Poorthang 's Obituarie

So how was re-education camp???;)

Welcome back poorthang.
I love your post.

Camp was brutal....they tried to teach me about something called... diversity.. whatever that is.!.How to control my anger without offending someone....letting little old ladies cross the street without me bumping them....made me write Vitriol is Bad 5000 times ....obviously camp and water boarding by Islander worked wonders...don't ya think. Ahhhh life is gooood. Now that I have seen the light and embraced my new found joy for all mankind, I can't wait to try to influence those less fortunate tortured souls who seem to think it's somehow funny to break someone down to the brink of insanity.Let the games begin...The counselors said it's okay to yell YEEE HAWWW if I got really exicited.YES...I'm back and I'm shakin my sassy !!!!!!!8-)

I have been reprogrammed and humbled into submission....Watching all the love on this board made me realize you guys need me .:-All together now......Kumba ya my Lord Kumba ya....

We need you? Uh, sure. Sounds like you need us. lol

greetings and goodnight

i sometimes love lively reasonings with opposing views...but blatant hatred and spitting on each other is not nice (i am sure poorthang might have reformed but he WAS one of the meaner ones whose posts i read (sorry poorthang...since you have been resurrected maybe we can talk niceness) and although i LOVED TR, he did get quite mean towards the end...i loved his stories)

sometimes people take others views personally but we are not asking each other to agree or change our points of beliefs...we are just REASONING...it is when ones cannot agree to disagree or come to some sort of overstanding on a middle ground when the sniping and meanness begin...

i have been ridiculed and made fun of here at times and i admit it hurt...

my only differences from most of you here are that i used to live there and did not live there as a middle to high income american (in the 70's- i came back stateside in the 80's) so i have a much different perspective of my time spent there in all things (even with the length of time gone some things never change)...the things i say are from pure experience and the fact that 99% of my friends were crucians, locals,and ras so of course i cannot and will not identify with some of the things some of you say...not to be disrespectful but we do all come from different stations in life. i came off the plane when it still had stairs with just a tad and a dufflebag...i have always been an adventurer so i immersed myself in the island's vibe because i have always traveled and find locals anywhere to be so open and loving (mind you ones have to still watch ones back, especially in these times...but that too, goes for everywhere)...my first "apt" was so not nice at all and rats were all in the bush, but i made the best of it until i could do better. i worked three part time jobs...one was selling hot dogs for jim in c'sted near the wharf...and one was at the "family tree" restaurant in c'sted and one was silk screening shirts in a shop downtown. plus i bar-tended occasionally...

Simpson, the fisherman, was a great friend of mine from the time i first reached the island. so when people sometimes post a negative and i had a positive in the same situation, i must speak my truth...example: charles harwood memorial hospital (i know it is not there anymore)...i had my child there with no fears and another time they saved my life (albeit with the basics but they saved my life) and dr dechabere, who trained at the hospital where i was born in new jersey (RIP) was a most wondrous attending obstetrician along with his nurse nina (who brought formula and diapers by my gates when she was under no obligation too after angie was born)...and my midwife...all wonderful...all provided me with a good experience...you see, during prenatal care and birth, ones that are professional medical personnel blend island knowledge with medical knowledge and that is how your pregnancy goes...it is just different for most continentals and the unknown sometimes scares them. but yes, reading how the medical care has supposedly become very poor does cause me pause for concern.

another example...interacting with islanders/locals...it is not difficult at all...good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night and smiles and honesty is all that is needed to get along or have friendships...gus, whose father owned the butcher down c'sted was a friend and on the other spectrum i played pool with walt frazier in the hall where the ladies of the night frequented a few times...i never was frightened but i was always aware-when out and about but that is my nature anyway. so when people post about a good experience at places when a bad thing has happened, it is not to scoff at the negative but reinforce the positive.

youth...oh yes things have gotten terribly bad but it did not used to be so...some pockets of naughty youths, but don't we have them everywhere? still in this time on the island, black youth are blamed for everything...well, duh...the island is an afrocentric island so it would be funny if the crime were being committed mostly by the white guys...but let us be fair...the crime there is no different than the crime stateside, it is just more concentrated and evident because of the size of the island...i cannot blame all this crime on youth only-i have to blame a failing economy, no jobs and a corrupt government (which, as most governments has always been so in some way shape or form) but there are good youth and SOME of these so called bad youths are just trying to survive, to aid their families...JUST LIKE so many white youth in the united states are doing for the same reasons. not excuses here for anyone because crime is wrong...hurting people is wrong...but circumstances could drive a priest to rob a bank sometimes...what would one of we do if we were stuck on a small island with no job or money and needed to help a parent or a child or EAT? on a lighter note, youth everywhere suck their teeth, roll their heads and necks and are somewhat smartassish...and on yet another note, gangs of girls do carry weapons and attack...everywhere...of all races, same as the guys...and most "gangs" or "crews" are run by adults...something to think about. though again, some people are inherently bad or evil or psychopathic...EVERYWHERE.

drugs are everywhere...there is no escaping the consequences of what drugs can make one do...be the person young or an adult...drugs will make ones commit crimes.

there is police and government corruption in every country in the world.

some of the best friendships i have made in my life were on st. croix...enough said there.

some, have mocked my being a rasta...which is fine...but until one has a full overstanding of what rastafar I is, one cannot make a rash judgement or assumptions of the livity...or of ANY FAITH if ones are honest. the rastafar I on the island are a good people and have much knowledge, wiseness and experiences to share with one and ones if you only make the first step...we are a basically private and peaceful people...and remember...everyone that has locs is not a rasta...you will know the difference if you care to find out.

the environment, the reefs, self sustainability, farming...all these things are dear to me...most especially there because it is there where i learned most of what i know...so of course i am going to give my opinion based on my observations and beliefs and experiences...just as anyone else here...

i think what i am trying to say (sorry for the tome), is that we have all lived there in the past, are living there now, or are planning on a future move...we ALL have differing experiences and information to share, coming from those differences...we should never mock one another or hurt one another...disagreeing is fine...it is the spice of life...but lets all try to remember why we are here and that is to share and to inform.
i have never wittingly hurt anyone's feelings here, but if i have, i apologize...

let's all start over and try to make for positive vibes even in the midst of strife...
blessings, positive meditations, love and peace to all you guys...

Rastafar I
Selassie I
each and every time
Sis Irijah

I feel like Dorothy from the wizard of Oz......you know when she woke up from her sleep...All of my poster "friends" were there, during camp. You were there Nugblazer as My roommate,and Irijah you were there as my crazy aunt (No offense meant) and margaritagirl you were there as Jennifer( from Gilligan's island)EE was there as my ICU nurse.......Toto toooo yes Toto toooo. There's no place like home, there's no place like home Back in stx 😀

Ginger, not Jennifer. The programing must have gone bad:-(

I feel like Dorothy from the wizard of Oz......EE was there as my ICU nurse......

Chooks and more chooks for you...

Terry....I must have been paying more attention to her" hardware" than her name.I do remember that sultry voice however.Hey EE ,,,you actually stumped my extensive vocabulary with chooks....in what form did you mean ?Chicken or old lady...Chicken would not apply,Before surgery once (sorry can't give up the event, I still hide the aftermath) he said you should be screaming in pain and no pain meds afterwards

Chooks=hypodermic needle:P

Poorthang,
Do you know who they wrote the part for, but she declined?

my first gut answer is raquel welch?

Here's one more trivia for you.....who played Grandpa on the show the Real Mccoys.....no cheating,,,, you internet .nerds !no offense of course The "Old" Poorthang probably would have singled out stxbob but I'm way beyond that;)

EE ....ouch and more ouchss!!!!! never had a hypodermic but did have steroids put in my eye with a needle for a treatment once! I usually say to the chicks at the VA you can't hurt me.........but I don't think I would same the same for you EE:D

Walter Brennan, and I did not cheat!

Jaunita...Way to go !! I loved his voice and that gimpy walk ...Hey Terry was I right about my old girlfriend Raquel...?? I wonder why we don't get more celebrities down here ??? Jimmy Carter is the best we can do?? Roslyn was smokin hot !! Not

I think we do get more celebrities, just on the QT. When my husband drove the water taxi on STT, he was always carrying the famous and the almost famous..

Nope, Marylin Monroe! Her career was going down but she would not take the role.
Richard Crenna played Luke on The Real McCoys.

greetings and goodnight

i sometimes love lively reasonings with opposing views...but blatant hatred and spitting on each other is not nice (i am sure poorthang might have reformed but he WAS one of the meaner ones whose posts i read (sorry poorthang...since you have been resurrected maybe we can talk niceness) and although i LOVED TR, he did get quite mean towards the end...i loved his stories)

sometimes people take others views personally but we are not asking each other to agree or change our points of beliefs...we are just REASONING...it is when ones cannot agree to disagree or come to some sort of overstanding on a middle ground when the sniping and meanness begin...

i have been ridiculed and made fun of here at times and i admit it hurt...

my only differences from most of you here are that i used to live there and did not live there as a middle to high income american (in the 70's- i came back stateside in the 80's) so i have a much different perspective of my time spent there in all things (even with the length of time gone some things never change)...the things i say are from pure experience and the fact that 99% of my friends were crucians, locals,and ras so of course i cannot and will not identify with some of the things some of you say...not to be disrespectful but we do all come from different stations in life. i came off the plane when it still had stairs with just a tad and a dufflebag...i have always been an adventurer so i immersed myself in the island's vibe because i have always traveled and find locals anywhere to be so open and loving (mind you ones have to still watch ones back, especially in these times...but that too, goes for everywhere)...my first "apt" was so not nice at all and rats were all in the bush, but i made the best of it until i could do better. i worked three part time jobs...one was selling hot dogs for jim in c'sted near the wharf...and one was at the "family tree" restaurant in c'sted and one was silk screening shirts in a shop downtown. plus i bar-tended occasionally...

Simpson, the fisherman, was a great friend of mine from the time i first reached the island. so when people sometimes post a negative and i had a positive in the same situation, i must speak my truth...example: charles harwood memorial hospital (i know it is not there anymore)...i had my child there with no fears and another time they saved my life (albeit with the basics but they saved my life) and dr dechabere, who trained at the hospital where i was born in new jersey (RIP) was a most wondrous attending obstetrician along with his nurse nina (who brought formula and diapers by my gates when she was under no obligation too after angie was born)...and my midwife...all wonderful...all provided me with a good experience...you see, during prenatal care and birth, ones that are professional medical personnel blend island knowledge with medical knowledge and that is how your pregnancy goes...it is just different for most continentals and the unknown sometimes scares them. but yes, reading how the medical care has supposedly become very poor does cause me pause for concern.

another example...interacting with islanders/locals...it is not difficult at all...good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night and smiles and honesty is all that is needed to get along or have friendships...gus, whose father owned the butcher down c'sted was a friend and on the other spectrum i played pool with walt frazier in the hall where the ladies of the night frequented a few times...i never was frightened but i was always aware-when out and about but that is my nature anyway. so when people post about a good experience at places when a bad thing has happened, it is not to scoff at the negative but reinforce the positive.

youth...oh yes things have gotten terribly bad but it did not used to be so...some pockets of naughty youths, but don't we have them everywhere? still in this time on the island, black youth are blamed for everything...well, duh...the island is an afrocentric island so it would be funny if the crime were being committed mostly by the white guys...but let us be fair...the crime there is no different than the crime stateside, it is just more concentrated and evident because of the size of the island...i cannot blame all this crime on youth only-i have to blame a failing economy, no jobs and a corrupt government (which, as most governments has always been so in some way shape or form) but there are good youth and SOME of these so called bad youths are just trying to survive, to aid their families...JUST LIKE so many white youth in the united states are doing for the same reasons. not excuses here for anyone because crime is wrong...hurting people is wrong...but circumstances could drive a priest to rob a bank sometimes...what would one of we do if we were stuck on a small island with no job or money and needed to help a parent or a child or EAT? on a lighter note, youth everywhere suck their teeth, roll their heads and necks and are somewhat smartassish...and on yet another note, gangs of girls do carry weapons and attack...everywhere...of all races, same as the guys...and most "gangs" or "crews" are run by adults...something to think about. though again, some people are inherently bad or evil or psychopathic...EVERYWHERE.

drugs are everywhere...there is no escaping the consequences of what drugs can make one do...be the person young or an adult...drugs will make ones commit crimes.

there is police and government corruption in every country in the world.

some of the best friendships i have made in my life were on st. croix...enough said there.

some, have mocked my being a rasta...which is fine...but until one has a full overstanding of what rastafar I is, one cannot make a rash judgement or assumptions of the livity...or of ANY FAITH if ones are honest. the rastafar I on the island are a good people and have much knowledge, wiseness and experiences to share with one and ones if you only make the first step...we are a basically private and peaceful people...and remember...everyone that has locs is not a rasta...you will know the difference if you care to find out.

the environment, the reefs, self sustainability, farming...all these things are dear to me...most especially there because it is there where i learned most of what i know...so of course i am going to give my opinion based on my observations and beliefs and experiences...just as anyone else here...

i think what i am trying to say (sorry for the tome), is that we have all lived there in the past, are living there now, or are planning on a future move...we ALL have differing experiences and information to share, coming from those differences...we should never mock one another or hurt one another...disagreeing is fine...it is the spice of life...but lets all try to remember why we are here and that is to share and to inform.
i have never wittingly hurt anyone's feelings here, but if i have, i apologize...

let's all start over and try to make for positive vibes even in the midst of strife...
blessings, positive meditations, love and peace to all you guys...

Rastafar I
Selassie I
each and every time
Sis Irijah

Irijah
Your quote deserves a WHOLE NUTHER thread...

There are so many interesting things about life on the islands you talk about. I will address only one and then leave it alone. Several years ago on this forum I made this statement that was ignored and will be ignored now.

The problem with the youth on these islands is ... ""That too many of them are born to young unmarried women who are still children themselves."" Those children never recover from the fact that they are living in public housing and being raised (often) by an over worked, grandmother. The anger, hostility and feeling of entitlement that exists in public housing community produces generation after generation of young people who lash out at those around them. I am sure there are many happy exceptions. I guess the same thing takes place in the states, but here it is intensified by the small island population. So thanks for your comments. Let's try to make the next generation less angry and more self reliant.

Ms Information....I totally agree and my reputation on this board and past postings (Old Poorthang) were directed right at these issues.I did it with a disdain for recurring attitudes that we must accept this behaviour and mindsets.It didn't matter how I said it ,the people that grow up in them(projects) are essentially bred to game the system from day one.Now some will say that's a harsh statement ,but that is the reality .Until government quits taking the value.. that.pride of accomplishments and doing for yourself gives someone there is no hope for a correction in the attitudes and hostility that is created.Want to create a good man ? Let him find a job to provide for himself and his family,Get his butt in church(,sorry Roto) and watch his self confidence and his wallet grow.For those who have lived in the projects I'd be curious to hear 5 positive things about them.I know this board is limited so I'll open it up to the "General Population"(prison slang).Before I get some flame throwers yes I have been in the projects ...but not after dark...I can only imagine:-(

"In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies." — From 'Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies' a study published in the (peer-reviewed) Journal of Society and Religion, 2005.

http://www.rationalist.com.au/archive/73/p20-27_paul_ar73_web.pdf

Hey Roto.......Deep down ...........and I mean realllly deep down i like you.However since a larger percentage of most populations believe in a" Higher power" it's only logical that the majority of that group will be the baseline for all human failings. I like when.... you ....respond instead of you using some quote from someone.Let us dialect....:-)

Hi Poorthang,

I pointed out the study above because you seem to think that going to church makes a person better or at least more moral. The study above points out that among the modern democracies the ones with the highest percentage of people who profess to believe in and worship a creator have the highest rate of the problems mentioned. Higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion. The more secular a country is the better it fares. The study points out that religion does not seem to have a positive impact on society.

The US is an anomaly among modern western countries. With 80% of the population professing a belief in a god (the highest of any first world country), we have by far the highest level of incarceration per capita of any country in the world. Why? Most modern countries view drug use as a medical or psychological problem to be treated with education or therapy, in the US we lock them up.

Religious people tend to be more judgemental and less forgiving than non-religious people even though they profess just the opposite. As an example take the US stance on funding for stem cell research, funding for abortions (pro choice), attitudes toward gay people, acceptance of modern scientific knowledge (evolution). These issues tend to be divided along religious/non-religious lines.

As another example, Africa has the highest level of HIV/AIDS of any region on the planet. Under former president Bush (who professes to talk to god every day) the US cut off aid to any organization which supplied condoms to the people in this region even though condoms have been shown to be effective in reducing the rate of infection from this disease. Even in the US the only acceptable method of birth control or disease control is abstinence. Condoms are not allowed. How is this working out?

"Let us dialect...." Did you mean, let us have a dialogue? Or did you want to speak in Crucian?

I often quote famous people because they frequently express my beliefs better than I can. There are very few new ideas when it comes to religion and morality and many eloquent speakers have influenced my beliefs. I feel that it is better to quote them than to plagiarize them.

"I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides."
[Carl Sagan, 1996 in his article In the Valley of the Shadow Parade Magazine]

Are we dialecting yet?

"Once there was a time when all people believed in God and the church ruled. This time is called the Dark Ages."

"If you want to save your child from polio, you can pray or you can inoculate....Try science."
[Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World]

Roto..Yes we are dialecting lol.I used it (dialect) as an off the cuff word to engage you.Now, I am but a simple man with an affection for the beauty of life,the world I believe GOD created for us,and all of the challenges that come with it.The test I believe is how we use the little time we actually have on this planet. to submit ourselves to our creators' creed.I also now firmly believe that if we don't submit HE will give us challenges to redirect us back to HIM . I have found in my personal life the more I engage in following GOD the more I'm confident in how I approach each day.Roto...I also had a church upbringing and found fault with "church people".After leaving home,military service and raising a family(some 25 years later without going to church) an overpowering voice in my con science kept saying "just meet me half way".I sought out HIM as if I was being redirected back home if you will.I let my heart open to this calling and my world has blossomed.You are way more intellectual than I am and your life's experiences and choices you've made are just that... yours...You were able to have self discipline to make "good" choices unfortunately ALOT of people don't..... A Test I believe.....Most of my life choices now aren't made for pleasing someone else but are meant to NOT displease GOD.I know this board has quite a few non-believers so try to understand this has been my path and is meant to share a piece of me .I have said many times I don't need religion I just need faith.Rest well.....*-)

Poorthang,
I am glad that you have found something that works for you. I doesn't work for me. I do not believe in the supernatural. No ghosts, no angels, no demons, no gods, no easter bunny, no santa claus, no tooth fairy; only the natural world in which we live. Your "just meet me half way" sounds too much like "just suspend rational thought". If you believe in a supernatural god then what prevents you from believing in the tooth fairy? There is equal evidence for their existence, i.e. none.

In any case, people on this board become uncomfortable at the discussion of religion and belief systems so better to keep it short. I only responded because you mentioned my name when you suggested that church helps people be better. I just wanted to point out that recent studies using current data shows that religion seems to have a negative impact on society not a positive one.

In the past primitive people attributed everything in nature to the gods. American Indians in the southwest would have rain dances to encourage the spirits to bring rain. You probably don't believe in a rain spirit, but now we have the governor of Texas calling for everyone to pray for rain. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16038/ What is the difference. This man is running for president. He scares me. Did his rain prayer bring rain? No. The next thing you know he will be praying for the economy to get better. That prayer will have as much success as his rain prayer. People solve problems not their prayers or their gods. Praying is exactly the same as sitting around a fire at night and chanting at the moon. Same concept, same results.