Ribbon's Thoughts on Struggling, Persevering & Living

Crisis is here. Corruption is on the rise. So why are the high officials continuing to sweep the wrongdoing under the rug? They must be corrupt too. So what's really causing the crisis? It's all about greed.

We have become to lustful of our neighbours' goods and are trying to reach much farther than we can extend. I watch others to learn from their mistakes and to get good ideas. I am too much of a simple person to dig myself that kind of trouble. There are certain things that I want but I have to refrain from getting them because I simply cannot afford it. Where I can make a sacrifice, I will but it most cases it is far beyond me. I have to seek simple solutions to pull me out of the hole so that I can climb forward.

I never want to be a disappointment and therefore I need to live within my means so noone does not have to open the newspaper to hear that I have stolen or defrauded anyone. There is a lot of funny business and apparently we need to be mindful of the friends we keep. My friends are all progressive and are seeking to do positive things. I wish to remain that way too. I can only hope that those caught in corruption will change their ways. When you acquire by illwill, it never lasts.

I have had to work hard for everything that I have. Some people feel that I don't deserve it. It is God's will and if the Lord decides that I am to move on, so be it. I know the 'wants' that I have sacrificed, the trips to Red Cross, the walking that I have done and I am happy to say that I feel blessed to have lived simply but yet enjoyed life. I am glad to share my story as well.  As I move forward with the blessings that God has given to me, I can only smile. I know trials will continue but I go in faith.

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My Broken English in a Poem

I stop wondering
cause I doing things
big and little things
I ain't pushing nobody
I just hailing
and passing with speed
cause I don't study delays
or distractions
unless is something positive
I got a higher calling
and I ain't got no time
to be bawling
I dusting off
and pushing harder
so if you ain't got
something nice to say
back off
and move out my way

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Rediscovering Something You Enjoy

It's nice re-discover something that you enjoy. I enjoy nice music and it's great to hear a pretty song that you have not heard in years. I've been replaying Kenny Latimore's "Never Too Busy" because it is truly a relaxing song. I would love to be a DJ so that I could entertain the world with beautiful music. I have my little playlist that I walk with to work because sometimes, you need that mood music to relax your tired mind.

At work, you have to find that balance. It's either the music or a co-worker or friend that you can chat with for a minute to break the monotony. You may prefer a favorite snack or a walk outside but you need that stress breaker. For me it may all of the above that I need on a day or just one. I also love a Guyanese snack called Mitai because it breaks hunger and tastes good too. I am also an M&M fan as I shared in my thoughts about being a chocolatoholic.

Sometime, the walk is the best option to get away from a tough situation or a chatty co-worker. That is one of the few things that I love about where I work now. I'm in the midst a natural landscape and I can take a nice walk and see life and growth. There are unpleasant eyesores here and there too but I have learned to ignore them. I wish I would not ignore them but to complain is a cry to deaf ears.

I prefer to eat my M&Ms and find a cool tree.

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Seeing Someone After A Long Time

Sometimes you see a person that you have not seen in over a year and the greeting or reaction is poor. You may have shared intense, happy, sad, fighting or restless moments together. However, when people move on or move away, they change. They put their energy into so many other things. They probably forgot that you exist. For anyone to be successful, they have to continuously progress.

We get hurt sometimes but we have to get over it. Sometimes, some time away may be able to garner you more respect from others. It makes no sense to waste time wondering about people's reactions anyway. We need to focus on improving ourselves and our interactions with others. We will only get respect when we give respect.

Also, sometimes we think that people are cold but they may just be preoccupied. Who really has the time to wonder what everyone is thinking. We have so many challenges facing today that we need to stay centered.

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Sherise Stapleton Crowned Miss Teen Diva 2011

Fifteen year-old Sherise Stapleton won the title of Miss Teen Diva 2011 on September 24, 2011 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre. Sherise competed against Brittani Stoutt and Diamond Lake in a spectacular and eye-catching competition of seven segments.

Brittani was awarded Best Diva Party Wear with her orange polka dot and blue ensemble and Best Creative Diva Wear which was made from shopping bags from Clarence Thomas Ltd. Brittani also secured Miss Intellect, which is scored based on the introduction speech and the Question & Answer segment; and Miss Poise which is determined by the total poise scores from every segment.

Sherise won Best African Diva Wear, Best School Wear and Best Formal Wear with her black and yellow fitted gown which had a short but elegant train. This year for the African Diva Wear segment, the contestants had to present a fashion-forward African print inspired dress and also had to perform a dance that resembles African culture. For Sherise’s winning school wear, she displayed a turquoise shirt and a purple skirt. The skirt was then converted into a school bag as Sherise completed the segment in short pants.

For the Formal Wear segment, the young ladies were challenged to showcase a black formal dress that added a pop of color. According to Camille Merry, the pageant founder, she wanted to add yet another element of surprise to the pageant as well as go beyond the traditional pageantry borders, while forcing contestants to use their creativity. Sherise also won Miss Popularity, Miss Congeniality, which was chosen by the contestants and Miss Photogenic, which was chosen by the pageant’s photographer, Mr. Curtis DeRavariere.

The 2011 Miss Teen Diva Pageant was hosted by Kareem Hull and Katherine Irish and entertainment was provided by Jhanique and Reema. There was also a fashion show put on by L&D Impressions and this was well received by the audience. The Pageant Committee would like to acknowledge Caribbean Transport Ltd., Starworks Beauty Salon & Spa, Creations Hair Supply Store, Ayanna’s House of Hair, Road Town Wholesale Trading Ltd and all the persons who made the event a success. The founder also wishes to thank all of the committee members and helpers whose invaluable contributions helped to make the pageant a success.

Sherise’s first official appearance as Miss Teen Diva 2011 was at the Ministry of Education & Culture’s Back To School Service. Sherise will be linked with the D.A.R.E. Club for Girls, Family Support Network (FSN) and will be visible in the community. The Miss Teen Diva Pageant Committee reaffirms its commitment to working with young ladies in the British Virgin Islands and also with the overall community to promote a positive spirit among our young people.

Miss Teen Diva Pageant Committee

POEM: About the Plastics

It's all about the plastic
making you think
that life is fantastic
but it's those underlying tactics
that really cause life to be hectic
it's much better to be authentic
cause plastic living is lethargic
caustic, spastic and drastic
and that's not what I pick
that's the ballon that I prick
let me grab my figurative stick
cause someone's gonna get real licks
for I'm not afraid of tricks
I'm enthusiatic, realistic and a specialist
so tell the plastics to desist
and disappear

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Brother Resistance's De Power of Resistance Album is Rapso Music

Hailing from the republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Brother Resistance of the 'Rapso' movement released the De Power of Resistance album in 1996.

Trinidad andTobago (T &T) is known for its soca and calypso music, for originating the steel drum/pan and as the birthplace of successful artistes, such as Nicki Minaj and Heather Headley. Reggae artistes, Ziggy Rankin, Jah Bami and Isasha also come from Trinidad and Tobago, as does Brother Resistance and 'rapso' music.

What is Rapso

** Out of the heavy soca background of Trinidad and Tobago, a new musical movement was born in the 1970s, called 'rapso', which combined traditional musical rhythms with a more poetic and rap style of vocalization. One of the men who was part of the initial movement and still promotes rapso today is poet, Lutalo Masimba, more often called Brother Resistance. Rapso, according to Brother Resistance, is described as "the rap of soca...a synthesis of rhythms - voice rhythm with traditional drum and steel drum."

Poet and Artiste Brother Resistance

While Brother Resistance is one of the premier faces of rapso, he does not credit himself as the originator of this musical style. He refers to the oral tradition of his African ancestors because rapso tends to follow traditional chants and beats. He has toured in Europe and many other places promoting rapso. I met Brother Resistance in August 2008 at Carifesta X, where he gave an engaging performance. Presently, Resistance, a UWI graduate, is the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO) President. He was recently honored at the University of the West Indies 50th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony, according to Guardian Media Limited.

Brother Resistance's Albums

According to Brother Resistance's discography, he has released several albums of rapso music including Roots of De Rapso Riddum in 1982, Rapso Explosion in 1984, Rapso Takeover in 1986 and Rapso Uprising in 1989. For Rapso Lovers de World Over (1990), Touch de Earth with Rapso (1991), F rom De Heart of De Rapso Nation (1992), From De Rapso Tradition (1993) and De Power of Resistance (1996) were released in the following decade. Since 2000, he has released both Let Us Rejoice and When De Riddum Explode in 2001.

De Power of Resistance

The 1996 release, De Power of Resistance, is appropriately titled because it is a powerful performance in the rapso style of music. De Power of Resistance credits the contributing artistes as 'de Network Rapso Riddum Band'. Resistance produced the album along with Kenny Phillips, Martin Raymond and Anase Hadeed. The album has fourteen tracks, including "Tonite Is De Nite," "Dancing Shoes," "Drum and De Bass" and the popular "Ring De Bell."

• "Life So Beautiful Remix": This track is reminiscent of the 1990s techno and rap syles. Resistance gives a rap style performance as he admonishes listeners to "Stay off the drugs and live." This song adopts the chant and response style, with the background singers chiming in response to his chants. He calls "Drugs" and the backup singers respond with an extended "No."
• "Big Dirty Lie Dancehall Mix": "Big Dirty Lie" is the opening chant of this song. Resistance sings about Christopher Columbus, on a rhythm similar to the reggae rhythm called the "Bam Bam Riddim." Songs on the Bam Bam Riddim include "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus and Pliers, "Dem A Bleach" by Nardo Ranks and "A Who She Mi Dun" by Cutty Ranks. Brother Resistance gives a historical chant about Columbus' claim regarding his fraudulent discoveries and the resultant upheaval and subsequent re-population of the Caribbean through the slave trade. Near the ending of the song, Resistance and the band sing the words "Murder He Wrote," a sample of the song mentioned earlier, "Murder She Wrote."
• "Is It Safe?": This is the shortest track on the album. It is a one minute long poem with a serious message. "Is it safe to be yourself in a society where priority is on pose and posture, where trying to be like somebody else is all that matter?" are the opening words. He continues, "where courage is referred by many as madness", in his challenge to the way society functions and the way the community fights against itself; asking "Is it safe?" until the end of the poem.
• "Power Mix": This song starts off like a traditional calypso song, reminiscent of the Mighty Sparrow, Arrow and other calypso and soca pioneers. The mix starts off with a chant, asking the listener to "shake something" because the rapso riddim will have them entranced to dance, and singing "jamming tonight, rapso jamming tomorrow night." It is the longest track, at over six minutes, and encourages the 'bobo shanti', the traditionalist, and all to dance.
• "Mother Earth": "Let the vibes be one with you, Mother Earth" are the words that begin this soulful chant. Not a typical calypso rhythm, this song expresses admiration for our beloved 'Mother Earth', which has been the place of existence for humankind. Resistance also refers to the way man has damaged and offended nature and asks to seek a solution to save her.
• "Ring De Bell": Brother Resistance asks the world to "ring de bell" for culture, justice, freedom and rapso in "Ring De Bell." You can hear an actual bell ringing between the drum beats and other instruments during the song. He sings, "I come to deliver this word/ let the voice of the down-pressed be heard over the world...I come with my bell just to second the motion, rock the rapso riddim."

Rapso has been around for over thirty years. The combination of traditional calypso rhythms with poetic flow is the result of the continuation of the Afro-Caribbean oral tradition. Brother Resistance is a Trinidadian cultural icon and his De Power of Resistance is an album that both poetry and calyso

lovers will enjoy.

Sources:

• "Masimba Cherishes Alumni Honour" published on April 17, 2011, Guardian Media Limited. Accessed September 22, 2011.
• Brother Resistance Official Webpage (http://www.brotherresistance.com), accessed September 22, 2011.