COMMENTARY: What’s in the cards for 2018?

Cdr. Bud Slabbert

 What’s in the cards for 2018?

by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

How serious can we take the various New Year messages and forecasts? In essence, many boil down to telling the audience that if their feet are numb, polishing their shoes is the ultimate solution, because it will reflect the sunshine. That can make some people obscenely loaded, yet others obscenely depressed especially in situations when they cannot afford more than wearing flip-flops. New Year’s messages are often made by persons wanting to prove that they have a firm hold of the rudder, for an audience that hopes that there is ship attached to it. If you ask me what I honestly think of those speeches and all the prophesying, I’m hung up between Shakespeare’s “I’m not to please thee with my answer” or “Give thy thoughts no tongue”.

What about New Year’s pledges? What is such a pledge worth if it is about yourself; that is egocentric. How about pledges to help others who are in need? A pledge to actively become involved or taking an initiative that can have a positive impact on community or society? Enjoy your New Year’s Day, but get at it on January 2 and become a ‘Knight’. A knight gladly shares his funds and possessions with the needy. A knight will give his last bit of food to a hungry person, even if he must go without food. Have you recently heard about any political leader willing to donate some of his salary to help the needy in the community? I have not, but, I may have missed something. How come we have so few knights nowadays. Too old fashioned maybe for modern society. Still, many like to make others believe that are a knight by wearing the shining armor, yet lacking a sole of chivalry.

Forget about the diet that you intend to go on next year. That is what you pledged last year also, and it didn’t work. Forget about becoming a millionaire. I know people who are going after their second million next year because they were not able to make the first million last year.  Why not pledge to just four things that should be totally realistic; unless …….

  1. Servant leadership: willing to serve others without a price tag attached to it
  2. Kindness: being generous and considerate to others without expectations to get something in return
  3. Humility: putting others ahead of yourself
  4. Honesty: always being truthful; no falsehood, no misleading and no misinformation

unless…  Unless you lack self-discipline, excellence, loyalty, integrity, and perseverance. Talking about a tough year last year? The challenge to stick to these four pledges next year may even be tougher.

Some useful advice business and political leaders who are still considering a pledge for the New Year?  If the bottom is fallen out of almost everything but you, it is time for a new approach. Forces of change are requiring transformation at speeds not considered realistic even a year ago. Who leads in change will thrive. Others, only managing change, will not thrive but barely survive. And the rest… will die along the wayside. Oh, you already have a plan? So do boxers when they enter the ring! They usually have a plan until they’re hit hard. Of course, one could just stick to old ideas like chewing gum to a shoe.  The fact is that change is happening, thus, pledge to make changes starting January 2.

Of course, I always have an alternative solution ready for those who need a shortcut without going through the rough terrain. On the island St.Tosia they sell “Docdoc Lizard Oil with Bull Sacrifice” for people seeking prosperity and financial advancement. I’m not sure if you can order it online and have it delivered at your place. It is very popular among spiritual stock market speculators. They are claiming that during economic turbulence, the brew has cured them of everything from depression to seizures by applying the elixir behind both ears and then let it have its effect between the ears. “Docdoc Lizard Oil with Bull Sacrifice” comes in elegant boutique style bottles with a little glossy black card hanging from a shiny golden ribbon at the bottleneck with just two words on it in gold embossed Trebouchet lettering: “Good Luck”

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4 Comments

  1. Ted Lewis
    December 29, 2017

    i can’t believe that persons reading this piece can only think about politicians and not look within and ask what have i done to effect change . Each and everyone of us can become a knight and make Dominica better.

  2. Wendell McKenzie
    December 28, 2017

    The Commander has spoken great truths. May the words of wisdom penetrate the skulls of all who read the piece, even the dull or craven. And may we have honest and humble leaders at all levels on Dominica. If we fail in the course of integrity and industry, we would have gone into independence for nought.

    God bless and good luck Dominica

  3. Roland Alan Mitchell
    December 27, 2017

    Dear Sir,

    I do not know you, but I appreciated your comments.
    Fiduciary responsibility, kindness, honesty and humility are indeed the criteria that our leaders need badly, particularly in the Dominica.

    We have to encourage our leaders to understand that they are mortal, and that their country’s resources are not theirs as of right. But, how can a mere mortal keep his hand out of the till. This is the rub.(i.e. difficulty, obstacle, objection).

    When we have no system of independent oversight in the finances of a small state like Dominica, then our leaders have carte blanche to do what they like.

    Mr Skerrit and Mr Savarin have control of the purse strings of Dominica. And whether we like it or not, we have to accept whatever they do, without any questions asked. Only GOD can interfere. These men have the power of life or death in their hands. So therefore, humility, honesty, kindness and fiduciary responsibility, will have to take second place. Woe be onto anyone who says…

  4. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    December 27, 2017

    “How serious can we take the various New Year messages and forecasts? In essence, many boil down to telling the audience that if their feet are numb, polishing their shoes is the ultimate solution, because it will reflect the sunshine.”

      I will try to break down you observation in a more simple way, by saying all of the messages which seems to come from a certain categories, such as politicians, and preachers, all who live off the blood of the poor, and who have nothing to worry about, are the one with the loudest voice spewing feel good nonsensical words.

    Every year theses politicians come out talking the same nonsense, but the reality is the day after the festivities, life remains the same for the poor; especially in a place like Dominica nothing changes, if on lived fifty years without a job, the fart these blood suckers speaks to control the poor do not provide the jobless with a job; hence their economics remains the same after the stupid words of hope!

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