And Still I Rise

Couple months ago I watched an episode of the Tyra Banks show that featured young children who had body image issues. These girls-and note they are most always girls had internalised their mothers views on weight, diet and exercise and found themselves wanting. In my eyes and those of the hostess they were normal healthy looking children who were already seeing critical flaws in their young bodies. Back then it didn't cross my mind that children here in St Vincent and more so children that I know could be carrying around these weighty issues.

That was until today when my friend told me her daughter was barely eating since some "well meaning" adults have been constantly telling the child she is getting too fat. Now the child in question is not skinny but it is a stretch to call her fat but I guess she does not fit their image of what a six year old should look like. The whole thing had me annoyed for a considerable part of the day. It's bad enough having adults starving themselves, trying every fad diet in the book and working out with a vengeance to attain whatever size the fashion industry et al tells them is acceptable. To mess up children's mind with their ill advised chatter is unpardonable. It's as if they forget these children's bodies are still growing and developing and if they refuse to eat it can mean serious damage to their health.

Of course we need our children to grow up healthy which entails proper nutrition, sleep and more outdoor activity. What they do not need is to worry about adult issues. Their concerns should be centred around test scores, longings for a particular birthday/Christmas gift etc. Most of all they they need to learn from the get go that there is no perfect body shape

I thought I was done with the whole Rihanna/ Chris Brown story but news that Rihanna finally broke her silence has once again grabbed my attention. Plus anybody who has ever read my blog knows that the issue of violence is my platform. I did not see the interview but caught a soundbite or two on the TV guide channel and read and heard other people's comments.

The thing that annoys me the most is the number of young girls and women who by their comments are giving Chris Brown a pass for his vicious attack on Rihanna. Could you imagine a bunch of teenagers best defence was Rihanna was lying about the attack and if it did happen she asked for it. Sorry but this is as stupid as saying a woman asked to be raped because her clothes were too revealing or any of the other assorted bullshit that people say. For the miseducated here are some chilling facts from the UN Org site.

At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The abuser is usually someone known to the victim.

In 2002, the Council of Europe declared violence against women a public health emergency and a major cause of death and disability for women 16 to 44 years of age. A World Bank report estimated that violence against women was as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill-health, than traffic accidents and malaria combined. A 2003 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the costs of intimate partner violence in the United States alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion in direct medical and health care services and almost $1.8 billion in productivity losses.

If I am to believe all the nonsense that is spouted then I must believe that all these women asked for it. Is this really the way we want to address this scourge by making the victims the criminal? Enough already! Go and re-read those statistics and tell me if violence against women is not an issue that demands urgent attention. We already know that fear and shame keep the abused silent but I'd add that a judgemental society also aids in the silence. Therefore any voice out there that calls attention to this epidemic is welcomed. Thank you Rihanna for speaking out and I truly hope you are strong enough to keep walking.

Well I had planned to write on the Independence goodies that The Pm delivered at Victoria Park On October 27th. However, my fellow Vincy Blogger has already taken up the mantle. So I invite you to read her humourous account.

Vincentian Life.

On another note I am loving this new Vincentian blogger. Check her out too.


Discuss SVG

Tuesday October 27th will mark thirty years of Independence. This year's independence celebrations will see the culmination of The Vincy Homecoming activities. This excerpt from the Vincy Homecoming site explains the rationale . Over the years, we have had a voluntary migration of Vincentians to other lands in search of opportunities to uplift themselves and their families. They have contributed tremendously over the years to our economy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and so we are extending an invitation to all Vincentians, wherever we reside in this universe, to journey to St. Vincent and the Grenadines during 2009 as we reflect on who we are and to celebrate our achievements.

Vincy Homecoming 2009 presents an opportunity for all Vincentians to rediscover St. Vincent and the Grenadines as we are placing a premium on showcasing our various communities. Thus far this independence month has seen the following

Vincy Homecoming Conferences which took place from 21st to 22nd Oct
23rd October Miss Heritage hosted by the Girls' High School
24th International Music Night
25th Nostalgia( featuring acts who have reunited for this moment)
26th Musical Xtravangaza featuring strictly Vincentian acts

Happy Independence SVG. We still have far to go but I live in hope that the generations to come will get it right.