YeKengalé

I’m still suffering some internal trauma from recently blocking an old friend from accessing me on social media. I am philosophically inclined to place a premium on human relationships which generally require over time high tolerance levels to maintain and nurture, so watching myself get into the highhanded mindset of contemptuous judge (and any judge without a contemptous disposition is not worth his gavel, which is wielded, by definition, as a weapon of enforcement on behalf of high intolerance of disorder) was not at all psychologically comfortable.

But regardless of the discomfort, I slammed down with gritted teeth, steeling myself against any remorse. These are not times to waste words or tolerate folly. These are critical times. My attitude is fast becoming shoot first, call an ambulance later (or the morgue). If mistakes were made, you can have me court-marshaled, but only after we win the war. Right now, its time to feed the cat and milk will get spilled. My emotional state is in survival mode.

I do mean to be intentionally, increasingly bellicose as may be necessary and those who know me well know that in battle mode, I am the equal of any claimed sociopath or narcissist. Ruthlessness and anger are purposeful human capacities generally squandered by the indisciplined, the foolish and the morally and emotionally immature. Most of my countrymen are asleep and the borders have been breached by an enemy. It is not a time to be considerate.

We have bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, brilliant young teenagers taking CAPE subjects with starry eyed dreams of a long and prosperous medical career before a content retirement similiar to the lifestyle they observed of their parents; meanwhile, Elon Musk in an interview casually remarks that we are about three years away from Tesla robotic surgeons (released at scale for the market) and a mechanized healthcare delivery system which will guarantee the average US citizen better treatment than their president currently enjoys.

His host meant to be funny, “So forget about medical school then,” and chuckled.

Elon without so much as a hitch and with not a trace of humor casually replied, “Pointless.”

My grandmother would have said it this way: : Unu no nuo wat klok a straik.

The current antics causing ripple effects around the world (and I maintain this is nothing new, not even the first regional president to be abducted, kidnapped and transported out of his country, as I was recently reminded in conversation with a former prime minister who would know the facts) are what the Bible would call “The beginning of sorrows“, although after the typical deep intake of breath and hand held over mouth with gaping eyes, the collective countenance returns to petty contemplations of a world sinking like the Titanic, but which represents a norm we are reluctant to part with, so we call for the orchestra and sit down to dine, because trying to hop on the few remaining life boats is so positively undignified.

In the slim chance that some have received instructions what to do when the alarm goes off (otherwise there is no point in being alarmist but raising everyone’s adrenaline levels, and if that be the case, I understand the orchestra and bone china) but Jesus said to his disciples, “When you see these things ….” and then he told them what to do!

Just in case my metaphor is taken out of context, let me repeat what I have been maintaining now for decades:

We, in the Caribbean must in this critical period recognize the strength there is in Unity and begin to concieve what we have been reluctant to fully contemplate up to the present moment – the strategic value of being not only ONE community, or even ONE economy (as feebly and tentatively as we approached these demure ideas in the past) but being ONE UNITED POWER navigating the uncertain sea of a future where national sovereignty may quickly become a luxury only great powers can afford.

There. I said it, more clearly than perhaps I ever have (being burdened with all kinds of diplomatic consideration and thoughtful sensitivity). But it is good to say it plainly. I’m free. Ok now. Go ahead. Be alarmed!