Here is NEWS that was mailed to my readers on Jul 25, 1999:-
Jul 25, 1999 Precious People of the World.. AMAZON is an online merchant who offers FAST, RELIABLE MAIL-ORDER service for Books, CDs, Videos, Toys and consumer Electronics (stereos, walkmans ,etc) Their prices are good and they ship Internationally... accepting all major Credit Cards, Money Orders, etc. The BARBADOS PHOTO GALLERY is now a member of their distribution network.. this means that when you visit their website by clicking the link on the BARBADOS PHOTO GALLERY homepage... a commission is paid to the PHOTO GALLERY on any purchases you make... you get the items at the SAME price as if you had visited their website directly... but this is a way for you to show your support for my work (other than by sending direct contributions) simply make ALL your purchases from AMAZON through my site. it costs you nothing at all and it helps to keep the Photo Gallery going ! Watch for similar links to other mega merchants (like Quixtar) in the near future... my goal is for you to be able to BUY anything and everything you need through the Barbados Photo Gallery website. I am building a closely-knit online community... where friends meet on a daily basis... part of this revolutionary idea.. is to take care of all of your physical needs as well... at prices that will SAVE you money by shopping online... instead of going to the physical store. Thanks for the many letters of encouragement you have sent... I love you all. Now here is some Bajan NEWS... but in order to encourage more of you to visit the website... HALF of the NEWS has been posted at http://barbadosphotogallery.com/newslet.htm and will NOT be sent to the list. BAJAN NEWS ---------- STRANGE WIND ------------ Bajan Preacher, T. Wayne Bishop, has predicted that the Caribbean region will be battered by a severe hurricane within the next few weeks. In flowery "prophetic" language... he tells of horrible things to come making the Caribbean basin a centre of world-wide concern... judgement.. this is the day of the Lord. Meanwhile, the FALSE PROPHET who predicted a Category 5 hurricane would strike on July 5, 1999.. is still around the place doing other stuff... though his prophecy came to nought.... and the day has come an gone. CHURCH SPLIT ------------ Very informed sources are saying that a certain large and well known Pentecostal church is in trouble.. the leading pastor had a nervous breakdown, next the board split right down the middle after a fight over money..and as the men "of the cloth" continue to fight for power, money and position... the sheep are leaving in search of greener pastures. GO AN PARTY ----------- So says Anglican Priest Charles Morris, who is advising his congregation NOT to go to the 175th Aniversary Service tomorrow... but rather to go and enjoy themselves down East coast at the Crop-Over Calypso Semifinals instead. According to Morris, the church could not be sorry for its role in slavery when it continues to do the same thing today by pricing members out of certain events. The $100 per person banquet at Sherbourne Centre meant that only those of a certain status could attend. He equated this with the former church policy of placing a high price on certain seats to force the poor to the back of the building. The Bishop of Barbados, The Right Reverend Rufus Brome expressed regret for the "errors" of the Anglican Church during its support for slavery, calling it "one shameful chapter" in the church's history... he made these comments while addressing a packed congregation under the roof of the 330 year old St. Michael's Cathedral... the service was attended by visiting bishops and dignitaries from the United States and West Africa as well as the Caribbean. The Bishop commented on the race debate expressing the belief that it was related to the inequalities within the society. TRIBUTE TO WALTER TULL ---------------------- Born of BAJAN ancestry, Tull was the second black professional footballer in Britain... he was subjected to severe racial abuse at Bristol City in 1909. Enlisting into the 17th Battalion in 1914, he was comissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1917 and was the first black officer in the British Army. Historian Phil Vasili feels that Walter's promotion to the rank of officer was unique, not only because of color, but because he had a strength of character and personality that would have defeated any prejudices, regardless of the era in which he lived. Walter Tull was killed at the Second Battle of the Somme in 1918. His memorial reads: Through his actions WDJ Tull ridiculed the barriers of ignorance that tried to deny people of color equality with their contemporaries. His life stands testament to a determination to confront those people and those obstacles that sought to diminish him and the world in which he lived. HIGH-TECH RACISM ---------------- In spite of the constant barage of criticism I receive for continuing to "harp on" about racial injustice (these people seem to believe it is a thing of the past, but I know differently).... occasionally, I receive mail about a pertinent news item the sender thought I should read... I came in for some abuse when I published the Tommy Hilfiger "false" rumour. and I dont know what will happen over this one... but lets drop the bomb and find out, here is what came in the maibag: ---------------------------------------------- An African-American man is suing Microsoft over racial images in Publisher 98. In the software program Publisher 98 you can click on different clip art and get facts about that particular item. Well in the animal clip art when you click on the monkey, you are shown a picture of an African-American couple sitting on monkey bars!! Microsoft has admitted that they were wrong and the only supplement being offered right now is an upgrade without the image. They must think we are STUPID!! I encourage EVERYONE to email Microsoft and tell them you don't appreciate being called a monkey. Also email their Diversity Division and ask them how they can let such an action take place. Below are the links for the Diversity Division of Microsoft and a link to their contact page. On the contact page in the Products menu select Product Feedback/Questions and click on Go. Then on the next page select Publisher 98 and record your comment! Show Microsoft that we as African-Americans WILL NOT tolerate such racist material in their products!! PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ON to EVERY African-American person you know! Read the article at: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ctf502.htm ------------------------------------------------- EDUCATORS PROBLEMS ----------------- As debate continues over the poor results in school examinations, educators are being blamed for the students poor ENGLISH, many of the teachers are using Bajan dialect when teaching in the classroom, a situation that was not occurring in the 1960's and 70's. By giving tacit approval to our culture in other areas, Government has supported the anti-colonial (and by extension anti-ENGLISH trend)... The argument as to whether Dialect should be an acceptable alternative closely parallels the American arguments over EBONICS... in the United States, educators believing that blacks' speech has posed a major learning impediment in accounting for their poor school performance, are toying with the idea of teaching black children in their own "tongue" which they have called "EBONICS".... the counter argument suggests it would be a better idea to teach them proper English... the argument has racial overtones since some people are of the view that teaching in Ebonics drives a futher racial wedge in the society, further separating them from their "white" counterparts... and leaving them with a distinct disadvantage on completion of their education. The dialect exists because the African slaves when mastering English hundreds of years ago combined their own grammar and language structures with it. On this website it serves to UNITE Bajans and all blacks of similar background (i.e. post-slavery oppression)... I support the view that it is just as easy (perhaps MORE easy) for speakers of PURE English (if such a thing really exists) to learn OUR "tongue"... as it is for us to master "standard" English. Since the purpose of a language is communication... and any English speaking person can understand dialect with MINIMAL effort... I fail to see the reason of FORCING "proper" English.... and consequent rejection of dialect. In fact, I see it all as just part of the continuing power struggle... trying to force us to use "proper" English... so why cant we force them to accept dialect ?... and teach it to their own kids ??? the notion of the superiority/inferiority that is attached to the language. is just an extension of the race war... dialect is seen as inferior... because blacks are seen as inferior... and the saddest part of the whole story is that some blacks really believe they are inferior. I using dialect on dis website, when I feel like.... and I really dont care who has a problem wid dat... it is not something to apologise or make excuses for... it is quite easy for anyone to understand if they have a mind to... an if not, then "they" can ga long bout dey business. ----------------------------------------------- After the above TIRADE.... I received numerous FEEDBACK via email.. so I decided to institute a DIALECT SURVEY !! Hello, Here is what one of my readers is saying... HOW MANY of you AGREE with him ? Should I write in the Kings (or Queen's) English. I will bow to the majority opinion... Please take the survey on the website... http://barbadosphotogallery.com/survey.htm Thanks. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen, I used to enjoy your reports on Barbados but I must tell you I absolutely abhor your descent into the brutalization and ghettoization of the English language with which you flavour your reports. And for what purpose? Who do you think read these reports? Certainly not the lowest segments of Barbadian society, (who I have serious doubts even today converse in this despicable manner). Come on! Get with it.What are you trying to prove? We are almost in the the 21st century. Uneducated, uncultured Barbadians probably spoke that way eons ago, but we have come a long way man. How am I to reconcile to non-Barbadians the fact that Barbados enjoys one of the highest literacy rate in the world and you're sending this crap into cyberspace in the name of educated Barbadians? It is also a supreme embarrassment to Barbadian offspring who were not born or educated in Barbados. They try to read your reports to get news about Barbados and can't figure out what the hell you're mumbling about. I am sure I speak for many other Barbadians when I say: Get real, man. Strive to advance, not retreat. Stop this unnecessary mangling of the beautiful English language in the name of Barbados. If you persist in this travesty, you'll be doing a disservice to Barbados and Barbadians alike. Without Prejudice.
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