Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Role Models


The Antillean community in the Netherlands is largely portrayed as criminals, rapists and irresponsible parents. It must not be easy to grow up as an Antillean in Dutch cities those days. A lot of people are putting their time available to give the youth good examples and teach them a lot for their own development. So is the project Luna Ku Solo, a musical program in the Bijlmer, where different Antillean music teachers give lessons to young children that wouldn’t normally go a music school. Praise to Mr.Eugene Boereveen, the initiator of this project. Today, April 12, the young musicians were visited by two big singers of Antillean descent, Edsilia Rombley, who represented Holland in the Eurovision song festival and the jazz diva Izaline Calister. It was very good to see the youngsters talking to their own role models.

The singing group singing traditional children songs from Curacao together with Izaline Calister, who told them she began singing at the age of seven in the children group Perlitas in Curacao.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Saint Gregorio Hernández

I was asked to present a poem at a Buddhist meeting about relationships. I looked through my writings and found this poem, or prayer. I called it San Gregorio Hernández.

Jose Gregorio Hernández ( 1864- 1919) was a priest from Venezuela who was very famous for his medical achievements and religiosity. He wasn’t declared saint by the Catholic Church, but a lot of people pray to him for health. So did my mother when I was born very weak, and she named me after him, Marlon Gregory. Funny thing is, that when I was lonely and put messages on so called sex lines, I used my second name: Gregory. That is what this poem is about.





San Gregorio Hernández

San Gregorio Hernández
Abo ku ta kura enfermonan
San Gregorio Hernández
Na abo nos ta roga
San Gregorio Hernández
Dòkter pa riku i pober
San Gregorio Hernández
San Gregorio Hernández
Mi por puntra bo un kos?
San Gregorio Hernández
Mi tin sanger den mi kurpa
San Gregorio Hernández
Mi ke sinti..
San Gregorio Hernández
Brasa brutu rondó di mi.



English translation
Saint Gregorio Hernández
Thou, a man with a cure for our illness
Saint Gregorio Hernández
I address this prayer to you
Saint Gregorio Hernández
Thou, healer of the poor
Saint Gregorio Hernández

Saint Gregorio Hernández
Can I ask you a question?
Saint Gregorio Hernández
Blood is going through my veins
Saint Gregorio Hernández
I wanna feel...
Saint Gregorio Hernández
The embrace of strong arms.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Spike Lee's new film


The director talks about making his biggest-budget film ever; his long working relationship with Denzel Washington; and his next project: a documentary on the response to Katrina.
Listen at National Plubic Radio.