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Joe,
I'm happy to provide a look inside the happenings on the island.
posted by
word.smith
on September 14, 2005 at 9:38 AM
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word.smith
Being that I'm not familiar with Jamaica (I haven't even been there, yet), I have been enjoying your blog very much. To me, it's like visiting a foreign country.
posted by
Joe_Love
on September 13, 2005 at 7:37 PM
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Kodac, that was a very unfortunate experience.
I'd think it's cheaper in the long run to provide contraceptive, by whatever means, than to provide welfare. I'd think that you would be able to make up your mind at 20. What were they thinking? In my country, it's a good thing we don't have welfare. Not many people would choose to work.
posted by
word.smith
on September 9, 2005 at 7:13 AM
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Hi Tapsel,
Things are getting tougher and I'm more than a little worried about the attitude of our peole. Nobody else is going to take of our needs, if we don't at least try to help ourselves.
posted by
word.smith
on September 9, 2005 at 7:09 AM
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Spitfire,
I don't know why some of us women feel the need to have so many children. It is just the start of hardship for us and them.
posted by
word.smith
on September 9, 2005 at 7:08 AM
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Most times the government doesnt help....
When I had my first child at 20, I was in a bad way and on public assistance. When I was talking to my doc just before I had the baby, I asked that I be sterilized right after. I knew I didnt want any more kids and explained to her that because of severe memory problems, taking the pill wasnt really a reliable option.There were no free condoms in clinics at the time and I had no money to speak of. And being young and stupid abstinence didnt even cross my mind. The doc told me that the government wouldnt pay to have my tubes tied because I was too young. It is my body, I knew I didnt want any more kids and still they would not help me. The government would rather pay for me to keep popping out children that help me to be responsible....its a twisted world.
posted by
KODACHROME1970
on September 8, 2005 at 8:46 PM
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word.smith, you paint a grim pic here.
posted by
TAPS.
on September 8, 2005 at 6:44 PM
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Word,
I totally agree. It really makes me sick when I see these women with a handful of kids (and usually preggo again) who are living off aid. It seems people like that are always looking for a hand out. However, I must say they are really not living off the government, they are living off of US! WE support their lazy asses with our tax money. Our hard-earned salaries. Oooh, I feel a soap box rant session coming on. I better go.
posted by
SpitFire70
on September 8, 2005 at 5:22 PM
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Thanks Anna....
It was kind of a rant. Sometimes things just get to me.
posted by
word.smith
on September 8, 2005 at 12:16 PM
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Jacenta, I agree...
Education is key. I believe the government will now be charging people who are not sending their children to school. All it takes sometimes is just to make the effort to see what help is available instead of sitting around expecting it to come to us.
posted by
word.smith
on September 8, 2005 at 12:15 PM
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Vane,
I can't say it any better than Lou Rawls -
What's the matter with the world? Has the world gone mad? There's nothing wrong with the world. It's the people that's in it.
Somewhere along the way, some of us seem to have lost our minds.
posted by
word.smith
on September 8, 2005 at 12:14 PM
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Word,
WOW!!! What a post. You wrote that very, very well, and I agree with you :)
posted by
SincerityAnna
on September 8, 2005 at 10:00 AM
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word.smith,
Knowledge can give us the power to change. Education is so important!
posted by
jacentaOld
on September 8, 2005 at 6:55 AM
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sounds like all hell is breaking loose everywhere. civil inrest is rampant here too
posted by
Vanidad
on September 8, 2005 at 6:29 AM
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Libertine,
Welfare, I think, is a good thing for the less fortunate and those between job. When it becomes a way of life, it's dangerous.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 8:15 PM
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Reni, I hate to think that this sort of mentality
is widespread, but sadly, that might be the reality.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 8:13 PM
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That post could have easily been written by someone here as well, unfortunately.
posted by
Holy_Grail
on September 7, 2005 at 7:47 PM
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word--Unfortunately I think this is a universal problem.
posted by
Renigade
on September 7, 2005 at 7:32 PM
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Amateur,
it would help if those below the poverty line are interested in having a better way of life. Too few try to live differently from those who have gone before them. Still, we can't give up.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 7:30 PM
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Argus,
Corruption is so rife anyway. We really need some new blood to make a difference.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 7:26 PM
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That sounds like a socio-economic quagmire. While I doubt the Jamaican government are going to find any easy answers to this suite of problems, I agree that getting the masses properly educated is a priority.
posted by
Amateur
on September 7, 2005 at 7:26 PM
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Hear, hear, word! What about you running
for office? I think you have the stuff, the conviction, the words ...........eh? All blogitville would work for you. We could blanket all Jamaica websites with pro word publicity .....
posted by
ARGUS
on September 7, 2005 at 4:16 PM
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Quirky, that's what worries me.
Not thinking or looking before we leap.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 2:30 PM
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Original, I see how the cycle continues.
Getting an education makes such a difference in changing this kind of mindset.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 2:29 PM
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Schree,
Make sure you come visit the island soon! Here's what you're missing....
Sorry to hear about your relative. Some of us have gone crazy. 
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 2:28 PM
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You make a good case Word.Smith. Some people just don't think things through quite so logically, I'm afraid.
posted by
Julia.
on September 7, 2005 at 1:57 PM
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Years ago I worked at a school for disadvantaged youth.
The girls were only 14 to 16 years old and they would get pregnant so they could get their own check from the government just like the checks their moms were getting for having them!
posted by
Original_Influence
on September 7, 2005 at 12:50 PM
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Hey word.smith!!
You are right! It is our responsibily to make sure that we have our sh*t straight before we bring children into the world. They need us to be ready..I haven't been to Jamaica yet..Bahamas, but, not Jamaica..My Daddy took me to Junkanoo (sp) when I was twelve..WOW! That was a great time. I have Chinese relatives down there and ther own a grocery store. Unfortunately they were robbed a few years back and a family member was shot and killed.. :-( But, hey..They're doing alright.. Schree`
posted by
Schree
on September 7, 2005 at 12:36 PM
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Bright, yes - education is the best thing we can give our kids...
to ensure their survival, plus a better quality of life for themselves.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 6:31 AM
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Word.Smith
Good Morning.. You are soooooooo right. Education is very important for our children and to instill in them self convidence and the fact that they alone are responsible for their quality of life.
posted by
BrightIrish
on September 7, 2005 at 6:08 AM
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Thanks SilverMoon.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 6:05 AM
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And your case is a sound one. You've got a good head on your shoulders.
posted by
SilverMoon7
on September 7, 2005 at 5:53 AM
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