Hello friends, this I promise: at my age and stage I’ll make this my final, brief, regretful “lamentation” on this issue.
I refer to the “fast forwarding”, the degradation, cheapening and yes, the rampant commercialisation of the Christian festival of Christmas. And every year the naughty perpetrators seem to conspire to worsen the situation. Perhaps knowing they are being successful in targeting a crotchety old citizen—Me! So what am I going on about once again? Well first, my brief background content.
Christmas, Easter and Phagwah are to me, the three celebrations related to religion(s) which have become national, welcome and even ethnically-cohesive in our Guyana now increasingly given to robust divisions of some kind.
Besides the interesting fact that thousands of descendants of our first People and of our Indian-originated folks have converted to Christianity, even the European elements of Christmas – like colonialism- have captured the hearts and minds of, seemingly, most Guyanese. The commonality of celebration seems to be a good thing, I’m told.
But for starters, unlike their adumbration to “remember” and observe/celebrate Easter, nowhere in the Christians’ Holy Bible did God or his son Jesus advise about celebrating any Christmas. So Christmas is a man-made event for worship with merriment. Controlled and implemented with some amount of pleasant restraint, Christmas can be a boon and blessing to worldwide communities indeed.
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Origins, local traditions
Frankly speaking, upon maturing as a young married post-twenty school teacher I welcomed December’s Christmas with curious joy.
I was a young father seeing my daughters join thousands in children’s happiness over toys, music, school holidays, adult camaraderie, fun and a touch of religion.
So it was easy to grapple with the annual December remembrance of a young teenaged Mary confusing her very adult carpenter-fiancé Joseph by exhibiting pre-marriage pregnancy! Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth must demand Divine Belief in devout Christians.
Then there was/is the European elements of Snow, Frosty, sleigh rides, Christmas trees, carols, customs and other foreign imagery all easily accepted by our parents, grandparents. Frankly Speaking, if there were an absence of the above now some folk still might not believe Christmas is around.
However we in this land surely conjured up our own characteristics for “de Christmuss Season”: masquerade, steel-band, school and office parties’ specific delectable foods and drinks, refurbishing homes, Old Year Night Dances, at al. still for me, the downsides…
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Rampant commercialisation…
Since old and (mostly) young want to refurbish, dress up, buy gifts and cook mightily, our merchants advertise and lure.
One TV host advertised a “Christmas Promotion” since July last! “Christmas music”, even carols were heard early October! All religious elements of the Word being made Flesh the Greatest Gift and the consequences submerged.
I suspect that I’m now in a dwindling minority. Bemoaning the fact that Christmas is now purely commercial! Poor me…
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Images of stagnation, backwardness
This is just a summary representation of my periodic, regretful listing of what I might never see before I depart permanently.
A few images and symbols of stagnated “development” – the sordid jungle of Le Repentir Cemetery; the chaotic vendor-takeover of Georgetown; Empty, ugly city lots there for years; What passes for a prison at Lusignan; only mini-buses; regional hospital still being referral entities; seniors not catered for by both private and public agencies; suspect exploitative road construction; too many under-educated youth and aged homeless in a small population; a woeful national fire service. (What’s your list?)
I like this land. I’ve never left it in 76 years. I was once the PNC of 28 years. I therefore know that all political managers of our society and economy failed this land. Will oil speed up positive things for a lucky generation?
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PNC leader-ship, Allan and Joe
Why don’t I stay out of my old PNC Business? Because I helped run three elections and because a constructive, non-violent political/parliamentary opposition matters.
But regard the following with some humour. An Allan, really an Alan (Zaakir) purportedly out of Canada, is endorsing Joe Harmon for PNC leader. Alan wrote that Joe “is possessed of intelligence, political openness to foster unity among parties and citizens… understands the complexities… of the fast-moving global economy… has personal discipline, work ethics and respect for law and order, religions and creed, etc etc”.
Had I stayed in the PNC I would certainly vote for that Joe. I hope Alan from Canada is in a position to do so. Ho-Ho-Ho!
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So much to ponder…
● 1) Why did the deaths of the Berbician mother and baby touch me so?
● 2) Name four wives of high officials who would give birth at our regional hospitals.
● 3) I agree: the PNC leadership contest is transparent and public. Would PPP do such?
● 4) Both our Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and our Police Crime Chief have studied law, right?
● 5) I appeal to Ministers Jadgeo, Singh, Persaud and Hamilton: please don’t forget pension increases for us former public servants. I so beseech.
● 6) The Georgetown Embassy of Brazil has advertised for a Gardener/Handyman. The salary per month is nearly $100,000! What are you waiting for?
Til next week!
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)
