Hot Cross Buns etc.

Hey OW peeps and the world....

I am back to weigh in with some thoughts.

Most of the town and Belize is looking forward to the Easter Break. As of Friday April 3, many people disappear and for all intents and purposes gone until April 14 when the reality of everyday life sets in...work or school.

I have been close to God and Jesus since ever and will be so till the last. I like to go with the time and not step too much ahead. For example, last year people were sending greetings and having Christmas events even before December not to mention Advent for the Catholic church. Now at this time people are greeting themselves Happy Easter when really we are not there yet.

Oh!!!... and also, Easter and Christmas is a period of time not one day. But the imprint of commercialization of these two days crescendo unto a climax that plummets almost to zero for everyone on the day after. But I must say that we do celebrate the plateau of the day-long climax with lots of gusto.

Good Friday is often overlooked in the expectation of the glorious resurrection but it is there. The fish, the Hot Cross Buns, the somber day, the praying, the new clothes for the procession (for Catholics). This is the one day of the year when the town goes to a total standstill especially in the afternoon. We go to sleep early.

And BOOM... Holy Saturday is the run for roses...the Belize Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic. Many radios are on. Today much more Orange Walkeños are in the race than ever before. Some people jump into their vehicles getting an early start to the coming Easter. The movement has started.

Everyone hopes that the sun will be shining and that they will be able to display that body for once. The dieting did work. Or did it?

Saturday afternoon is the last day to cover details for the big Sunday. The eggs are ready to be hidden and found. The chocolates are ready to be relished by all.

OOOOO the water, the sun, the breeze, the relaxation, the drinks, the food, the drinks, the FUN. Everyone calls or texts everyone.

Then the day is over. We head back home. Satisfaction has to be guaranteed by oneself. It is until next year all over again.

Easter Monday is a gift for all to reboot ourselves back to reality.

And Tuesday... Oh by the way.... on Easter Tuesday, back to routine.

Selective Transparency

"The UDP has won the elections. YEAH! YEAH! They promised to be a transparent government. YES! Belize will be betta. Out with the PUP and the corruption. They were not transparent. The PUP were corrupt. Nobody knew what they were doing since the PUP were NOT transparent.

And since no one knew what they were doing we KNOW that they were corrupt."

Hi Everyone! So glad that you are reading my little rantings. Thank you. I was on the road yesterday and was toggling with the logic of the word transparent.

First, let me supply my opinion on government transparency.

I believe that governments cannot tell the people everything. Even if they want to do so, they will never tell us all. First there is the impossibility, next there is the security issue and thirdly there is the societal reality. People hate bad news and governments will always try to find a way not to give us the bad news unless they have to do it.

So why lie and tell people that they will be an open government and not have secrecy. I would not want a government that does not have confidential stuff. Not even in a state of utopia would that happen.

Transparency literally means that you can see through and through and that things are clear. This can only happen in perception with governments. So if a government is transparent what does it mean? It is said over and over. If it means that we will know how every penny is spent. No can do. A lie. Accounting systems are not that detailed and not in Belize and not even in the wealthy USA. What else can it mean?

I have put one day of thinking into this and all I could come up with is that it sounds good.

WE WILL BE TRANSPARENT! (Please do not ask for a definition.)

Some try to define it by saying that the books will be audited every so often and a report will be made. And when people see these reports, say, every six months, we will say(or will we) "Yes, this government is transparent." Or we will wonder, what are they hiding?

This is elementary, the reports will not have all the answers.

At best, the report will be selectively transparent. The 'financials' will show what they want us to see.

The UDP Political slogan would be more truthful if it would have said "Continuing to be Selectively Transparent", that would hold more of the truth. Then again the perception will be that they are lying about something.

A vicious circle people. Maybe the word transparency should be shelved. It does not exist in political circles. Its buzz is indefinable.

There I got that out of me. Phew!

In an earlier blog, I took a line from our National Anthem that is super powerful. Sing along with me... By the MIGHT of TRUTH and the GRACE of GOD...

When we speak, let us just say the TRUTH... can one be more transparent?

World Cup Football and a Car

I want to share these with you. I have the GOLD one for the football wp but will reserve that for later. Then again you might have it already. WOW of a car, huh?

Haters

Intelligentsia... The Russian form for 'the educated people in our society' has a flair that rings in my ears. The ring is sweet. This honey is one that I would like to daub all over us. We all ought to start from scratch. Let us notice, and squeeze from our surroundings that that we are oblivious to from our everyday lives.

I will make a list. And my challenge to you is think... 'Do I do that?'

1. Be amazed by a rainbow or a double rainbow... one is inverted.
2. Think that dogs are talking to us as they bark.
3. Walk in a garden after the rain and see how the rain beads on the petals of that rose.
4. It is raining and you do not run. You are wet and feel rushed with energy.
5. Wait for the next full moon... and eclipse... and stars... and dusk... then dawn (with a lil yawn).
6. Count seconds after a flash of lightning waiting for the thunder... and all the crackles.
7. Go to a Caye or somewhere only to see the sun rise and breathe in the air.
   

Are you thinking...'Do I do that?'

Next 7...

1. Are amazed with technology...even though you own the latest Ipod and fastest of computers.
2. Observe a fruit from the time it was a flower...day after day... and finally bite into it.
3. Ogle a green green leaf and be amazed by the crisp venation.
4. Drop a stone into a well and listen to the water splash. (Pull up a bucket of water)
5. Go to your church services and be glad for these things.
6. Wake up early in the morning to relish the dew that's all over.
   
7. Watch ants build a nest and mischievously fill up the hole and see them start over.
8. See how pastry being baked raises and browns right before your eyes. (Thru a glass)

Oh........! Guys I am so sorry. I was supposed to talk about Haters. I ended up giving them suggestions about things that they could do to fill up their time.

Truthfully: I refrained from talking about haters because then I might be hating on haters. Nah! I love my fellow human beings. They are all as imperfect as I am.

Smile guys... Oh and... do you want to add to my list? Be happy, you will then part of the intelligentsia.