EXPATS AND RESENTMENT


- Over the past 100 years Jamaican emigrants have been sending money, cleaning other people's toilets to help our country. There may be as many of us abroad as on the base. You would be worse off trying to support all of us. Jamaica's economy is too small. We needed to spread out. 

- We ARE Jamaicans, and deserve the regard that other Jamaicans are afforded. That's the first principle. It shouldn't only be about voting for one or the other of two parties that have largely failed. There needs to be smaller units of government closer to the people in those communities. And they all need to network. The current top down model of government isn't working anywhere in the world. The First Wold model you so avidly follow isn't working. What keeps the First World orderly is the enormous disparity of wealth between them and us. But they are all failing. You are just slow to realize it.

- We Jamaicans abroad take pride in our country. During the Olympics, who do you think we cheer for?

- Education--my mother slaved to pay for my higher learning. Then I try to help my country through all that sacrifice only to be told that you are an outsider and not needed. That is disrespectful and ignorant. Jamaica needs all the help it can get, especially from people of the same blood and family.

- If you don't know what to do, somebody is going to give you advice. It could be Americans, Canadians, Chinese, the French, the Dutch, and you don't mind prostrating yourself and stretching out your hand to them. It's the Jamaicans abroad that you save your venom for.

- You're OK with the international hotels that expel you from the beaches and treat you like a serf. Or the Canadian bauxite companies that fail to deliver the promised taxes. 

- Expatriates are blind without people on the ground to write back. We can't help you if you don't help us. Our cup is very full, and neither of us will fare well if this kind of us versus them game continues. Talk about resentment!!!!!! It works from the other side too.