - Alexander Hamilton - you see them every election in their orgasmic frenzy, parroting their leaders' drivel.

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. - Thomas Paine - Put that on my tombstone, chisel it deep so it will last a long, long time.

We have, I fear, confused power with greatness. - Stewart Udall - Only the public's response will change this.

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. - Edmund Burke - Agreed!

You cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt. - Daniel Hannan - Hmmm

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him. - John Morley - Truth lives beyond

All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man. - Henry David Thoreau - And I fully expect to be quoted one day

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. - Thomas Jefferson - Agreed.

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.  - Walter Lippmann - Wow!

Every government is a parliament of whores. The trouble is, in a democracy, the whores are us. - P. J. O'Rourke - Ent?

Government is an unnecessary evil. Human beings, when accustomed to taking responsibility for their own behavior, can cooperate on a basis of mutual trust and helpfulness. - Fred Woodworth - And they would have been better able to help themselves and each other.

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? -  Saint Augustine - Extradite them now Anand

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed. - Benjamin Franklin - Let everyone on death row vote for ten people to be hanged on behalf of them all.

Majority rule only works if you're also considering individual rights. Because you can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for supper. - Larry Flynt - Lol

The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return. - Gore Vidal - Vexing

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. - Mohandas Gandhi - ENT?

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children. - Kahlil Gibran - In other words, don't take yourself too seriously

All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain? - Buddha - Nothing more needs to be said.

Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. -  Lao Tzu - Nice

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King, Jr. - Beautifully said.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, I left this for last:

"Until we know what we want and demand it, others will decide what we get, and we'll have to settle for it" - Phillip Edward Alexander

The Irrelevance of Thunder...

There is a saying that A wise man does not need advice and a fool won’t take it.

After all of the sound and fury on the continuing destructive power of the institutionalized racism inherent in the two major political parties privately simmering beneath both of their public agendas we arrive at nothing.

Now where there was understanding there is distrust, where there was exposed evidence of the agenda there is a hush and the Government once again buries an issue of national importance under the rug of expediency, putting off today's problems for others to deal with who may not benefit from the social padding of gas and oil revenue as a buffer. 

The last public statement on the issue came from former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday at the conclusion of the panel convened to discuss Nizam Mohammed and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, who said that East Indian people could not raise the issue of racism whether real or imagined as there is no system for redress.


The Leader of the Opposition accused the Attorney General of practicing racism in a contribution in the House of Representatives recently, and despite having since been shown to be wrong; is sticking to his own facts and embarrassing himself, his Party and the Opposition once more.

The Congress of the People, once heralded as the champions of new politics of T&T and possessing the plan for all inclusivity for all are noticeably silent on the issue as if they too are afraid to deal with an issue that found one of their highest appointees publicly flayed and discarded, leaving the people to rub up against each other knowing full well where the real racism lies and powerless to do anything about it, that is at least until gas meets fire.

What happens next?


Racism and the right to claim discrimination seems to be tied to economic issues, preventing any real discussion if one is discriminated against if one also happens to be otherwise successful.

We have had pastors, priests and poets call for some sort of State acknowledgement of the problem and the beginning of something, anything that could lead to understanding at least if not immediate solution, yet government after government have ignored this call.


Why?


Is there a national agenda to maintain racism as policy?

While there is no escaping that the middle passage will be forever stained with the blood of the dead brought here against their will, the poverty and desperation of our lowest class is an example of a people unable to come to terms with itself or its own history. How do we explain Beetham Gardens and Laventille away?

Every time we celebrate independence I call for us to first declare it; that we must address this issue handed down from slavery, indentureship and colonial times and until we do we are just children playing at grown up games; the activists and supporters on both sides need to educate themselves on the possibilities of life in Trinidad fifteen years down the road where it is predicted that oil and gas revenues will be no more.

What will buffer us then?

A stray bolt of lightening can set fire to dry tinder in quick time, but all thunder can do is praise fire; we need to get beyond talk and fast.

We as a people need to come to terms with the fact that Trinidad is a plural, multi ethnic society and we need to do the work to vent past hurts and past oppressions and establish public policy guidelines and legislative controls to make the practice of racism, if not illegal and punishable by law, then at least expensive in civil court.

We ought not to put this off for very much longer, noting the propensity of our people to make much of non issues this one could burn us down out of sheer ignorance fueled by the arms of frustration and peopled by ignorance.

The Government of the day are the only ones who can address this in any meaningful manner and I again call on the Prime Minister to convene a National Council on Race Relations armed with a mandate to first identify, understand and document how we come to be where we are and to suggest (based on national consultation) options to treat with the issue of our plural identity once and for all.

Only good can grow from such an adventure and it would be a testimony to our political maturity if we undertook to do so, not as reaction to negative but as national development and an example to all that it is possible for us to be independent after all. 



 

Food & Water...

Predictions of an impending global food crisis made even before the Japanese catastrophe is gaining traction with those who would know and yet nary a word of preventative advice from the Government of Trinidad & Tobago.

Why are we not mobilizing the combined resources of the public and private sectors to plant sturdy fruit and vegetable trees on all idle State land to help the people prepare to weather the coming storm?

Why are we not encouraging homeowners to replace flowering and ornamental plants with food bearing trees on private property so as to supplement dietary needs?

A comprehensive food crisis plan apart and aside from the established farming sector should be enunciated so as to encourage the citizenry to get involved in their own salvation should the worst occur.

As scary as this is, it is compounded by an anticipated extra dry 2012 and predicted drought, yet for all the talk of retention ponds and dams we are losing the largest proportion of our potable drinking water through concrete drains to the sea and nothing is being said about it.

Will we eat oil and drink gas?

The people of this country need to be led where these matters of grave importance are concerned and this Government needs to get its act together.

Let us declare the management equivalent of a 'State of Emergency' on food and water and set goals of basic sustainability; Let us take steps to retain at least two dry seasons worth of fresh water through the construction of one main dam in central and tributary retention dams along the east west corridor so as to hold water supplies and to provide an immediate boost to the construction sector.

Let us mobilize Caroni Limited and all of its resources to farming, processing and storage of bulk grain so as to offset any feed and other livestock affecting shortages that may occur.

Existing farmers should be provided with water tanks and must meet stringent standards according to a water use policy again enunciated by Government.

New farmers need to develop their farms around effective water management and recycling systems so as to maximize water use.

All State organizations should be mandated to provide food production support by way of identifying and mobilizing resources, and all homeowners should be required to plant as many food bearing trees and shrubbery as they could through plant subsidies.

We have a brief window of time to deal with this and we ought not to play politics with such an important issue.  Let us not find ourselves hungry and thirsty a year or two from now with nowhere to turn and no one to blame but ourselves.


The time for action is already upon us, and we need to start now, before we end up using words like famine and drought to describe our condition. 


Something to think about...


 

Thoughts on Reality...

Consider the fact that the sub atomic structure of solid mass makes up less than 1% of an atom's size.

Some scientists assert that the distance between orbiting electrons and a nucleus can be compared to the distance between continents and the distance between atoms in a solid object may be compared to the vastness between planets.

Therefore, it may be counter intuitive but a brick wall is mostly empty space...

In other words, reality cannot be inherently understood as per the messages we receive from our human senses alone...

New data shows that we are either consciously or unconsciously influencing and creating the results we are experiencing in our everyday lives...

Perception is not reality, but it becomes so when we believe only what we already know and disregard other possibilities.

You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where they next take you...

Thoughts can change the world, some say they are the only things that ever have...

Think positively...

Lick Bottom Neemakerams...

If there was one thing traditional supporters of the PNM or the UNC knew it was, like the Mafia, once you joined you joined for life.

If you happened to be a public persona who wanted to leave either Party you were branded a neemakeram or knife and fork indian by Panday and the UNC or a sell out or a lick bottom African from the PNM.

Thinking the leadership changes that took place in both  Parties last year would have led to an age of enlightenment in our politics has sadly not materialized, and the race baiting and head counting seems underway in ernest.

My question is a simple one, if both Parties have the exact ideology yet view the world in an 'us' verus 'them' scenario, what is the us and them made of?

Further to that, if when you leave the Party(s) you are berated in racist derogatory terms, what could be the rationale?

We are playing a stupid game in our politics and that is fine, but it is threatening the relative peaceful and harmonious relationship between the major races in our country and that isn't.

We conducted a poll recently to identify which of the Parties currently enjoy the most support and more than half of the people polled chose 'none of the above.'

That may well be the most exciting news of all, and I think we may coming to a point when the racist politicians, like the dinosaurs that preceded them, are about to go extinct.

 If that happens please allow me to be the first to say bravo.

 

Grey Skies and a Rumbling....

While the little boys are all that's left to defend the once mighty empire, the bald head dragon and the evil eye king are at war.

 

Will the fancy dressed sailor really get to play a mas?

Not while the heavy roller backing the shiny headed one.

Where is your crystal ball and your soothsayer now?

More fire round the fire, screams of you said, you said answered with even louder you lie, you lie.

Hush my children the neighbors may learn of our distress was all the elders could offer even as tears met spittle to mingle near the fire.

Cower fancy dressed sailor, play a game of hide in plain sight and wait and see if you get a pass to play your mas, but remember the people have the real fire, and when you take your dance to them careful you dont get burned.

The evil eye one continues to stir up distress in the big house, leaving hungry little boys outside to play at fighting war.

Come shout minstrels, tell it on the corner, the noise of the collapse of the once great empire.

Discarded pennies needed for purchase from front quarters and hinds, but no sah, not from this valley, not for this mas; all ah dem they like they fraid fire.

The evil eye one making mischief because mischief is all he know, leaving destruction in his wake even as little boys play a game of pretend war.

Now is not a time to chew solemnly but to bite big and swallow, the night coming fast and the empire itself might catch fire.

Play your mas fancy sailor and when they ask you say yes like you mean it, because even if you doh fraid fire, fire know your name.

Come people gather around what remains of the once great empire, left as scraps for dogs to fight over, for once great men to bring each other low. Now is a time of a weeping and a gnashing of teeth, and for little boys in the night, all that's left to play with fire. 

Propaganda... (Deconstructing from Introspection to Renewal, a diatribe by PNM Abroad)

There is a fringe group called PNM Abroad that is literally a UK based web page haranguing of the UNC and the People's Partnership by extension.

It's vitriol has become a rally center for the Manning PNM supporters and their latest 'release' (they call their notes exclusive releases for some reason) seems to want to explain what occurred leading up to and including the now famous PNM collapse in the House, and is offering what must be in their minds workable solutions to the Party leadership.

These solutions have been condensed into ten 'Facts' and I would like to deconstruct them to get at the meaning behind the whole article and t offer my opinion on some of these 'facts'.

FACT 1: Patrick Manning does not want to become Political Leader again - If this is true, for someone who does not want to become Political Leader again he is working very hard at destabilizing the existing leader and one would like to ask why.

FACT 2: Patrick Manning has already indicated that he supports Dr. Keith Rowley fully as Political Leader - While this has in fact occurred, certain events and inconsistencies in his public pronouncements and private actions since seems to want to make this statement a lie.

FACT 3: The UNC/COP partnership is feeding to this frency of causing confusion in the PNM - Is the writer saying that the UNC can affect the internal politics of the PNM?

FACT 4: The UNC/COP is relishing this fight between so called Manningites and Rowleyites - I am sure that this is true, and why wouldn't they, especially based on MAnning's predictions that the Partnership would fall apart, it would be supremely ironic if the PNM were to instead.

FACT 5: The PNM is falling into the government's trap and is succumbing to bachanal - Well this is just funny, as the writer now attempts to put the blame for the PNM's slow collapse on the Government, which is in keeping with their policy of when in doubt, blame someone else.

FACT 6: If the PNM is not careful, it will be in danger of losing youth support - This has already occurred, so stop worrying and move on.

FACT 7: Dr. Rowley and Marlene (Chief Whip) need to thread carefully in order not to polarize the PNM - Now if there are no factions, no Manningites and Rowleyites within the Party, who are they in danger of polarizing? The UNC?

FACT 8: Dr. Rowley needs to focus on LEADING and forget the so called "insecurities" - Is this a public admission that the current leader of the Party is unstable?

FACT 9: In order to change the perception of the old structure. We need to EMBRACE the YOUTH! - This writer seems preoccupied with the youth for some reason and is starting to come across creepy. Change the perception of 'the old structure.' what is the old structure? What does he want to change it into? How is this a fact? 

FACT 10: The Peoples National Movement is NOT FALLING APART!!!!!! - Methinks doth dost protest too much. If this were true, why would he need to scream it? And if this is an internal memo of sorts for the PNM, isn't he screaming a fact at people who should already know it if it was in fact, a fact?

The glaring inconsistencies, misdirections, deflections and other double speak contained within this list is a clear example of the trouble that the PNM finds itself in at this time.

There is obviously much work to be done and Dr. Rowley needs to be admonished for failing to take the action he promised he would take once he was made political leader.

Perhaps this is a wake up call and  may have the effect of getting all hands on the proverbial deck. If that is the case and until they speak with one voice again, even if great is the PNM, perhaps, at least for now where public pronouncements are concerned, they should in fact abstain.

Something to think about...