YeKengalé

I was watching EWTN, The Catholic Network…and observed a program being broadcast from Massachusetts I believe it was: Children’s International Sacred Hour. Children were bussed in for this formal ceremony. I paid attention as the child selected to bring the message to the Pope began her speech. Her words were riveting…..speaking about the power of children and thanking the Holy Father for believing in them.

She reminded her audience about the most intense time in World War II when the Holy Father called upon children world wide to pray for peace. The war ceased within two weeks. This little girl, confident as a lion, mixed with the sweet innocence of childhood, captured my imagination.

As did the whole ceremony really….the procession of Mary’s statue into the cathedral, the coronation of the statue by a little girl, the song of praise, Hail Mary ……’O Maria….Sancta Regina’… moving….tremendously. I felt a similar electricity yesterday at Clarendon College when their Cadet Corps in an exceptionally choreographed military display, worthy of the army of any self respecting nation, marched in procession into Stuart Hall….an impressive gathering hall ….bearing the images of our National Heroes and placing them in their positions of honor with militaristic rigor for display before the gathered audience.

After they were presented by their squadron chief for inspection by the principal. Literally, my body was awash with goosebumps. Children. The power of children. My philosophy, which I share with my friend Kurt Allen; (father of Chocolate Allen, one of the Caribbean’s leading children; for yes indeed a child will lead them….and Choc’late has been touring the Caribbean with her company Caribbean Vizion doing amazing work in the interest of Caribbean Integration….under the official endorsement of CARICOM) is to always maintain a disposition of respect towards children – respect for their wisdom.

He told me that when Choc’late was growing up (she still is….at 14 years old) he skipped the baby talk – goo goo ga ga. Even as an infant, he spoke to her intelligence, and deferred regularly to it. In fact, it is Choc’late’s inspiration and intelligence that moved me to get back in the schools, recognizing that my mission was not fulfilled. I helped sponsor the Jamaican leg of her Crime Free Caribbean initiative….and watched her interact with students and principals in her school tour.

My passion was reignited as I witnessed both her passion and effective communication skills, and also the dire lack of those two elements in the appointed administrative leadership of still so many of our institutions.

I witnessed one principal of a primary school address her students. Not one student that I surveyed in the hundreds of gathered children in that morning devotional established eye contact with her during her droning, drilling drivel. I decided, my work must be revisited and now here I was at Clarendon College.

My good friend Sidney Bartley had asked me to speak in his stead as he was traveling on that day. And our intercourse was simply electrifying. There is something magical and musical even, about children taking on the institutional forms they inherit from us. Social regeneration. And the beat goes on, just like my love everlasting.

So I spoke passionately to their spirits on The Racial, Religious and National Heritage of the Jamaican People, a sure foundation for a certain future. We were equals. I confessed that I had more confidence in them than in the leadership of my generation, which I did not hide my disappointment with.

In fact, I apologized to them for the failings of my generation, and leveled with them as best I could the gravity of the mess they are inheriting from our failed stewardship. The very weather (ominous) witnessed to the grave truth of my words. They were many moments of hushed silence as these children were graphically confronted with the realities of the life challenges they must face.

They certainly will live in the most volatile upheaval of human society and of the forces of nature experienced by any generation of recent memory, we spoke frankly about these issues. And I was surprised at their sharpness. When touching on the face of imperialism / colonialism that they will have to be on the watch for in their times, they identified the threat, not me – China. In fact the last question asked me was, what is China doing that we are not doing?

I surprised myself….my passions ignited….I spoke of a culture connected to and proud of their heritage. I spoke of the mandate for the Caribbean Region to integrate for survival in a globalized world where mega forces unresponsive to protectionism are being unleashed to dictate the survival of the fittest. I heard myself gushing with  rebukes as if I were addressing a CARICOM Heads of State Conference.

How dare we pussyfoot on integration while the rest of the world is organizing themselves for survival in the most competitive of climes! What makes us think that we are owed a living by anybody? Why aren’t we pulling ourselves up by the integrity of our own coordinated efforts instead of continuing in the ever more outmoded beggardly and whorish mode which we postured in the past in order to survive. 

What makes us think that we cant be subjected again to the indignities of colonialist usurpation if we don’t manifest now the integrity to align ourselves for the safeguard and preservation of our cultures? My head said, YeKengale stop, you are talking to children. They cant possibly understand…yet obviously, some part of them did, for the cheers and applause were rising with the level of my passion and torrents of lamentation. 

Mainly, the presentation was mostly fun and empowering. The opening song which tore down the house, set the tone for our business:-“I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way…..” As usual, my confidence in the efficacy of what was done was not in the words spoken to the children, but in the words spoken to the Spirit of God at the start and close of our exercise. He it is who builds the character of Jesus the Hero into our hearts, which will point us to the true nature and image of the Eternal Father we invoke every time we sing our anthem. 

And so we closed…. with, “Eternal Father, Bless our Land….”  I found it interesting that as we were recessing, the children were jubilantly  dancing to the song being played by the sound system – “These are the days of Elijah”