"hello gringo my name is Joseph i was born in spanish look out cayo dist.For know I do give you credit for some of the funny stuff you write about Belize but as a belizean native i just think that belize is just a paradize where you can go do what you please and enjoy the remainder of your life.Its not for people like you the way you want or expect belize to be one thing i can say to you is that you either enjoy the 'natural life' or just simply leave and go and write your stories somewhere else  what ever your opinions are just take them with you surely we dont need them in Belize.

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--- amrtresverschiedenat@earthlink.net

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet."

My Response

Joseph, 

I’ve seen some of your vituperous posts on the various Belize forums, and I’m glad you found my website, and saw fit to write me.  I always appreciate constructive criticisms, although yours is not too constructive.

If Belize was still the unchanged “natural life” you seem to think it is, I would probably shut up and enjoy it, but it’s changing.  The thing that’s changing it most is American Television.  If I could, I would ban television from this sweet little country, and we could all enjoy it the way you remember it from your childhood.

The number of cars on the highways and in our little town has DOUBLED since I got here three years ago.  Belizeans watch the television – car chases and rollovers – and think that’s the way to drive.  The highway death rate is appalling – even more so when you think that over half of the people killed are innocent victims, old people, children.  Shouldn’t we do something to change that for the better?

Television has made Belizeans want more – things, comforts, activities that they never thought of before.  And of course, the faltering economy won’t give them the disposable income they need to acquire those things.  I could tell them that those things aren’t important – after all, I left that all behind when I came here – but you know they won’t believe me.  The power of the media is too great.   If the government would change just a couple of things, they could light up the economy like a Christmas tree. 

I know that you’re a Belizean native, and you have a right to be proud.  But consider this – I had a hundred places to choose from, and I chose Belize.  I love it, and I’ve really burned my bridges.  I hope you’ll remember that when you flame at a Gringo – that you’re here because of your good luck, and we’re here because we chose to be. 

The US has always been a Mecca for displaced people from all over the world – a melting pot, they called it – and it’s that diversity of opinion, and mix of different skills that has made it great -- even tho there have always been a few who said “go back where you came from.” But they stayed – swedes, micks, dagos, spics, spades, nips, chinks, crips, bloods – and over 200,000 Belizeans -- and became Americans – and worked to make it the greatest country on earth.   

Belize has such potential to be truly great.  We can sit in silence and watch while a few gringos rape the country.  Or, we can all work together to make Belize realize its full potential.  I’m eager to do that – are you?

I’m not leaving, and, although my site has been relatively inactive for a while, I’m ready to add some important new information.  Thanks for the inspiration.  I hope you’ll tell others about the site,

Regards,    

Sr. ric

Copyright, Sr_Ric, 2002.  All rights reserved.