If I have learnt one thing from my travels, it is this: Jamaica is an important place. People are immediately energised when they hear the name Jamaica. Produce your passport, show your Jamaican colours or just talk Jamaican in any airport and you get attention. Sometimes it is negative, but it is always full attention.
I have seen it from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, to Saskatchewan, Canada. I have experienced it from St. Eustatius in the Dutch Antilles to Angouleme in France. Nobody is ignorant about or indifferent to Jamaica. Say "I'm Jamaican!" in foreign and people either get curious or they get wary. They either love us or they hate us, they either admire us or they envy us. I have met middle-age white ladies in Saratoga Springs (upstate NY) whose religion is reggae and whose hobby is Jamaica. I have spoken with college students from Vermont who can sing every Sizzla song word for word. I have met people who speak fluent German and very little English, but can recite every piece of Jamaican profanity. Jamaica is a well known and well-loved brand all over the world.
PAY JAMAICANS FIRST
I did an overseas show once, and the promoter lost badly. He was having difficulty paying all the acts on the show, so he made sure to pay the Jamaicans first. People know not to mess with us because we always stand up for our rights ... even when we are wrong.
I saw two comedians perform on a show in Toronto recently and I experienced a wonderful example of the love-hate attitude that many people (especially those from other Caribbean islands) have towards Jamaica. Jean Paul and Marc Trinidad are Trinidadian comedians residing in Canada. They competed against Ity & Fancy Cat and yours truly, in a first-of-its-kind event called 'Caribbean Comedy Showdown: Trinidad vs. Jamaica.'
It was a big clash, so you don't even have to ask who won. What was most interesting for me though was watching two non-Jamaican performers work for half an hour each, and although they took totally different angles, their material was completely and totally about Jamaica.
Jean Paul, who has been here once, evidently has great respect and love for Jamaican culture. Marc Trinidad, who has never been to Jamaica can't stand us, and it was glaringly obvious. Marc actually admitted about four times during his performance, that he envies Jamaicans. "All yu so proud and loud! Too damn loud most of the times," he quipped.
CARRIBEAN MEANS JAMAICA
He went on to berate the audience for what he calls "this damn Jamaica love fest." He expressed annoyance at having to constantly explain to North Americans that although he looks white, he is from the Caribbean. His annoyance is usually heightened because the people always assume that Caribbean means Jamaica. When he painstakingly informs them that he is from Trinidad, people invariably ask "Where in Jamaica is that?" But, instead of mocking the ignorance of the North Americans, he proceeds to 'trace off' Jamaicans for being so proud and popular. A idiot ting dat.
Don't get me wrong, I was impressed with the man's wit and delivery. He was funny, but I could see a Jamaican audience getting offended by his jibes. I myself wasn't sure if I should laugh with him or thump him. For me, Jean Paul and Marc Trinidad were reminders of the difference between admiration and envy. Both are parts of the human emotions, but admiration smiles at you and envy stinks.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to 
