She stood no chance. He was 6'5, muscular and determined. She withered away with each punch. Like a flower with no sunlight. She was barely 5 feet tall, a beautiful small face. But today this face was smeared with blood, from the man she claims to love.
They have a child together she kept telling me. She deserved the punches he continued to give her over and over, in the middle of the road. At least that's what she thought. With each blow to the face she received, I saw her soul disappearing. How can a society accept the insult on their own people? So many people just stood around and watched the events unravel, no one willing to help.
I couldn't watch anymore. I was sick to my stomach as I watched her helplessly try to escape his grip. Screaming profanities, slapping, hitting, kicking, more screaming, and then the tears. She was helpless, and I was determined. Maybe pissed off is the word. Angry might be a better one. Sad says it too.
The police were called. I think they only listened because I was a foreigner. "Be right there" meant 15 minutes or more. The station is 1/4 a mile away. The fighting continues. I'm not sure I can hold this man off of her much longer. I'm hoping the police can.
"What is the description of the man miss?" The officer had no idea he had just drove right past the brawling couple. No one in the police car was in uniform. Is this real? He turned around and promised to speak with the couple.
Shock. Disappointment. Anger.
"I can't do anything Ms.Garst, the woman states she doesn't want to press charges"
EXCUSE ME?!?!
The officer has no knowledge of the recent Domestic Violence Protocol that was signed into law just one month ago, almost to the day. His job is to ensure the safety of the public right? Leaving the parties together isn't fulfilling his first commitment. The law requires him to make an arrest.
Lack of response. Ignorance. Ego. Distaste. He doesn't care.
He says he will offer the woman a ride home. It's all he can do. Bullshit.
I watch him get in his police cruiser. He promised me he would stop and offer the girl a ride home. Drove right past them. Never even braking.
And the cycle continues. Domestic Violence. Lack of support from police. More dead women. Men running free. A culture of violence. Progress stalled.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Last Day of School
The school year in Grenada spans from early September to early July, giving the students a couple months of summer break. This week marked the last full week of school for the students, thank God! With Carnival activities slowly kicking in gear, the students have been full of energy and lacking focus to accomplish any substantial learning. We completed our end of the year testing late last week, so this week has been a free for all. Yesterday the teachers decided to make a movie day for the kids, since it was raining heavily and we surely weren't going to learn anything new. The kids got the chance to watch all three of the Lion King movies, which I might of been more excited about than them, oh well. I didn't realize how much Lion King shows revenge tactics. Booooo Lion King. Anyways, here are some pictures to wrap up the school year. I'm surely going to miss these kids.
Shiniah and Shamika can't wait for school to be finished either.
If it were Kaylah's choice, she would be by my side all day. She informed me yesterday "Miss, you can't go back to America, because then I can't sharpen my pencil". Smart little girl she is.
Mr. Caden came to visit yesterday too. He is the nephew of my counterpart and the cutest little thing.
Movie theater, Grenada style. After some tweaking, we got the computer speakers to project the sound just like a theater.
"Where is my snack, I'm hungry"
"I'm not really interested in this movie, can't I just sleep?"
Last day of school calls for some silliness. Or maybe that's everyday. Either way.
YIPPIE!!!!! Last day of school!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy 4th and Random Thoughts
I hope all of my American friends had an enjoyable Independence Day. I have to say I was quite down in the dumps the entire day because the 4th is one of my favvvvvvvvvorite holidays. It ranks up there with Halloween. But, thankfully the world gave me a sinus infection/head cold to keep me in bed all day yesterday and today, not allowing my mind to wander to hotdogs, beer and blowing shit up. The world works in mysterious ways huh?
Since I'm currently overdosing on vitamins, eating every pill in the Peace Corps med kit and blowing my nose constantly, I have found some time to catch up on some good ole reading on my new Kindle (thanks mom!). That thing is so cool. I feel like the cold meds are talking on this post, you agree? ok whatever.
Casey Anthony??? Seriously....what. the. hell. Apparently we can all just dispose of our children if we want to party instead, ask some camera crews to film the whole thing and then get off free of charge. Shame on the justice system.
Ok, thats all. Hope you all are having a great week. Send your positive thoughts my way, I need them to fight this wicked cold.
Peace.
Since I'm currently overdosing on vitamins, eating every pill in the Peace Corps med kit and blowing my nose constantly, I have found some time to catch up on some good ole reading on my new Kindle (thanks mom!). That thing is so cool. I feel like the cold meds are talking on this post, you agree? ok whatever.
Casey Anthony??? Seriously....what. the. hell. Apparently we can all just dispose of our children if we want to party instead, ask some camera crews to film the whole thing and then get off free of charge. Shame on the justice system.
Ok, thats all. Hope you all are having a great week. Send your positive thoughts my way, I need them to fight this wicked cold.
Peace.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Cute Kids Videos
My students were preparing recently for the Reading Extravaganza Program and I couldn't help but video them. They are to adorable. Check it out!
Responsible Men and Women Should...
I found it necessary to post this article, since often times my personal words about the struggles of youth come with some resistance when speaking to locals. Craig is an awesome guy who I have met a few times. He works with another Peace Corps Volunteer here in Grenada and does great work. Good work Craig and well said!
Grenada is full of too many armchair moralists – those who condemn youths without demonstrating an active interest in empowering and educating them, writes Craig Dixon, a 23-year-old Jamaican Commonwealth Correspondent living in Grenada.
The rampant decadence of youth is Grenada’s most visible secret. Young people are entangled in a widening web of despair, depravity and disorder.
Of all the revelations surrounding this statement of fact, the most shocking is that everyone knows what is happening, yet it appears no one knows, because no one is doing or saying anything to radically alter the course of this ill-advised generation.
A considerable number of Grenadian youth have set up ‘romping shops’. The songs they listen to are rancid and dehumanizing, whiffs of cigarette and marijuana smoke wander through the streets like stratus in the sky.
Carib lager bottles shatter like dreams on the rocks behind Creole Shack, gangs are spreading faster than tragic news. Fifteen year old drunks stagger up Melville Street on Friday nights, intoxicated and confused. And the nation is silent!
Some school walls have become obelisks for gang-inspired hieroglyphs and graffiti. Levels of truancy are high, cigarette lighters are as plenty as pen and pencils, some male students wear earrings more consistently than neckties. And the nation is silent!
For hundreds of youth, ends never meet. Dreams have been deferred or derailed. Untold numbers have given up hope. And yet the nation is silent!
What is the meaning of this silence about the state of youth affairs in Grenada? Where are the rational and instructive voices of civil society? Why is the private sector so ‘private’ in these matters? What are the plans of the government and opposition for youth? Where are the youth activists and protagonists? Where is the leadership amidst this moral and social disintegration?
Every citizen has a fundamental duty as seen in chapter III – part IV, of the constitution “to participate to the fullest extent…in the…social life of the state in such manner as to further the national interest and to foster national unity”.
It is not a choice we have, but an obligation that is firmly chiselled in constitutional (and natural) law, to stand up and respond to the needs of the young bearers of Grenada’s future. Have you not heard Dante’s admonition, that ‘the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality’?
This is an indictment of armchair moralists – of those who condemn youth without demonstrating an active interest in empowering and educating them. We need ardent and results-oriented activists who are committed to research, analysis and action. All loquacious and myopic detractors should keep quite.
The fact that youth are in dire straits, is not a sign that this generation is lost, that we are without hope, as pessimists and cynics would like to think. Rather, our shortcomings tell the story of a generation that has been deprived of purpose by its antecedents and is crying out for help.
Our misdemeanours are not to be taken as signs that we are too far gone to change, but rather as our way of communicating our frustration with the agents of socialization in our milieu. Young people want to be positive change agents. We want to be engaged. The time to act is now!
The time for responsible men and women to begin mentoring confused youth is now. The time for churches and civil society groups to create programmes and opportunities for youth is now.
The time for the private sector to uplift youth through employment programmes is now. The time for the young Grenadians to create an active National Youth Council to uphold and protect their rights is now!
Craig Dixon is a youth activist and intern with the Ministry of Social Development, Grenada.
“Responsible men and women should mentor confused youths”
26.06.11
Grenada is full of too many armchair moralists – those who condemn youths without demonstrating an active interest in empowering and educating them, writes Craig Dixon, a 23-year-old Jamaican Commonwealth Correspondent living in Grenada.
The rampant decadence of youth is Grenada’s most visible secret. Young people are entangled in a widening web of despair, depravity and disorder.
Of all the revelations surrounding this statement of fact, the most shocking is that everyone knows what is happening, yet it appears no one knows, because no one is doing or saying anything to radically alter the course of this ill-advised generation.
A considerable number of Grenadian youth have set up ‘romping shops’. The songs they listen to are rancid and dehumanizing, whiffs of cigarette and marijuana smoke wander through the streets like stratus in the sky.
Carib lager bottles shatter like dreams on the rocks behind Creole Shack, gangs are spreading faster than tragic news. Fifteen year old drunks stagger up Melville Street on Friday nights, intoxicated and confused. And the nation is silent!
Some school walls have become obelisks for gang-inspired hieroglyphs and graffiti. Levels of truancy are high, cigarette lighters are as plenty as pen and pencils, some male students wear earrings more consistently than neckties. And the nation is silent!
For hundreds of youth, ends never meet. Dreams have been deferred or derailed. Untold numbers have given up hope. And yet the nation is silent!
What is the meaning of this silence about the state of youth affairs in Grenada? Where are the rational and instructive voices of civil society? Why is the private sector so ‘private’ in these matters? What are the plans of the government and opposition for youth? Where are the youth activists and protagonists? Where is the leadership amidst this moral and social disintegration?
Every citizen has a fundamental duty as seen in chapter III – part IV, of the constitution “to participate to the fullest extent…in the…social life of the state in such manner as to further the national interest and to foster national unity”.
It is not a choice we have, but an obligation that is firmly chiselled in constitutional (and natural) law, to stand up and respond to the needs of the young bearers of Grenada’s future. Have you not heard Dante’s admonition, that ‘the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality’?
This is an indictment of armchair moralists – of those who condemn youth without demonstrating an active interest in empowering and educating them. We need ardent and results-oriented activists who are committed to research, analysis and action. All loquacious and myopic detractors should keep quite.
The fact that youth are in dire straits, is not a sign that this generation is lost, that we are without hope, as pessimists and cynics would like to think. Rather, our shortcomings tell the story of a generation that has been deprived of purpose by its antecedents and is crying out for help.
Our misdemeanours are not to be taken as signs that we are too far gone to change, but rather as our way of communicating our frustration with the agents of socialization in our milieu. Young people want to be positive change agents. We want to be engaged. The time to act is now!
The time for responsible men and women to begin mentoring confused youth is now. The time for churches and civil society groups to create programmes and opportunities for youth is now.
The time for the private sector to uplift youth through employment programmes is now. The time for the young Grenadians to create an active National Youth Council to uphold and protect their rights is now!
Craig Dixon is a youth activist and intern with the Ministry of Social Development, Grenada.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
My 23rd Year
Since seeing my 23rd year of existence come to a conclusion on June 18th, and my 24th year officially starting, I thought I would reflect a little bit. My favorite part of my birthday is being able to relax in the morning, knowing the day was made for you, and reflecting on all the things you learned and achieved during the previous year. This year I got the chance to sit on my veranda, enjoy a nice cup of coffee, look over the mountains I call home and reflect. Upon reflecting I realized there would be some value in writing down what I had learned/accomplished over the last year. I can truly say, this past year has been the most rewarding year of my life and I have so much to be thankful for. This world is showing me so much about myself and I'm loving every minute.
So, here is my last year of "Learnt and Accomplished":
So, here is my last year of "Learnt and Accomplished":
- The more I learn, the less I really know.
- People from other parts of the U.S. are nothing like I had assumed. There aren't just narcissists from California and bluntly rude people from New York.
- Children know so much more than we give them credit for. They can tell when we are upset, when we need a hug and when to smile. I am learning to listen and appreciate what kids have to say.
- Leaving the comforts of my hometown and country really is the biggest learning opportunity for me personally. My internal moral development has drastically changed and improved. I'm proud of that improvement.
- Working for the U.S. Government is something I will never do again. Yes I am guaranteed a paycheck each month and have great healthcare (for the Eastern Caribbean), there are definite downfalls in working for such a massive "company".
- Living by myself is wonderful. The alone time has given me time to learn about myself, something I suppressed in years past by constantly staying busy.
- I am capable of teaching, I just have to believe in my abilities. I don't always enjoy teaching, but I can do it when necessary.
- I painted a 30 foot mural practically by myself. I have no painting experience and had no idea what I was doing, but with the help of another volunteer, I am nearing completion.
- Women's rights is my passion but something I couldn't do the rest of my life. I will always be an advocate but will never make it a career.
- Being a minority is fun. Sometimes.
- Sometimes taking time to step back and seeing a situation from the outside, as an observer, is the greatest insight into the meaning.
- I love Webb City, Missouri more than words can express. I remember wanting out so bad and now I find myself longing to return. I will be back WCMO!!!
- Life is unpredictable and lives are taken to soon. Live today.
- Eating meat isn't a necessity, especially when its pig tail, cow tongue, road kill or animal feet.
- Skype is a life saver.
- True friends will always make it a priority to maintain the friendship you have. Its worth realizing the friends who take the time and appreciate them.
- I in truth, can fake knowing just about anything in this world. Its part of Peace Corps life lessons and I have mastered it.
- I can only control so much from 2,000 miles away from home. I have learned this lesson through loss and I think its a lesson we all must learn.
- I am meant to be in development work. I will never sit behind a desk in a little cubicle. I need to be out in the grassroots movement, getting dirty and truly seeing change.
- I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Corpus Christi
Last Thursday was a public holiday here in Grenada. This time of year seems to bring alot of those for some reason. I assume because school is almost out and no one wants to work. Or maybe that's just me. Either way, Corpus Christi was Thursday, which has something to do with rain and the crops, yada yada.
A few of us volunteers took it upon ourselves to have a relaxing day aboard the Starwinds catamaran, cruising up the west side of the island and anchoring in Flamingo Bay. While anchored in Flamingo Bay we were able to swim in the water, jump on an inflatable trampoline and snorkel. In my year and some months of being in Grenada, no day tops this day when it comes to absolute beauty. Laying on a raft in the middle of the Caribbean sea, cold drink in hand and friends around was hands down one of the coolest things I have done here. I made sure my snorkeling friends ensured there were no little creatures swimming around me in the water before I got in. Hey, I don't like creatures people!
I can't wait to go on another one of these cruises with friends. It was absolute bliss after a stressful few weeks. ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL LEFT!!!!!!!! Not that I'm counting...
A few of us volunteers took it upon ourselves to have a relaxing day aboard the Starwinds catamaran, cruising up the west side of the island and anchoring in Flamingo Bay. While anchored in Flamingo Bay we were able to swim in the water, jump on an inflatable trampoline and snorkel. In my year and some months of being in Grenada, no day tops this day when it comes to absolute beauty. Laying on a raft in the middle of the Caribbean sea, cold drink in hand and friends around was hands down one of the coolest things I have done here. I made sure my snorkeling friends ensured there were no little creatures swimming around me in the water before I got in. Hey, I don't like creatures people!
I can't wait to go on another one of these cruises with friends. It was absolute bliss after a stressful few weeks. ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL LEFT!!!!!!!! Not that I'm counting...
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