I’ve never been persuaded to become a resolute believer or activist in any religion although, from childhood, my roots were decidedly Christian. At this time of the Western Calendar year the festival and mass (e) of the Birth of Jesus (later Christ) pervades most of Guyana.
True active Christians are bound to believe in the Virgin birth and the resurrection- or else they have no bases for their core beliefs of their faith. Details and personalities of different faiths hold the key to the existence and perpetuity of those lifelong religious allegiances. To me, Frankly Speaking, adherents should make efforts to research- with the preachers’ and teachers’ assistance- the origins of the founders and other architects of their faiths.
I’ve always been fascinated by the role and status of Jesus’ Parents – the teenaged mother, Mary and her husband Joseph the Carpenter.
The four Biblical Gospels of the Christian Bible and all the other portrayals and histories handed down therefrom, have been singularly sketchy and scanty. However, during the past two – three decades Christians theologians and scholars- including archaeologists and forensic professionals – have been “unearthing” interesting discoveries and profiles.
The American TV network CNN repeated and developed the significant findings – a few still speculative- about Jesus’ mother, the teenage Virgin, Mary of the family and “House” of David. (I use some of this- from earlier research too- ironically, on my creole Christmas radio series at this time.) I share the findings with you here.
Mary-Mary, Quite Contrary?
She was between just fourteen/sixteen when made to shoulder, to mother, the Divine task of bearing the Baby without any physical contact from her husband–to- be.
This little mother is not quoted much in the Bible at all. Two Gospel Writers, decades after the birth, spent time recording the birth and a little about Mary-once a typical, normal Jewish peasant/farmer girl from rural Galilee who ended up in such places as Nazareth, Bethlehem, even Egypt.
Christian researchers find that she could have assisted Jewish rebels to attack the Roman soldiers encamped near to her own village; that she knew another Bethlehem far from the celebrated one in Judea; that she was to become a single parent as the noble Joseph disappeared; that Mary/Mariam became the earliest Feminist figure who quietly inspired the then Pagans to convert and that she was to become close to significance in both the Eastern and Western Church as her son was.
From Portugal to France, the Older Lady of Lourdes and Fatima, is now enshrined in Christianity’s theology but much more is yet to be found out about this “Mother of God” who is also featured in Islamic literature! I invite Christians to delve and discover.
Our Teen-aged Mothers…
In Mary’s time, it was traditional for the younger woman to be “guided” by the older men who seemed entitled to virgins- as wives.
Economic circumstances today seem to suggest a type of resurgence: “Ole Guana, young leaf.” But Guyana’s young ladies are being impregnated by both the old and young. The result? The overbearing phenomenon of the single parent- female!
The traditional family and its solid collective value system are disappearing. The young Mary’s are suffering here. Hence my heart was pleased to discover just one week ago, that the UNFPA has collaborated with an NGO, Women Across Differences (WAD), to assist 35 adolescent/teenage mothers to “enhance their lives” through relevant life-skills programmes. Oh for more of that.
For Soldiers! For all!
Look! I remember not which President started this practice of giving our army’s serving members one tax-free month’s pay (extra) in addition to the paltry salary increases all other government workers and pensioners receive at this time of year.
But why was this extra “month’s pay” for soldiers instituted at Christmas time? Why? To win and maintain the loyalty not related to the professionalism normally required and expected? To encourage extra contributions from the army men whose families get extra cash for Christmas?
I won’t hold the fact that over past years, our noble “fighting” men have taken part in several criminal robberies; have “lost” dozens of weapons from Ayanganna; or could not prevent the Surinamese Navy from chasing our oil ship from our waters or could not prevent rude Venezuelans from intruding upon our territory without permission. No, I won’t hold all that against our GDF. But the time has come for all Government employees to get the extra that the soldiers get.
I’m glad for the service men, but don’t poor cooks, cleaners, nurses, teachers, clerks, office assistants, accountants, et al, deserve the same generosity?
Awaken civil-society “pepperpot”
I hope this current generation knows about the sleeping pepperpot. Left for some while, pepperpot relaxes and “sleeps”. It gets cold with the fat from the meat surfacing at the top.
It then has to be heated. When hot again the preserved dish is ready to be (actively) served.
Like the warm awakened pepperpot, I wish to see Guyana’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) become collectively mobilized to either confront or co-operate with lazy, misguided officialdom. After electing their political leaders and managers, Guyanese leave these dudes to their own devices for five years! Let’s mobilise for 2014!
Warm up the pepperpot of democracy and involvement. Seek funding from legal, local and overseas sources. Take our place in the Sovereign space, we must!
2013-2014 recovery, hope…
How can official “authorities” enter the heads of the ignorant and under-educated who treat women-folk less than lower-animals?
Prognostications: (a) I predict that minister Ashni Singh will provide further increases for public servants in his 2014 Budget! (What? I’m high?)
(b)President Ramotar will provide Linden with the Jobs he promised during his last election campaign.
(c) That the President cannot stop being a Jagdeo-ite.
Civil Society will expose those NGO’s which are “fronts” for politicians.
Suppose the USA suspends top government folks’ US Visas and haul their children back to Georgetown? Ha! (Where will they all go for top medical attention? Ha!)
‘Til next year!
(comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
