By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 09, 2011
I am in London, a few miles away from where the riots are taking place. Here in central London, one feels untouched by these riots and only knows its effects from what one reads in the newspapers. As I write, the riots continue to take Britain by surprise. It started in Tottenham, then spread to Brixton and Enfield; there from to Walthamstow and Hackney. London’s Independent newspaper described them as “London’s worst rioting in more than 25 years” (August 9). Although business seems to be going on as usual there is an eerie feeling that the police have little control of over what is taking place.
As the violence spread to Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool, David Cameron, the Prime Minister and Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister retreated from their seclusion in Europe where they were vacationing; Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, left Canada after many entreaties, while Theresa May, Home Secretary, forewent the serenity of Switzerland to return to Britain. They couldn’t get home soon enough. Mike Fisher, leader of the Croydon Council asserted: This violence is degenerating into “mindless hooliganism.”
The riot started when the London police sank two bullets into the head of Mark Duggan, a father of four, whom they had been trailing for a while and who is believed to have had connections with the Jamaica Yardies, a London gang. Reports indicate that the police were following Duggan when they surrounded a minicab in which he was traveling. Although the police claimed that Duggan shot at them first, evidence is emerging that the police fired first and even came close to killing one of their colleagues.
Some years ago, the London Sunday Times reported that the Yardies were so engrained in London “that part of Brixton in the south of the Capital is known as Little Tivoli, named after Tivoli Gardens.” Little seems to have changed from the riots of 1985 where there was little rapport between police and the community. The inability of Tottemham’s police to respond expeditiously to citizens who marched peacefully on Saturday to the police station to find out what went wrong with Mark’s killing led to this outbreak of violence? (Remember Moruga two weeks ago?)
At first, the police were afraid to intervene in the disturbances. They cordon off the streets and watched as the fires burned, the looters broke into the stores, and some of the citizens began to fetch choice articles. To the police great astonishment things began to spread. Many more neighborhoods began to get in on the spree. At Hackney, a Tesco supermarket was raided “by laughing and joking looters who walked off with crates of Diet Coke, Ribena and bottled water. When police charged in to clear them they responded by throwing cans of drink that had just been stolen.” Some of these youths even began to throw missiles at police and set fire to cars.
The riots of 1985 took place against “a background of inner-city deprivation, social alienation and high unemployment, particularly among young people” (Independent, August 9). Little changed since then. Clive Bloom, author of Violent London: 200 Years of Riots observes: “Black youths in London’s most deprived areas are now more self-reliant and inward-looking, even more than their counterparts in the 1980s. A minority rely on drug dealing and petty thief. The social cohesion that once came from youth clubs and churches has too often been replaced by the structure and sense of ‘belonging’ of a gang-a social role with its own morality and self-esteem, but at least one that counts for something in a world of limited prospects.”
As the riots were breaking out in Totemham, our Prime Minister was visiting Laventille’s Pan Festival enjoying the sights and sounds of that alienated part of Trinidad. True to reports she was having a good time, unaware of the turmoil that resides at the heart of that community. A community without jobs is a dangerous community. What seems a pleasant place to frolic can, in the twinkling of an eye, turn into dangerous activities. Any time the lid can blow off.
As she prepared for her visit, Colin Partap, a Minister in the Ministry of National Security, assured the public that his police would not tolerate any “miscreant behavior. It will be stamped out quickly.” Pressed by the media about the recent upsurge in crime in that area, he assured the country that “the ministry had been working with the relevant parties to combat and reduce all related crimes” in the area.
Less Partap forget, there was a time when the people in Laventille held good jobs on the wharfs and made a good living. Then they were retrenched, given a payout and left to make in on their own. Today, there are few jobs and increasing mayhem. The social cohesion of the community had broken down, the crime rate soars and these young black people can look forward to nothing but continued double-speak from their politicians, including those from the PNM.
Contrast what happened with the people of Caroni. When the sugar cane industry started to fail, the government gave the workers lands to cultivate, a process that has been happening ever since the modern history of this country began; continued by Governor Gordon (1866); repeated during indentureship and culminated in the shameful land giveaway of the PNM.
If one wishes to understand the time bomb under which the country sits and the persistence of the “miscreant behavior” of the people of Laventille they ought to understand what it means to be a landless people without any hope, permanent unemployment and absence of good jobs. A lumpen proletariat as Fantz Fanon called them, has no place to go but down unless the powers that be take the situation in hand, provides meaningful jobs for these people and provide them with a plot of land they can call their own.
Today it’s London. Tomorrow, it might be Laventille.
I’m not surprised that Cudjoe would be stoking the flames to riot in Laventille. This incendiary language was never used during the Manning regime and started here several months ago. I guess Laventillans all had jobs till a year ago?? He’s hoping that the Moruga protest would spread to Sdo & POS. In his own way, he’s trying to push TT beyond the tipping point for a revolution in light of 95% of the military and 90% of police force being of African descent.
1970
1996
2011???
Yes, it’s shameless about Manning dishing out Caroni lands to people – people from Grenada and the other islands via Laventille and the Hills in his massive voter padding scheme that started with Williams’ master plan to keep PNM in power. Check out Cashew Gardens in Longdenville and the projects in Montrose/Carlsen field Chaguanas- mainly Afro-Windward Islanders. ThE surrounding area is about 80% Indo-Trini!
PNM loves Panday now because he made no attempt to reverse or correct the PNM scheme hence, selling out his own people.
“In his own way, he’s trying to push TT beyond the tipping point for a revolution in light of 95% of the military and 90% of police force being of African descent.”
Hello Ramjit.. I feel your pain.. really… Watch me, I am crying..
The prof is known black appologist who only dreams in black. So it is no surprise that he only sees a future with business class being destroyed. It is the creation of an African eutopia, similar to Somalia where every day the worst enemy of the black man is the black man. Over 80,000 dead and counting. With Sudan and it’s decades old war finally over, it was black versus black that saw the slaying of over 2 million people. With the Congo in virtual ruins with over 25,000 rapes per year and the black death of AIDS eating away millions of black folks on the African continent, dreaming in black for the prof is in vogue.
Places like Laventille and Morvant where you could be shot for looking out your front door is perhaps the greatest hope for a black revolution… Maybe the prof is hoping for a true African revolution in sweet TnT. That is why it is important for the PP to stay the course. And for the police officers who are still very loyal to PNM to quickly given the boot if they don’t show up for work. The PP must act in best interest of the nation, not in the interest of triablism.
Its time we stop taking Cudjoe seriously. He and another regular contributor here Lina Edwards are two of the greatest apologists for and defenders of AfroTrinbagonian underachievement and criminality in Trinidad and Tobago. You never read, see or hear them issuing an unequivocal and unqualified denunciation of AfroTrinbagonian criminality which they always seek to explain if not justify on the basis of historical ‘injustices’ suffered by that community.
Interestingly insightful point of view which goes to the heart of the problem that not only caused by ”the murder” (may be i am wrong to call it murder). Things do get out of control when people are jobless, I strongly agree upon that.
Good article, worth reading who wants to why the riots of the London.
Prof. Cudjoe has again given us some useful and interesting food for thought.
What is certain is that riots can be triggered by some event, however small, and once underway, are impossible to control … provided there are enabling preconditions of joblessness and hopelessness. In that, Prof. Cudjoe is absolutely right.
There is a fellow all over youtube and other places on the internet, Gerald Celente, that likes to say, “when people have nothing left to lose, they lose it.” He is predicting middle class riots in the U.S. before long.
But my brief here is to present prophetic and scriptural illumination.
There is scripture specific to the tribe of Benjamin, to which we the Afro-Creole of the former British West Indies belong. The ones rioting in London are our Benjamite brethren.
Genesis 49:27
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
I am not sure that anything we have seen before comes close to the fulfillment of this prophecy. Not in T&T in ’70 or ’90. And not now in London. So there is as yet a coming future fulfillment. What we have seen thus far are merely signs and forewarnings.
There is also this prophetic scripture:
Joel 2:9-13
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:…
From this we may conclude that in the great and dreadful day of “the LORD”, there will indeed be violence, moreover in the form of what may appear to be rioting and looting.
And as in the London riots, at the heart of the complaint will be the following:
Joel 2:17
Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Yahweh, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them…
In London, the rage is inchoate, hardly at all articulated, but there is generalized disgust at “the System”. The spiritually discerning will recognize this as “Babylon” in all her works that are hated.
The violence that Yahweh will unleash is interesting for another reason — the men that will be the instruments of this violence will be “might men” with special powers:
Joel 2:7-8
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; … and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
So Yahweh’s army of rioters(?) will be given special powers — “when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded”. We may infer that police and army will be powerless before them.
In the T&T context, police and army may well be among them, given what transpired in 1970.
All partakers of Babylon system should give pause, for the time of these prophesied events is now near at hand. Yahweh holds out the possibility of forgiveness:
Joel 2:12-13
12Therefore also now, saith Yahweh, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Yahweh your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, …
Shalom.
We are all mimic men:
-In the 60’s we mimic the black power revolution in the us,
-in the 90’s we mimic the African/Islamic penchant for violent take-over,
– in 2011 we’ll mimic the Islamic Mid-east and now England.
Great way to empower our people – burnin’, lootin’ riotin’ and revolutin;. We cannot build but we can readily destroy!
Yeah Ramjit, Mimic Men Indeed, and if any should know about that, it’s Sir Vidia Literature Nipaul,your global English Wannabe hero ,the creator of this expression, and the tribal self hating jokers ,that regurgitate his tasteless verbiage, and practice the revolting behavior as encouraged by their leaders.
We know you jokers only think , that all the evils that have come into the world was created by Muslims , and those crazy global Afrikans, you folks from the bride burning , caste loving clan , so despise.
Thanks once again Doctor Cudjoe. Continue to do your country proud , as you educate ,by articulating fresh, none knee jerk perspectives, that can be easily verified by objective Social Scientist , and non partisan policy wonks. Unfortunately many of these as political handlers , and advisors , are simply concern with ensuring their political clans remain in power, than interested in furtherance of peace , and socio economic justice for all in need.
Let us continue to let these fools know that they should “beware of a man / woman , with nothing to loose,” yes?
Time for economic , and political empowerment of the historically weak, maligned, and neglected. In T&T , such must of necessity begin with long over due land reform, and abroad ,an equal playing field justice for those dispersed across the color line, and prevented at every turn from full advancement , by narrow elitist, hell bent on continued control, and full global domination of the other, yes?
Lawlessness does not begin with the ‘underclasses’.
It becomes most manifets with their street actions.
Lawlessness begins with those who carry status in the society.
It begins with those entrusted with, or who entrusts themselves to make the laws, and who have responsibility for implementing and upholding the laws, but who think it their right to live above the law.
They evade paying taxes.
They decide who and who will not achieve even though all may aspire.
They are among the parliamentarians, the judiciary, the constabulary, all the cohorts of those who see the law as a hanger upon which they overhang their interests or on which they hang the underprivileged.
Therefore, any community charged with criminality is in essence being charged with being vulnerable.
It is not to excuse lawlessness, and by anyone. It is not that the underprivileged and overtaxed do not themselves instruct their children on issues of morality.
However, these parents are not those who import criminally-inspiring games like Grand Theft Auto. They are not among those who own the airwaves and cyberspace overcharged on porn and on gangersterism being sanctified.
We can gain so much more by refusing to participate. Even a riot involves participating in the Babylon System as our Yoruba friend has coined. What would happen though, if we all just STOPPED!!!?
Mother Nature has provided everything necessary for her creatures to survive till death; yet we continue to suckle at the teet of the unnatural. The choice is simple REST now and ensure change for your PROGENY, or REST WHEN YOU”RE DEAD, and leave your children to endure the same HELL you endured your whole life.
Quoting karibkween:
I don’t take credit for that coinage. The Rastas are wrong about some crucial things, but they’re right when they rail against “Babylon system”.
And btw they were right from the beginning when they recognized that we the slave descendants of the Americas are the original Israelites. One cannot come to that realization unless one also comes to see Babylon system for what it is, and our place in it. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5JHGi0awgc to get a sense of that “vibe”, whether articulated or not.
That is a good question, and it shows you have a fine mind. I like to do these thought experiments myself — “what would happen if…”.
I will not attempt an answer except to suggest that to just STOP, is not really an option. When one order stops, another will replace it, even if only anarchy by default.
When the order of the beast (Babylon system) is made to stop, we already know that it is the order of Yahweh that will replace it, and it shall last “for ever”:
Daniel 2:44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
It is we, the Israelites, who are last under Babylon system, who will be first under Yahweh kingdom (Matthew 19:30, 20:16). And Israelite system will last forever.
In any case, Yahweh has explicitly stated that violence will be employed to bring down Babylon system, i.e. it will be made to stop:
Revelation 18:21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
So Babylon system will with violence be brought down. They understand that clearly, which is why they go to great lengths to acquire a monopoly on the means of violence, and will squash you as a pea if you try to acquire some of your own. Nevertheless, Yahweh’s power far exceeds theirs:
Obadiah 1:4. Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith Yahweh.
What we are seeing in London is at best forewarnings of the real violence that will bring down Babylon.
There is even a credible suggestion that the riots were sustained by Babylon itself, as the first step of a 3-part playbook: problem, reaction, solution. They cause the problem (or allow it to unfold), wait for the public’s reaction, then introduce the solution they wanted to from the beginning, with then nary a peep of objection from a public that otherwise would be up in arms. The “solution” in this case is to impose an even more draconian police state. Google “David Icke problem reaction solution” for more.
To understand all these things my sister, you must read the Bible, from cover to cover. Read it for what it says, not for what the church would have you believe it says. For one thing, God is not just sweetness and love, he is also retribution and violence, as we have just seen. He himself has let us know that it is fear of Yahweh that is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10). Atheistic Science has got it completely wrong if it thinks that God’s testament is mere poetic fairy-tales. Study, my sister. I perceive you have a mind, and the spirit of truth to go with it, that would make sense of a book that is indeed closed to many. It will remain closed to you unless you come to it with humility, in which case God will open up your understanding in your search for Truth.
Shalom.
The operative word was ALL, as in ALL Participants in the system, aren’t the Police part of the system? In the system if you’re not among the beneficiaries, you’re a participant; a Copper Top for the Matrix. In the world nature intended every officer or soldier is some mother’s son. We live in an information age, truth is no longer hidden.
The violence that you speak of is violence generated by the creator not the created, or have you forgotten “vengeance is mine.”
We have the tools; instead of a flash mob tweet, how about a global day of rest tweet, and TRUST. The architects of the Babylon system are counting on you not trusting your fellow human beings to Just Stop; you’re afraid that there’ll be someone else willing to take your place on the assembly line.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,145658.html
So typical; the near 900 officers too afraid there’ll be someone to take their place on the treadmill. The architects of Babylon have successfully replaced our Trust in our fellow human with Fear. The fear will only be eliminated when we remember that our Creator is the ONLY SOURCE/CAUSE.
BBC Apologizes To Darcus Howe For Calling Him A Rioter In Testy Interview
Wait a moment! This just in! London isn’t in flames after all. Some dozens of buildings have been burned in various residential parts of London, but none in the centre. Apart from the original demonstration outside a police station in the London suburb of Tottenham by relatives of a suspected drug dealer who was shot by police on Sunday, it’s opportunistic looters who have been out on the streets, not political protesters.
We know how quick you cretins can pinpoint what you derisively describe as “opportunistic looters,” but can you likewise chastise the cultural looting , country haters , that would not hesitate to throw their loving country under the bus at every chance they can? http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/print,0,145152.html
Hopefully T-Man , we do not have a young opportunistic Dada Idi Amin , or Fijian General/ Commodore ,Frank Bainimarama/ George Speight lurking here in sweet , sweet T&T,awaiting their chance to really pounce and push back unmentionable socio- economic – com political bandits , yes?
Finish my favorite quote T-Man, if you dare “Beware of a man with nothing to loose.” Say yes to equal playing field economic justice , and long over due land reform. By the way T-Man , how is that fact finding report on the 1990 post Bakr attempted coup looting going? Talk about opportunistic maneuver , but not too sure by whom.
Cameron’s statement:
“This is not about poverty, it’s about culture. A culture that glorifies violence, shows disrespect to authority, and says everything about rights but nothing about responsibilities.”
Is this a subtle or obvious reference?
TMan, Prime Minister Cameron was reading from the wrong script. When speaking about a ‘culture of violence’ he was reading from a speech describing the US military establishment in Viet Nam, North Korea, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Grenada, Haiti ….
Never
You have a point here!
While I deplore this violence, I am still appalled by the incident that seems to be the catalyst for it, i.e. the shooting of Mark Duggan. As one who has lived in the US for a while, the shooting incident rings all too true. For too long, law enforcement is itself above the law and seems quite lax in its investigations of incidents such as this. Leaving the rioting aside for a moment, it is an outrage when incidents such as the Duggan incident occur, regardless of the race of the victims and perpetrators involved. The Rodney King incident, the Amadou Diallo incident and now this incident illustrates the depths of the treachery of police brutality.
Sure, the victims happened to be black, but I have read stories about law enforcement officers victimizing citizens of other races as well. I realize that it is not easy to be a police officer, but that is no excuse for the behaviour of some police officers.
This has to stop. So yes, the violence in London is unacceptable, but the incident that sparked it is just as unacceptable
Why don’t we wait for the outcome of the investigation.
On the other hand, if you are a well known ganster and drug dealer, you should expect a bullet to the head at any given moment.
I hear you. Duggan may well have deserved what he had coming to him, but forgive me if it is hard for me to give the officers the benefit of the doubt.
There have been too many instances of police officers abusing their authority and getting away with it. So for me, they are guilty until proven innocent.
Unless you’ve made enough money to elect a political party to Parliament in order to evade the consequences of the law.
Quoting karibkween:
There is a clear sense in which vengeance should be restrained as admonished by Paul in the maxim you cite (Romans 12:19).
The Law (that handed down by Yahweh through Moses) provides that murder (for example) is prohibited (6th Commandment). It also provides that murder be avenged, under the maxim, “life for life” (Deuteronomy 19:21). But “due process” must be observed, and also rules regarding sanctuary in case of manslaughter (Deuteronomy 4:42).
That much I would grant Paul. However, when Yahweh says “vengeance is mine” he is not saying that vengeance is per se prohibited
to man under his Law. Otherwise the precept of “life for life” cited above will have no meaning.
In fact the scriptures are plain as to the sense in which Yahweh says “vengeance is mine”. For example:
Deuteronomy 32:41. …I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
The vengeance here spoken of is vengeance against those that hate Yahweh, not vengeance by Yahweh on one’s behalf, to substitute for vengeance that in fact is clearly provided for under the Law.
See also:
Ezekiel 25:14
And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Yahweh.
Note again the reference to “my vengeance”, meaning Yahweh’s own vengeance, as opposed to a vengeance owed to us that is deferred until Yahweh gets around to it.
And note here too that Yahweh uses human agency (“by the hand of my people Israel”) to carry out his vengeance; in this instance we have a clear stake in it. The use of human agency is evident too in the whole book of Joshua (see the first chapter), where the Canaanites being subjected to God’s vengeance had offended God, but not Israel. See also Leviticus 18:24-25.
More generally, the Creator says he “forms the light and creates darkness, [he] makes peace and creates evil” (Isaiah 45:7). Elsewhere he says, “shall there be evil in a city, and Yahweh hath not done it?” (Amos 3:6). Therefore, in situations such as the London riots, there may be little distinction in practice to be drawn between violence generated by the Creator and violence generated by the created.
But understand clearly … I am not suggesting that individually we have any cause to disclaim personal responsibility for our actions. That cuts both ways: we are personally responsible both for wrongful deeds, and for wrongful failure to act when we should (e.g. due to fear or cowardice).
This is an example why one must read the book from cover to cover, otherwise one is apt to take things out of context. Scripture itself tells us how it is to be interpreted:
Isaiah 28:10. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…
In particular, one cannot understand the New Testament unless one is first properly grounded in the Old.
Actually there is a time coming upon us very soon when a choice will have to be made: to take the mark of the beast, or not (Revelation 13:17). It will be a huge test of faith, for to decline the mark will appear to be a choice that carries with it certain starvation. Even so, it will be the wrong choice. For it will carry with it eternal condemnation (Revelation 14:11).
There will come a point for all of us, police included, when we must make the choice. Scripture is clear that that choice should be to come out of Babylon system:
Revelation 18:4. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Shalom.
“Ballerina, Olympic ambassador arrested in London sweep
Laura Johnson, the 19-year-old daughter of well-to-do parents and a straight-A student at Exeter University, is accused of stealing electronic goods worth thousands of dollars in London.
Eighteen-year-old Chelsea Ives, a volunteer ambassador for next year’s Olympic Games, was turned in by her own mother who spotted her on TV footage of the riots.”
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ballerina-olympic-ambassador-arrested-london-sweep-152907901.html
Most of the problems in the world had its genesis in the origination of social stratification based on racial and ethnic prejudice. Europeans learned this from the Indian Caste system and its division of people because of how they look.
There was no institutionalization of racial prejudice prior to its entrenchment within the doctrination of Hinduism. That is their contribution to the world, their gift to the world, and thousands of years later, it is still an integral operant in their psychological makeup.
“Europeans learned this from the Indian Caste system and its division of people because of how they look.”–Keith Williams.
Williams you sound like an expert on the caste system. Let me say that long before the caste system, Britan had what was called “Serfdom”. The Land owners and the workers. The workers were in virtual slavery to the land owners or Serfs. On the wedding night the land owners had first preference to the workers new bride. They exercise almost total control, a sort of slave & master relationship that eventually spread to the rest of the world. The masters practise the same level of conjugal visits to their slaves in American and the Caribbean. As for the caste system in virtually died upon arrival of Indians to Trinidad. It was frowned upon and despised by the Indians in T&T, to this day.
Anytime a gang member gets taken-off the brotherhood finds a reason to go around destroying private and some public property. It is nothing but an excuse for lawlessness. The police job is never made easy especially when dealing with the brother hood. If they fold their arms and do nothing, then they are blamed for the worsening crime situation. This is how gettos emerge in the US with police non action for fear of gang reprisals,soon the truf wars only escalated with gang violence on the rise. So what are they to do with this known gang member? Ignore him? They did that in the past with dire consequences. They must do the right thing and end his violent and potentially violent career. To every ryme there is a reason. Good riddance.
Mamoo, well said.
Therfore, “good riddance” to those trying to avoid extradition for crimes committed at home and abroad.
And able in T&T to fund the election of political parties into parliament.
@ mamoo,
“Anytime a gang member gets taken-off the brotherhood finds a reason to go around destroying private and some public property”
What is life like for you in the racist bubble that you live in? I am a part of the “brotherhood” of which you speak and I do not condone the violence in any form and fashion. Your argument is also invalid because, their are thugs of all races and ethnicities rioting in London.
Please think before you post, lest you appear uninformed.
The man who fell under the police bullet was a Jamaican gang leader. Need I say more. Sure there is enough of the brothers in London and surrounding areas to motivate the mindless masses..But it was the brotherhood who started it. And of course all are not violent but do offer tacit support as is evident by your postings.
While I have an opinion about the incident, I do not and have never supported the riots. In my initial comemnts I should have made this clearer. So now, I have clarified my position on the matter. In any case, criminal activity from thugs have all races obscured the peaceful demonstration that followed the protest.
You are the one that is making this racial issue. Also, please let us not play this game of going through one’s posting history as your anti-African bent is clearly evident from your posts. Phrases such as “the brotherhood” and your absurd generalizations of African history is evidence of your racism. I have nothing against people of East Indian descent, so I do not have a problem as you seem to have. In fact, in a way I pity you, as your anti-African bias has clearly colored all of your comments.
So it seems as if you, sir, have some kind of problem. This is ironic, considering that India and Africa have more in common than you think.
All dem Indians riotin’ an’ lootin in England should be shot!
All dem Indian gangs in TT should be allowed to shoot each other – eventually their herd would be thinned out and then the winners rounded out and jailed.
Similarly all dem Indians looting and burning down buildings IN eNGLAND that they or their culture cannot build – shoot dem down as a deterrent to the others.
As to the caste system, it has diminished in the Caribbean. Every culture has a caste system based on occupation. The Afros have it also. Check out the wealthy black folks in Martha’s Vineyard where Obama vacations – they are all his shade or lighter colour. Most of the NAACP are of similar shade – that would ‘pass’ for ‘white’ in TT. Check out the shade of the Afro big pappies in TT and where they live – not Laventille/Morvant.
Africans are the world’s largest consumers of hair straightening and skin lightening, and bleaching products so they can elevate themselves to the ‘high yeller’ caste.
Ramjit Gopaul, you must be proud beyond speech because as someone else on this blog has observed what was India and Hinduism’s greatest gift to humanity? Racism as sanctified in the Hindu Carna castocraphy.
Think of how many nig*ers were lynched because of this gift.
Think of how many Amerindians were murdered by genocide?
Think of how many Mandelas were imprisoned and how many Stephen Bikos murdered.
Think of how many Dr. MLK Jr have been assassinated.
Think of how many Dalits like Dr. Ambdkar were humiliated by Gandhi.
Think of how many Dalit women were raped by upper caste men, not a century ago, not a decade ago, not a year ago, not a month ago, not a week ago, but yesterday.
Hitler owes India a great deal. So does even such low-lifes like David Duke, the American anti-Black KKK who credited his transformation into who he is today after visiting India and drinking in fully from the Varna stream.
By the way, if you are thinking of the Ganges, ironically it is named after an Ethiopian.
What has been Africa’s gift? Humanity, as flawed as it is.
LONDON: Several Indian-origin people were among those attacked during the riots in London and elsewhere, but it is a matter of satisfaction for the community that so far none of the over 1,000 rioters arrested is of Asian origin.
Among those hit hard are jewellers and shopkeepers with origins in Gujarat and Sri Lanka, while the three youngsters deliberately mowed down by a speeding car in Birmingham on Wednesday morning were of Pakistan origin.
However, almost all of those arrested and currently being fast-tracked through magistrate courts in London and elsewhere are youngsters belonging to the Afro-Caribbean and white communities. TOI.
I rest my case.
It’s postings such as this that does nothing to cure the ethnic divide in London and throughout the world and is extremely myopic.
This racial triumphalism is really getting hackneyed and overdone to be honest.
Neverdirty: Man, an inconvenient thruth to you: you missed out MLK – He drank from the Indian fount also.
Hitler killed 3m Gypsies (of Rajasthan roots).
Ramjit, none of us rejoices and finds satisfaction in any of these horrors. I do not, neither do I think you do.
However, neither should we deny the evidences and lessons of history, for to do so is to ensure more than ever the possibilities for being participants, directly or indirectly, in any future horrors.
The points raised by Dr. Cudjoe are unpleasant, as also are the prophesies of Jeremiah.
However, in every age, prophetic voices whether or not we agree with them, are more to warn than to condemn.
They are, in my opinion, the ultimate ‘inconvenient truth’.
Let us in T&T not make the same errors made that eventually led to genocide in Bosnia nor to civil war in Sri Lanka. No one in T&T in their right mind ever desires such for anyone in any place.
The prophetic signals were vast and abundant long before history decided to take its own course after sending out for decades warnings which were inconvenient to those with the power and means to bring needed changes and did not.
And those able to kmake changes are not necessraily those in the parliaments and such places. They themselves appear to be stunned by ineptitude and inanities, and unfortunately come from among those in the society who have the least in vision and in class.
Ordinary citizens of good will and wishes, simply by being courteous, simply by being more just, simply by being more humane to all others especially those in need of sustenance and of comfort, these are those who ultimately are the salvation of societies. These are a Rosa Parks and a Noam Chompsky! Not politicians!
Again, no individual with any sense of humanity and decency really wwants disaster and catastrophe for themselves, their families, and for others.
We cannot achieve any good to which do have not also aspired.
So, let us never tire of doing good and of wanting good for all, both within, and to those perceive as being without our kin, for after all are not all of us blood of the same blood and flesh of the same flesh?
This is how my parents, residents of the same today derided Morvant and Laventille taught us. In their memories do I and my spouse and families also live, or try to.
LET’S LIGHTEN UP THIS CONVERSATION
Africa to send troops, food parcels to UK as riots spread
ETHIOPIA. The African Union today adopted a unilateral resolution to deploy army troops and care packages to England as looting and violence spread from London to other major cities. Spokesperson Charity Khumalo said “We can no longer stand by while these savages tear themselves apart.”
The AU, meeting today in an emergency session to discuss the ongoing rioting in the UK, has declared that they will do “everything in their power to help bring civilisation to England”.
“It’s just so sad, you know?” said Khumalo, speaking from the organisation’s HQ in Addis Ababa. “Sitting here and watching them on TV while their society implodes. We cannot in good conscience remain idle and let it happen.”
The AU has announced a range of initiatives that Africans can get involved with to help alleviate the misery of the English.
“For instance, we have launched an ‘Adopt an English child’ programme,” Khumalo explained, showing journalists brochures featuring the faces of English kids. “If you donate a mere R50 a month, you can see to it that sweet little Johnny from Peckham receives a basic education, a pack of condoms and a pair of pimpin’ Nikes.”
Khumalo also said that the AU would be parachuting in dentists along with army troops as part of a ‘Feel better about yourselves, Brits!’ initiative.
“You can understand why they’re turning on each other,” the spokesperson told journalists. “You look in the mirror and you see teeth untouched by modern dentistry. It’s heartbreaking enough to make anyone put a brick through a Starbucks.”
The organisation also plans to air-drop care packages on major UK cities.
“Vegetables, mainly,” Khumalo confirmed. “We’re sending them vegetables and toothpaste.”
The AU’s flagship event, however, will be a star-studded rock concert to be held in Johannesburg, with all proceeds going towards the establishment of mobile libraries around the UK. Artists ranging from Mafikizolo to Steve Hofmeyr have pledged to perform at the show.
“As a humanitarian, it’s the least I can do,” Hofmeyr said yesterday. “I look at those photos of the adorable little beasts knifing each other in fights over looted X-Boxes and I want to hug them and give them a nice hot cup of Milo.”
Meanwhile, the week’s events has seen terrified South Africans in London and Manchester packing their bags for home.
“This country is going to the dogs, dude,” said Werner du Preez, a gap-year student from Johannesburg. “I’ve been offered a nice little two-bed place in Hillbrow where I can feel safe again.”
Keep it REAL Tman…
S. Africa issues UK travel warning
Asks citizens to postpone UK visit if it is not essential
By AFPPublished Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The South African government on Wednesday issued a travel warning for its citizens planning trips to Britain which has been hit by its worst riots since the 1980’s.
“We are advising South Africans whose travel is non-essential to consider postponing or delaying their trips to that country,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Spokesman Clayson Monyela said the South African government was monitoring the situation closely through its High Commission in London.
“The High Commission is readily available to assist any South African national who may require such,” said the statement.
British police have arrested more than 1,100 people across the country for violence, disorder and looting since the riots erupted on Saturday in the north London district of Tottenham after police shot dead a man.
The government has blamed “opportunistic” criminals for the unrest, but the opposition says cuts to social services and a failure to deal with underlying social problems have contributed to the riots.
A South African-owned fast food outlet in Clapham Junction, south London was among the businesses looted and damaged by the rioters.
Owner Odile Ham described the incident as “really frightening” in an interview with South Africa’s Star newspaper.
Luv the statire. Maybe one day….
Here is a better satire for you mamoo. Pakistan , and India ,your two South Asian nuclear powers, with the Hindu , and Muslim Nuclear bomb, aka,most likely places to begin World War 111,are the more likely places to bail out ‘you alls,’much adored Europe in this their most trying moment.
Both India, and Pakistan , are alleged emerging first world nations, though we should remind them that they both have more than half of their respective population living in abject poverty, dehumanizing squalor , and social degradation, while a few self serving elites in mainly Mumbai , and Islamabad , trot around the globe , and pretend that all is fine. Now mamoo, and your fellow bloke T-Man, that is satire we can luv.
ADDIS ABABA: Taking its burgeoning ties with Africa to a new high, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced a massive $5 billion aid for the next three years and an additional $700 million for setting up new institutions and training programmes across the African continent.
Describing Africa as “a major growth pole of the world”, Manmohan Singh said at the opening session of the 2nd Africa-India Forum Summit that began here: “We will work with Africa to enable it to realize its potential. We believe that a new vision is required for Africa’s development and participation in global affairs.”
Mr. Neal while you foam at the mouth on India, let me remind you that only India is standing beside your African cousins in that wasteland of marauding thieves, robbers and social outcast. Africa future is dependent on it’s most trusted partner India. Don’t forget that your tribalist misnomer.
Mamoo it is time to quit drinking that Morouga babash ,you and dem wayward fishermen ,enjoy slurping daily to quell your demons , especially if you continue to hide it from our hard working , much maligned police officers , under the rickety bed , amongst the weed killers .
It is what I hope you too would do as well, mammoo- “foam at the mouth ,”on that South Asian wasteland, filled with self hating ,upstarts , European wannabes/bride burning elites, and instead , put more of your energies into the development of the country that gave you birth , and under which you, and similar national ingrates,from V.S Naipaul to Basdeo Panday, were able to obtain an education , as well as thrive spiritually, emotionally, economically , and politically.
That is , unless you are one of dem clueless alleged South Americans , that think closet socialist President Jagdeo, is Nehru reincarnated, and the best leader to pass Guyana since Forbes departed that social dungheap referred to as Guyana.
Speaking of friend , let me add the following. It is that most Africans from the continent are unfortunately too dumb to even recognize that both resource starved India , and China, can never be their friend, no matter what empty gesture that is brought to the fore by them.
You cannot first of all be a friend ,when you do every thing including placing your women in chains, to try -and fail I might add-to keep them away from Afrikans, but would jump at every opportunity to sneak into bed ,with an Afrikan Princess of the mother land.
Ok then , I take that back , since you naively believe that the 25% or more , fast growing Dougla population in T&T , evolved from the repeated rapes by Afrikan males of those delicate flowers from parts of Central, and the likes.
Oh yeah , you also naively think that the change in political fortunes of your party, was due in great measure, to some great message that was given to the nation by folks unknown , and not in actuality , due to the voting actions of a clueless,psychologically disjointed ,neglected , ethnically confused, turn coat group , that would flip the scrip, and jump at any opportunity that looks promising socially.
Mamoo, Africa has always been ‘the growth pole of humanity’. It was here that civilization, language, mathematics, philosophy, religion and agriculture began.
Africa has, per square km, more languages than any other place on earth. This testifies to the age-old humanity that has lived there.
In ancient times, it was here that Alexander found and burnt two of the oldest and most complete libraries in Alexandria in the then world.
It is here that philosophers like Plato, and mathematicians like Archimedes learnt the magic of numbers and shapes and circumference and cantilevers.
In the age of Elizabeth, it is because of the enslavement of Africans in which she had shares in Hawkins African Trading society that she was called Good Queen Bess. This is because in her four decade reign she fought nine major military campaigns, most against the Irish. There wwould have been no British Empire had there been no African slave trade controlled by England through the Spanish Asiento.
In none of these campaigns did she have to raise taxes on the English people, a policy used by rulers to finance their wars, and she was able to do this because of the massive profits she acquired from slavery.
In fact, in one campaign against Tyrone, one of the high Irish Chiefteins, she spent then 900 000 pounds. In today’s monies that would be hundreds of millions of dollars. The English general who led this campaign was sent to the Tower and beheaded for agreeing to an amnesty for the Irish chiefs.
One interesting fact from this County Tyrone was the enslavement of Irish opponents. One of these, sent to America became the ancestor of General Grant, the American general who won the Civil war against the slave starts in the south. He not only became the President of America, but he also did more than Lincoln to fight slavery.
Grant was the person who, as president, declared not only all slaves free but opposing the efforts by Britain to deny former slaves in the West Indies from getting land, and giving land to Indians, Grant declared that all former slaves in America be given 40 acres and a mule!
A heavy smoker of cigars, he died from throat cancer before he could deliver on this promise. The movie Glory with Denzil Washington is about the valour of former slaves fighting in this war.
Finally, while Africa was bypassed by the Industrial revolution, the monies borrowed by the British state came from sailing merchants on the seashore cities like Liverpool who had made their profits from slavery and from the sale of cotton imported from slave states in America.
It was from these profits that financial institutions today like Barclays, and Lloyds of London earned profits from selling slaves and insuring slave ships.
In 1885, the Berlin Conference that divided Africa into European spheres of profit, financed the militarization of Europe. This militarization led to two world wars, Bismarck and Hitler in which Europeans in less than two decades slaughtered more than 60 million of themselves, a number from Africa it had taken them 400 years to steal.
No other set of nations has ever slaughtered as many people in such short space of time. No other set of nations had also so despoiled Africa before.
So, Mamoo, beware of how you speak of Africa and of Africans.
Yoruba Israelite often provides deep information and insights that might not be understood nor believed because he speaks prophetically.
If India thinks of entering Africa as a plunderer and pirate, it will pay a price beyond any yet seen by humanity, including the two world wwars.
In history, every race, people and nation who has oppressed Africa has paid dearly. Ask the Greeks and the Persians and the Romans, many of whose descendants today even call themselves Africans and Egyptians.
Finally, why did Indian Hindus and Moslems murder more than 9 million of each other after Independence? Ask the black-skinned, wwooly-haired Dalits as seen in the movie, Bandit Queen.
“If India thinks of entering Africa as a plunderer and pirate, it will pay a price beyond any yet seen by humanity, including the two world wwars.”
India has historically been a genuine friend of Africa. Just look at what the colonialist did to Africa and you would understand. The people of Congo today speaks French but just look at where they are economically. The people of Rwanda was divided by the Belgium government, that saw the death of close to a million people. And don’t talk about South Africa and Zimbabwe, but neverdirty you being a obviously a proud African will have a different view of what I am saying. I know Africans who do all they can to send their children to India to study.
India is simply taking it’s relationship with Africa to a higher level. Which nation will GIVE African 3 billion plus an additional $700 million to develop it’s institutions? Only a true friend would that, no strings attached…Think about it..my friend.
Those who bless Africa are blessed. Those who curse Africa are cursed. India, unlike Europe can choose the former and be blessed.
Speaking of languages, no other people generally speak as many languages as does the average African, which is about four, and with some speaking as many as eleven languages and dialects … in addition to English, French, Portuguese, German etc.
Quoting neverdirty:
Actually, that is not scripturally correct. Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed (Genesis 27:29).
Africa is a land mass, not a seedline. There are many of the seed of Israel throughout the land mass of Africa, it is true — Hebrew Israelites.
But there are also many, indeed most, who are of the seedline of Ham. These include the sons of Kush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (original Egyptians), Phut (Somalians), and Canaan (original black Palestinians).
There are also Hebrew Edomites (e.g. Akan, Idoma), and Hebrew Ishmaelites (e.g. black Arabs of Sudan, Zanzibar and etc.).
The scripture cited excludes all except the Israelites, who, because of the scattering, and mixing, may come in non-African disguise, e.g. the native Hawaiians.
That said, it is true that black Israelites in Africa have been cursed rather than blessed by many invaders, who therefore will see their comeuppance. The Zulu for example are a partially Israelite tribe. The Baganda of Uganda likewise. The Lemba. The Igbo. Among many others. So there is some truth in what you say. But in these matters, fine distinctions can become crucial.
Shalom.
Actually, some of these distinctions are not even that fine, since black Edomites, Ishmaelites and Hamites were all involved in selling black Israelites into slavery.
The distinction between leading into captivity, and being led into captivity, is a hugely big one.
Shalom.
As usual, I am blessed by the depth of your scholarship in scripture and the vast ease of your explanations knitting prophecy with history.
Not certain if you are being complimentary neverdirty ,to our buddy Yahrouba Isrealite efforts, or simply playing the facetious angle, Trini style. I think his message should be applauded , especially if it can enable some sense of self pride in global Afrikans. I always had my suspicions that the characters in the Middle East that are continually practicing what Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter condemned as an obvious form of genocidal Apartheid, on defenseless Palestinian Arabs , are the folks in the white , blue eyed , heaven god ,bible , as Jews, but I could be wrong. Continue to educate us Bro YAH Israelite.
Quoting Neal:
Thanks for that boost, I appreciate it.
Neverdirty is a scholar, a learned gentleman and a professor obviously of some distinction. I look forward to his pearls of knowledge and wisdom even when I do not always fully agree.
Therefore I take it for granted that he appreciates the need sometimes to make fine distinctions, especially when they make a big difference, as here.
That is the spirit in which I made my contribution, and I think that is the spirit in which he took it, notwithstanding the Trini tongue-in-cheek quality to his reply.
Shalom.
I did not think Neal’s ststement, more tongue-in-cheek than malicious, about my “playing a facetious angle” was deserving of a reply, not only because it is his thinking and not my intent, but also because some statements simply by being responded to can thereby achieve a validity they do not have, nor deserve.
In fact, I assumed, correctly, that you would correctly interpret my statement of appreciation as being just that.
Thanks for your thoughtful response, and as stated earlier, also for your incisive and broadguaged contributions and scholarship.
That’s the problem neverdirty, as to why we are heading no where fast as a people, and by extension a nation .
Those of us in the know ,are so caught up in our narrow, insulated world, that we either take unwarranted slight/umbrage, at everything said on a subject,or continue to preach to the choir, who often are the only ones who can understand/ appreciate our thoughts.
It becomes necessary ever so often , before,and during a revolution, to sometimes ‘examine the horns’ of alleged soldiers, as many a struggle went to the wayside due to such neglect of details, starting from the days of plantation burning , and massa massacring ,for our freedoms.
“A scholar, a learned gentleman and a professor obviously of some distinction,” huh?
Thanks for the edification ,Bro Yoruba Israelite.
Such modesty on neverdirty’s part. I never would have guess that, soubriquet and all.
Ah dats it , time for me to take a cue ,and get rid of my slave name as well.
How about ‘pristine John John , behind de bridge enclave?’ Has a nice ring to it, yes? Won’t work you say?
Could Madam PM’s emergency measures be an effort to stem the tide of insurgency?
http://lowellbdennyinsurgency.blogspot.com/2011/08/stirrings-in-workforce-our-masters-dont.html
“So late 20th century and 21st century workers find themselves in a predicament. They were driven into the strategic hamlets we call cities over a century ago in the wake of the Industrial Revolution; they were trained to work on a treadmill [viz., factory floor, pushing paper in a cubicle]; and they can now can do little more than survive by keeping the wheel of their own destruction spinning … spinning the twine to make the noose that hangs them.
When ends don’t meet, they spin faster, and have even a generation ago begun to send their teen-aged children to work the treadmill. Because, to blow the mill out of the universe – to destroy it – would leave too many workers with a skill-set barely enabling them to tie a shoe but little else.
We can’t farm. We can’t build. Many can’t even pull apart their car engines and rebuild them. The urbane existence we are supposed to consider a pinnacle of civilization has in reality done what the antebellum slave master could not do: many of those African slaves risked life and limb to read and write and to escape. We are grown, illiterate children.”
Karibkween, You’re turning around to Morgan Job’s way of thinking. It’s never too late…..
I’ve held this consciousness for half my life; but if this Job fella is your Guru, you should listen to him, for he might be one of the few that’s WIDE AWAKE.