There Are Many Ways to Be an Activist

February 11th, 2017

Activism (and advocacy, its first cousin) is like a tree with several large branches. Like our guango tree. Each branch grows in a different direction, but each branch is strong. Or, to use another nature metaphor, it is like a plant bearing many seeds. Like our moringa tree. The seed pods fall, and break. Sometimes […]

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The Populist Or The Pragmatist: Which Do You Prefer?

January 15th, 2017

I have been thinking about the nature of leadership, recently. A few things have turned my thoughts in this direction: Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States of America in a few days’ time – a man who has been described by his predecessor (and more recently, by John Lewis, […]

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The Subtle Art of Being Subtle

December 23rd, 2016

At yoga class the other evening, the teacher of my teacher (he spoke to us via her laptop) talked about “being subtle.” This is what we should aim for, said the teacher of my teacher. I was surprised that he used this word in the context of meditation and yoga. What was that, again? I looked […]

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There is No Perfect System, But I’m Going to Exercise My Democratic Right

November 16th, 2016

It’s been quite a year for elections. Speaking for myself, I will be glad when it’s all over and done with. Once our own General Elections were past, many Jamaicans (though not all) were already in the thrall of the exhausting slog of U.S. presidential elections. Jamaica’s campaign seemed like a quick sprint (or perhaps […]

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Debating in Jamaica: Style Over Substance?

October 11th, 2016

OK, so there are two sides to a debate. Can you really set down rules for an argument between two people? What, really is a “win”? Don’t we each decide who won for ourselves? I pondered over this while sitting on the rooftop of Phoenix Central – the smart, angular building on Phoenix Avenue that […]

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