Jesus: His Egypt and his beer
It started with the defeat of the People’s National Congress (PNC) at elections in October 1992. And it had to do – significantly – with the dry, witty humour of then General Manager Doreen deCaires.
Those now-historic elections of ‘92 saw me heading the PNC’s Campaign Public Relations/Electioneering Support Office for a third time. Of course, the privately owned Stabroek News earned a quite a few million for publishing daily, weekly campaign promotional material for us – the PNC
So after the party lost in those October ’92 Jimmy-Carter elections Mrs deCaires came up to me at a December ‘92 event to mark (I think) Press Freedom Day when Minister Nagamootoo had just engineered the departure of PNC-friendly professionals like Adam Harris and Clem David. She said something like “Fenty boy your PNC lost, but you could still continue writing for Stabroek News.” After advising her that I never really wrote all those PNC 1992 pieces I considered her offer. Partly because - to this day - I loved Mrs deCaires’ brand of humour.
Her husband chose Frankly Speaking in front of Allan, Being Frank. Thus began my journey of uncharacteristic discipline. How do people write every day!? But I’ve faxed these contributions in the old days, from Port of Spain, Moscow and the USA. Never missing except when there was a newsprint shortage or workrelated problems.
This sentence summarises what I feel about this weekly contribution: from a man-in-the-street-and-market perspective, but informed by experiences from teaching, politics and some creative endeavours, I have provoked further, indepth commentary and opinion from others. I also reserve(d) the right to be a trifle hurt when more recognition was/is given to the more-lettered and more socially/politicallyprominent, even though I was the first with certain issues. Boo-hoo! But happy anniversary to me and this space and thank you Stabroek News.
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Mashramani - for whom?
This is my introductory thought on this issue. There is a relatively new team from the Department of Culture organising and administering the Mashramani festival of events for this year
From my own 48-year old commitment, patriotism and plain celebratory sentiment, I support most of the calendar of activities announced. One aspect hoped for is the outburst of creative industry from fashion to literature to craft - manufacture to music and dance. However detractors or the indifferent reject the emphasis on the Mashramani Walk-andWine sex-simulation goings-on on the streets. Unfortunately this 23rd February Anniversary Highlight of public gyrations still symbolises all that is Mashramani. When that is not the whole festival!
I’ll return continually to “Mash” as I remind that both Forbes and Cheddi approved 23rd February for a powerful reason. I’ll still beseech Diwali sponsors to contribute. Even as I wager that two prominent personalities will hardly join revelers in costume on any street. Who? Ryhaan Shah and his Excellency the President. The Indian Rights Advocate will offer her routine critique and the President will, most likely, name or rename something. (Cerebral folks!). Discuss… ***********
Neither irreverent, sacrilegious nor facetious am I being, when I speculate that had Jesus Christ walked among us today he might have made beer people like Banks-DIH or ANSA McAl eager to embrace him.
Not because of religion. But for sales of beer! Depending on what you believe about the Son of God’s presence on Earth 2000 years-plus ago, you should be interested to be informed that Jesus and his Disciples allegedly downed a lot of beer!
Now recall that I’m fascinated about Baby and Child Jesus in Egypt. There were very brown original Jews there during His time. Many re-migrated to his native Nazareth in the Galilee area.
During the first quarter of 2016, an Israeli Brewery in Jerusalem used wheat that University geneticists claim was used for beer-brewing in the Holy Land 2000 years ago. But it is a flat, honey-andberries mixed brew. Today’s beer drinkers would not prefer it. No wonder both Christians and Jews preferred wine.
But the makers of the “Biblical Beer” argue that Jesus and His Egyptian Israelites would have downed quite a few mugs of beer in their time. And was Jesus a vegetarian? Did he eat any fish? Why? Holy or not, Christians and others should really find out more about their Saviour. Right? *************
Ponder …
I celebrate 25 years of this Column Today. I give thanks for still being around. ‘Til next week! (allenafenty@yahoo.com)