Easy as it is to become a victim of the Bad-News negativity which permeates the media eager to sell their "product" daily, I resisted another week of saturation and opted again for a "lighter side" today. The imp in me, of course, hypnotized me into coming up with the PPP/C abbreviation which will irritate my usual, normal detractors. Boo!

I think it was on Monday morning that I was inspired by the message of Anglican Bishop George, who himself was impressed by an interview with superstar entertainer Eddie Grant. The Bishop lamented the fact that there are so many Prophets of Doom whose "flag" is the "wet blanket". In a word, he was saying that too many "leaders" and others who wield some influence over the less fortunate purposely, or unwittingly, constantly pound home messages of despair and utter hopelessness.

Everyday the stark realities of economic/commercial failure, political and racial discord and rampant crime or natural disasters are emphasised. Granted, these realities cannot be sidestepped or hidden but they are presented and preached about as the only things happening here. (Not anywhere else. Even where the overseas manifestations affect us.) So our daily/nightly diet - in 'papers and, especially, on bad news TV - is one of the latest murder, fatal accident, corrupt practice, real alleged or imagined, a school or bridge falling down, a road impassable, poverty manifested, the failed business and governmental ineptitude. (as Aubrey once told me: "It's easy to be opposition!")

That is why today I touch briefly on "Pride and Patriotism" and tell you a few things about a place named Guyana. Some "other" things.

Why should you be proud of the place in which you happened to be born? Quite simply, since you didn't plan that event, it's all you have and will ever have. No matter how you try to be ashamed of it; to denounce or be indifferent towards it, you cannot ever escape the fact that you were born there/here. Look for the good things. Get to know them and be comfortable with them.

Like: what were we Guyanese first in? What do we have that others won't mind having? Kaieteur, gold, diamonds, bauxite, eagles, sloths, boa constrictors, Carl Hooper, Six Head Lewis, Shridath Ramphal, E.R. Braithwaite, the world's youngest President, the location where Sparrow - the Calypso Wonder, really began and the home of the hemisphere's First Significant Slave Uprising.

There are more people, places and events to be proud of and about. But just think on those few. You see, even if you, if we, don't regard them highly, others do!

Is it not significant, informative and telling - that when Guyanese become immigrants then citizens of other people's lands, it is then that those Guyanese yearn for "home" and things Guyanese? They see, they experience how other groups treasure their native lands, the countries of their birth - whether they may be America, Mexico or Bangladesh. I advise: put our adversities, differences and daily bad news on a back burner and be proud to be Guyanese.

One dictionary tells us that a patriot is "one who defends or is zealous for his country's freedom or rights". Now we all don't have to be soldiers or partisans in order to manifest our patriotism. We merely need to be loyal to our national pledge; to be salesmen internationally; to promote our tourism efforts and to know very much about the land itself. I must get this one in: demonstrate your patriotism by telling politicians that you'll not participate in any event to destroy the country. You will not hold back development in any section of the country to please ambitious political aspirants.

More about Guyana

To love Guyana is to know it. Or, at the minimum, to know about it. Officialdom and some other groups often call on young Guyanese to inhabit, settle, and occupy the interior. To turn to the "land". But as Forbes Burnham found out (with Kimbia, Papaya etc.) the pioneering spirit is on its way out these days. Barbados and the Bronx are already developed and many Guyanese feel that history justifies their going to benefit from other people's efforts and foundation work.

Travel to the furthest parts of Guyana is expensive. But we can read, research and wait for new roads and cheaper transportation. Until then, consider: you know the meaning of the name "Guyana". Do you know that "Berbice" is derived from an Arawak word "Beribishi" ? a type of Banana!? The banana grew by the river, which took the name which today is shortened to "Berbice". Find out what Essequibo and Demerara mean.

Our sugar and rum enriched others. It is said we have sugar to thank, or curse, for our being mainly on the low muddy coastlands. Brazilians, meanwhile, access our diamonds and gold, then visit the capital to smile with us - the coastlanders. If better developed, our Eco-tourism resorts can be the best in these parts - rivalling those of Brazil, Venezuela and Costa Rica. Those who know, declare so. A well-regulated wildlife trade, wherein animals are bred then sold can be quite an industry as our macaws, snakes, iguanas and fish are welcome abroad.

What a great country still. Do we love it? Or leave it to political ambitions to destroy it? It's up to us (?).

More Dialogue

1) Only now? That I'm beginning to understand when Guyanese who have lived abroad for generations, say "I love my country". I know why - all the "push-pull" factors, which determine why we become immigrants and citizens elsewhere. I know why my relatives and yours are abroad fulfilling their potential and ambitions. My only weakness/shortcoming is that I regret they are not living here. I'll come around.

2) I hope she makes it. Ten thousand tributes to the brave and bold Rajdai Singh! This bold female victim was shot, at point blank range, in the chest. Do you think the intention was to wound?

But where I might cower and give up my gold rings, Rajdai of Sophia dared to grab at the Bandit's Mask! I must meet Rajdai - whether she makes it or not. I must manifest my hatred for the killer bandits.

3) Well written, Cassandra. The piece on our descent towards total lawlessness. Azad Bacchus and Blackie? Heroes? For whose expediency? Good riddance! Let God and His Christians forgive them.

4) Two old August jokes as we bid August 2001 goodbye:

a) When we had good tennis rolls and Bajans, two Barbadians (visitors) overheard a hungry fierce-looking canecutter ordering "a mauby and two Bajans" from a cake-shop. They bolted.

b) Two sharks realised they were in Guyana waters and hustled away. Because we eat more shark than anywhere else.

5) Farewell Commissioner Lewis. From this column. For Politics sake, they tried to distort and denigrate. I say "well done, Good and Faithful Servant." Will you accept a new position of "Presidential adviser on Policing and Internal Security" if offered?