Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

K.D. Knight, Jamaican Politician, Slapped Silly

Well, well, well...politics in Jamaica took on a different twist on Sunday night, at a PNP (People's National Party) political rally in Bog Walk, St. Catherine.

Minister K.D. Knight, Member of Parliament and former Minister of National Security, got a slap in the back, literally, (he was slapped on the back of his neck) by a man, allegedly, of unsound mind.

Mr. Knight was on the platform delivering a speech when the man, eluded security, then got onto the stage and attacked him.

What followed next is still a mystery...it is reported that Mr. Knight saw his attacker and in an attempt to get out of his attacker's way, got a slap on the back of his neck, instead. (The slap was supposedly intended for his face.)

Other reports claim he was actually slapped in his face.

Well, wherever he was slapped, some PNP party supporters, on seeing Mr. Knight's plight, got hold of his attacker and gave him a beating. His attacker had to be rescued by the police and rushed to the hospital. He is still in police custody.

The political rally, however, continued in earnest after the incident, but no doubt Mr. Knight was shaken by the turn of events.

Hmmmh!!!

Well, we're in the silly season of politics in Jamaica (we have an upcoming election) and it would be remiss of me not to mention the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) reaction to this incident.

Upon hearing that Mr. Knight was slapped, JLP Secretary, Karl Samuda, announced to JLP supporters at a rally, that Mr.Knight was slapped.

At the time, he obviously didn't know that it was a mad man who had attacked Mr.  Knight, for he made light of the situation by saying that Mr. Knight got a "hell-of-a-slap" from a man in the PNP crowd.

Members of the JLP continued to heckle Mr.Knight in Parliament yesterday, re the incident.

Even some PNP Parliamentary Members, were seen snickering.

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When I first heard of the incident, my first reaction was to think that a PNP supporter had finally grown weary of hearing Mr. Knight's rhetoric and had decided to shut him up.

Mr. Knight's speech and actions have not only been an embarrassment to himself, but the PNP...with his most infamous being the referral to Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller as "uneducated" during the PNP Leadership race, and this being a reason why she should not lead this country.

He had to put his tail between his legs and humble himself, when some PNP supporters, so enraged by his comment, decide to vote in Mrs. Simpson-Miller as PNP leader, versus Minister Peter Phillips, whom Mr. Knight was backing.

Since the slapping incident, Mr. Knight has been trying to endear himself to the Jamaican people by telling us that he' s going to be helping the mentally ill in this country - for the incident has now opened  his eyes re the mentally ill in Jamaica.

Well, what ordinary Jamaicans are saying is that they're happy that this incident occurred, as it demonstrates to our politicians, just how vulnerable we as Jamaicans feel, about our own security.

While politicians are protected by numerous bodyguards, we are left at the mercy of criminals, who maim, fire-bomb, rape and kill us.

Some Jamaicans feel that it's about time that the politicians feel what we're feeling.

And I agree.

Politicians on both sides have lived and are living, a very charmed life...

1) Prime Ministers (PMs) get pensions matched to the current salary of the PM in office

2) All Members of Parliament get air-lifted out of Jamaica, when in an accident or an emergency and are treated abroad, all at our expense, while we have to wait for hours and days, in public hospitals, to be seen by a doctor

3) Some politicians travel by helicopter to get around Jamaica, thus avoiding the same bad roads, that destroy the front ends and other parts of our vehicles - roads that we have no other choice, but travel on.

4) PMs and prominent politicians have received and will receive, State Funerals, funded by who else, but ordinary Jamaicans, whom they claim to love.

And I could go on and on...but unfortunately, it would take a book,to chronicle, just how we, as Jamaicans, have allowed politicians to manipulate and belittle us, over the years.

So my humble warning to politicians on both sides, based on the feedback I've heard on Radio Talk Show Programmes, is,  beware!!! - Jamaicans are not fools! - what you sow, you will reap!

The incident with K.D. Knight, although involving a "mad" man, could very well involve several "sane" men in the future...who'll mete out more than a slap!

Instead of laughing at Mr. Knight's calamity, you should be shaking in your boots!

Gillian

Sources:

1) Article, "K.D. Night to give police report after slapping incident", RadioJamaica.com, June 26, 2007

2) Article "Who slapped 'The Sheriff'?", Jamaica Gleaner, June 26, 2007

3) Comments from listeners of Radio Talk Show Programmes in Jamaica

When Silence is Golden (Part 2)

The following is a continuation of the original post, "When Silence is Golden (Part 1)", which was first posted on this blog, on May 29, 2007.

Please see the original  post, here!

Here are some more tips on when to be silent, thus empowering you in your relationships and making you a more conscientious (caring and considerate) human being:

11) You're at the movie theatre and the movie in your theatre is about to start...well duh!!! ...

Now's about the time to postpone that hot conversation with your friends about the events that occurred during the day...the entire movie audience has come for this very important event so, you'd better be quiet if you don't want a lot of hisses and "shh's" aimed at you :).

[Additionally, you need to be conscientious of others, and being quiet, on this occasion, clearly demonstrates this, ok? :)]

12) You've aced the first job interview and you've been invited to a second. 

But this time you've been been invited out to lunch.

(Oh yes, your future employer is testing you on your table manners and your general etiquette, but also on:

a) Your level of conscientiousness

b) Your ability to fit into a work environment that may involve wining and dining clients, or eating with your colleagues.)

However, you feel a burp coming on...

Well, you'd better slowly and quietly, ease it out (prefacing or ending it with an "excuse me please"), if you want that job!

(Letting out the huge yelps as you do at home, will definitely end your chances of ever getting that corner office in that company. :))

13)  You're at a sporting event and the national anthem of either team is being played...

No!!..now is not the time to remind your son to put his dirty laundry in the laundry basket and to chide him on his dirty habits!!!

It's the time to keep quiet, as a sign of respect for your own country and that of the other team.

[National anthems are a sign of nation-hood and national pride and as such, deserve to be respected, via silence...or sung to, if instructed to do so, while being played.]

15) You are being face-kissed (being kissed on any part of your face), by that special someone, for the very first time...

Don't pretend protest...

You know you've been wanting that kiss, from Heaven knows when...just relax and enjoy being kissed! :)

16) When in church/temple/mosque and the service is in session and someone is speaking at the podium, don't carry on a conversation with your friends/family, at this time.

Not only is this distracting to, and inconsiderate of, other worshippers who want to hear what is being said, but it demonstrates to anyone with manners, that you clearly don't have any! :)

17) When asked to observe a minute of silence for a colleague who has passed away...observe it!...

It's just one minute....

You've got 1439 other minutes in the day, in which you can talk, so do so at that time!

(Your colleague obviously meant something to your other co-workers, so try to at least respect their feelings, at this time...)

18) When in a class, and your teacher/lecturer is speaking...please shut up!

Your continuous chatter may result in your (and others near you) missing an important point that may come on your next test/exam, so if you really want to score well, you'd better listen!

[Additionally, distracting others through your constant chatter is not only inconsiderate, it will be used against you by your teacher/lecturer, should your grade be marginal (barely passing), as it shows that you weren't interested in learning the subject, anyway.]

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Well this ends our post on "When Silence is Golden"...'

Hope you enjoyed it!

Gillian

Welcome to our 3,366th Visitor!

Girl With a Purpose Blog welcomes our 3,366th visitor!!!

Yippee!!

Oh my goodness...we're getting out the bubbly...both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic champagne, that is,...to toast you!!!

Yes, you!!

Because of you, our friends, we exist...and have grown to be 3,366 strong!

So strong that 35% of you keep coming back and 65% of you have just discovered us!

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To our friends who keep returning, thank you!...your loyalty to this blog has been and is, deeply appreciated...please keep coming back!

To our newly-discovered friends, thank you for visiting...please sit back,relax and read our content...and don't forget to tell us how you feel about our posts and the rest of our content, by using the Comment link, below our posts, or by e-mailing us.

To all of you, our friends...we promise to continue to bring you content which will:

1) Cause you to reflect on just why you were placed on this earth

2) Empower you, so that you will empower others

3) Keep you entertained

4) So enable you to live your life with purpose, that your contribution to your family, community and your country will be monumental!

Again, thank you!

Gillian

Shhh... It's a Secret!

Can you keep a secret?

Have you ever been asked to?

Well, unfortunately, most people can't keep secrets...

Once they hear the intimate details of someone else's life, they feel obliged (the need) to tell someone else about it...

And they always preface (introduce) it with, "Don't tell anybody else but, so and so said/did this thing", etc.

I'm always wary of these people and try never to have them as friends, as you can never confide in them.

I believe that every human being needs a friend or two in whom you can confide, let your guard, down around and be confident that what is said in private to this person (these persons), will remain as such.

However, while most secrets should remain, just that, there are a few that should be told, e.g. if you have a friend that's being:

a. emotionally (being constantly taunted, ignored, put down by "loved ones") abused

Or

b.being physically (being hit upon and beaten constantly) abused

Or

c. being sexually (being touched, fondled without their consent, forced to have sexual contact with someone else, or are underage and being touched, fondled, etc.) abused

Or

who is doing something that's dangerous to him/herself or someone else...then, this person needs professional help or help from a more mature person, and fast!

If you are not trained in counselling or have little experience in the circumstances that  may be causing your friend trouble...you need to be honest with yourself and your friend...

You need to let your friend know that the problem is over your head and that while you appreciate him/her telling you the secret, you think that he/she can be better helped by someone more able to help him/her sort things through...

This can be an older, more knowledgeable person, or a trained counsellor.

Please ensure that the older person/trained counsellor can keep things private...unfortunately in some schools/colleges/universities,there are some guidance counsellors who make it their point of duty to tell the entire staff room, the details of specific problems, students may be having...

Try to avoid these like the plague.

In some countries/regions/states, there are also local telephone Help-Lines whereby which trained counsellors offer assistance via telephone. (These can be found in the local telephone directory.)

The people on the other end of the line are trained to give good counsel re certain situations and can either offer direct assistance to your friend, or give your friend the contact details of someone who can, e.g. a nearby psychologist/psychiatrist.

There are also local Men's and Women's Crisis Centres, whose contact details are readily available in your telephone directory.

E.g in Jamaica, there's the Friends Help Line, phone no. 1-888-991-4505 and the Women's Crisis Centre (Montego Bay), phone no. 876-952-9533.

Additionally, you can call the police, if the situation is so severe that their intervention is needed immediately.

So, can you keep a secret?...well, based on what we've discussed above, maybe in a few cases...you shouldn't...

Your comments are welcomed!
Gillian

How You & Your Kids Can Keep The Weight Off!

 

According to the World Health Organization's  Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Report,1 billion adults (that is 26%) of the world's 3.8 billion adult population are overweight, with 300 million being clinically obese.

 

The report also states that obesity is the major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability.

 

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Most of this is caused by lack of care as to the things we put in our bodies, as well as our hectic schedules that may not encourage good eating habits.

 

E.g. some parents have to work long hours and kids who are unsupervised during this period, may binge eat or over eat.

Many companies have made US$ billions in the sale of diet or weight loss programs and diet pills which promise super-fantastic results...promises that fail to come through.

 

Well, here are a few tips that will actually keep the weight off...without much effort from you!

 

1) Understand that there are two types of fat: good and bad fats.

 

According to Johnny Bowden, iVillage.co.uk, author:

 

a) Good fats are the naturally-occurring, traditional fats that haven't been damaged by high heat, refining, processing or other man-made tampering such as 'partial hydrogenation'. The best of these kinds of fats are found in fish, nuts, avocados, seeds and, believe it or not, fresh creamery butter.

 

b) 'Bad' fats are not animal fat, but meals which combine animal foods, fats and low-fibre vegetables.

 

Also, because of horrible factory farming methods, antibiotics and steroid use, fats from non-organically raised, non-free-range animals should probably be used with prudence. Among the worst of the 'bad' fats are margarine and the fats found in anything fried.

 

'Bad' fats also include "partially hydrogenated" foods and refined vegetable oils. These oils oxidise easily and have been processed with high heat, which removes all the healthy nutrients, like Vitamin E.

 

You can read more about the afore-mentioned fats, here.

 

2) Cut down on fried foods - bake or broil your meats instead. (You can find recipes online, or buy cook books that will help you prepare foods in healthy ways that taste great!)

 

3) When you've bought meat, ensure that you cut off all visible signs of fat - examples of meat with lots of visible fat, are chicken, liver and beef.

 

4) Eat out less - most restaurants will not be as careful as you are in removing fat from meat and in buying the meat that is good for you. (Please read point 1 above.)

 

If you do eat out, eat at only restaurants that are certified organic. These restaurants have to abide by international standards for preparing healthy, organic foods for their customers.

 

A list is available here:

 

a) Organic Restaurants in Canada

 

b) Organic Restaurants in Europe

 

c) Organic Restaurants in the UK

 

d) Organic Restaurants in the USA

 

5) Instead of buying lunch, carry it from home. - Then you'll have more control over the fat content. This will also save you money -money that could be invested to buy something of greater value than a lunch - like a house.

 

6) At work, take the stairs versus using the elevator...

 

In order to do this successfully, pace yourself - take two flights, then four, then six, etc.

 

However if you work on the 36th floor of a building - walk up the first 6 -10 floors (or as many as you can take), then take the elevator to your floor.

 

7) When eating a snack with a high fat content (like ice-cream)..immediately drink an 8 ounce glass of water afterwards - this will dilute the amount of bad fat going into your stomach.

 

8) Eat high-fibre content foods like cooked and uncooked vegetables (e.g. string beans, carrots, broccoli pumpkin, cauliflower, plantains, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce) with lunch and dinner.

 

This will fill your stomach up more, will clean out your large intestine, thus allowing bad fats to easily pass out of your body.

 

9) Eat highly fibrous fruits (e.g. peaches, papaya, plums, oranges) after eating a high-fat content meal. This will help your body to rid itself of the bad fats you just ingested, much faster.

 

10) In general, stay away from food containing 'bad' fats - as mentioned in point 1 above. Dr. Vendryes (a renown Jamaican doctor, who practices alternative medicine) says, "you may just be digging your grave with your teeth!"

 

11) Cut down on rice for lunch and dinner - eat highly fibrous starchy foods like sweet potatoes, beet and Jamaican yams instead. These enhance digestion and enable the body to get rid of waste, faster.

 

12) Dance like crazy - this burns between 315 and 700  calories with one hour - as compared to walking which burns between 280 and 560 calories within this time frame.

 

It also gives you the opportunity to lose weight while doing two things you'll enjoy - music and dancing.

 

You can check out Caloric Count (from About.com Health) gives the no. of calories burned for each activity you may undertake.

For Kids:

 

1) Let your child/children see you eating vegetables and fruits every day - they'll complain less about eating these great foods, if they see you actually eating and enjoying them.

 

2) Let your children snack on dried fruits (strawberries, apricots) versus salty and high-sugar-content snacks. (In many parts of the world dried fruits are available from your local organic grocer.)

 

For a listing of organic grocers/supermarkets, see these links:

 

a) Organic supermarkets in Canada

 

b) Organic supermarkets in Europe

 

c) Organic supermarkets in the UK

 

d) Organic supermarkets in the USA

 

3) From your child is weaned and can eat solid foods, give  him/her fruits to snack on, versus cheese trix and other highly salty and sugar-containing snacks. This will enable your child to acquire the taste of fruits and vegetables early, so that it's less of a problem to get them to eat these foods, as they get older.

 

4) Encourage your kids to exercise - e.g. instead of driving them to school or other activities which may be 5-10 blocks away, encourage them to walk, instead.

 

5) Encourage a healthy self esteem in your child (via praising him/her often, encouraging him/her to recognize his/her strengths and weaknesses and to participate in activities that will enhance his/her strengths). Not only will this improve your child's outlook on life...it will reduce the occurrence of depression and thus binge eating, as a result.

 

6) Help your children to say "no" to friends who may encourage them to put junk (fast food and unhealthy snacks) into their bodies - instead, show them how they can positively win their friends over to eating healthily.

 

7) If your child wants to go see a movie...encourage your child to eat from eateries at the theater, with healthy foods on their menus.

 

8) Educate your child about the benefits of healthy eating. Please practice what you teach so that he/she can follow your example.

 

Well, we have come to the end of this post.

 

It is my wish that you will be able to follow the above suggestions, so that both you and your kids can keep the weight off!

Resources Include:

 

1) Article, "The Health Benefits of Dancing - Including Specific Benefits of Specific Dances", by Sixwise.com

 

2) Article, Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Report,World Health Organization's website.

 

3) Article,  Good fats vs. bad fats, by Johnny Bowden, M.A., Diet & Fitness Section, iVillage website

 

4) Caloric Count, from About.com Health

 

Gillian