Imperialism, Exploitation and Banana Republics

 


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The British Cornish Pasty vs. The Jamaican Beef Patty

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I love my Jamaican Beef Patty and I do love the English Cornish Pasty. I am not sure which one came first or if they are even related but the concepts are the same. Take a delicious baked crust and fill it with tasty meaty goodness. In the case of a Cornish Pasty that tasty goodness is chunks of Genuine beef cooked with potatoes and swedes (turnips) and for an Authentic Jamaican Beef Patty,  the finest Genuine Jamaican beef. Maybe the English Cornish Pasty is related more to the Jamaican Meat Loaf than the Jamaican Beef Patty. What does a Cornish Pasty and a Jamaican Beef Patty Have in common? The British Government decided to impose a 20% VAT (Value Added Tax) on hot Cornish pasties. This resulted in a nation wide protest lead by the people of Cornwall against the proposed tax. Even people living in Calumet, Michigan, USA gathered a petition of 500 signatures to show their support. In the end the government was forced to reverse its plans to impose VAT on Cornish p...
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Holness Fortress!

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By Torsdag ©  ©  inmyownwords A friend recently sent me pictures of Andrew Holness’ house being built in Beverly Hills. Looking at the pictures brought several things to mind; some good, some indifferent, some bad. What it did remind me of, from an architectural standpoint, is an article I read that addresses the trickle-down theory of architecture written by Professor Witold Rybcyzynski. My thoughts prompted me to muse upon this said trickle-down theory of architecture as it pertains to the Jamaican house and what passes nowadays for Jamaican architecture. The fascination with the architecture of wealth and privilege still reigns supreme in our psyche. Though this is nothing new or specific to Jamaica, the way in which we classify and embody this notion, is. It is developed mainly through voyeurism: what we see on TV, the internet, social media, word of mouth and of course, what we – see. The big house on the hill was always, at least in my brief lifetime, someth...
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Jamaica in Need of Moral Guidance

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“Social conservatism is a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values.” I am not an advocate of American style “Social Conservatism”, however I do believe that the Jamaican society could do with some form of moral guidance. Because it cannot continue to just “ Gah-long-so ” with the younger generation being educated by the dancehall DJ's. With a growing population of single mothers, absentee fathers and children who are left to find their own way in life, to make it up as they go. It is safe to say that there are no organized groups in Jamaica that advocates good individual and family values and if they are, then they are not loud or consistent enough or are just paying lip service to the problem. Our Political Class is not seen as role models by the Jamaican people and truth be told they are not trying to be role models. Being a role model means you have to stand up for something, adhere to some p...
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