Comments on: Raphaël Confiant attacked at a gas station http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/ News and commentary on Caribbean culture, literature, and the arts Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:12:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Steve http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1347 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:17:25 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1347 As an extreme outsider, although I love Martinique dearly, may I make a comment.

After reading this account, what strikes me the most is the verbal escallation. I’ve seen another arguement such as this at the beach in St Anne.

A local merchant who was driving down the beach access road had a faceoff with a tour bus going the other way. The merchant got out of his car and hollered insults at the driver who, hollered more back. I didn’t understand but it was heated. They finally had shown that they would stand up to the other and they finally left.

Again what struck me most is that the arguement was over nothing but their pride. Yes the arguement in the store should have never turned violent, of that we should all agree. But it started out as nothing really, once a little bit of pride is taken out the equation.

I hate, as well all do, to see our beloved Martinique become any less of a wonderful place, violence being an issue. But, there is some cultural element in having to show you are a man, machismo, that I haven’t seen to the same extreme in other places.

May Martinique and Martiniquans live in peace, and may everyone learn to tolerate those who are stupid. Argueing with them doesn’t make them less stupid.

“Owe no man anything but to love him”

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Martinique: Gas Station Assault http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1344 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:23:30 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1344 [...] Repeating Islands republishes writer Raphaël Confiant's account of his experience of “physical aggression at a service station in Martinique.” Cancel this reply [...]

]]> By: Olubode Shawn Brown http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1342 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:15:00 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1342 Very much so, and its use should be discontinued. Jamaica was not always what its reputation suggests. Yes we were the first to give in to the western media onslaught glorifying violence; but we are not the cause, which the terms suggests, of the systematic implosion of native cultural values. This is a global issue for western media/ culture consumers, and is best addressed as such.

]]> By: lisaparavisini http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1339 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:18:59 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1339 It is quite clear that the words are not Confiant’s but that he was quoting a friend when he talked about the “Jamaicanization” of society. It is, I agree, a problematic term.

]]> By: Olubode Shawn Brown http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1338 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:58:30 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1338 I can feel and understand your anger and frustration. But I do take some offense to your framing this incident as the “progressive Jamaicanization” of Martinique. I am sure embedded in this incident are other explanations and characterizations that you can find, without having to depreciate a country which many decent people call home, and love as dearly as you do Martinique.

]]> By: Fabienne http://repeatingislands.com/2009/09/06/confiant-on-the-%e2%80%9cjamaicanization%e2%80%9d-of-martinique/#comment-1336 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:09:31 +0000 http://repeatingislands.com/?p=6506#comment-1336 The question of violence was on all the lips during the holidays, since it has been worst than ever (according to my own criteria and the amount of talks and discussions it aroused).
I live in Guadeloupe and as a native Guadeloupean, I had absolutely never been scared to go out late, except for these past holidays!
My biggest concern now is that our politicians don’t seem to be aware of it and for sure unwilling to tackle the issue.

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