At the beginning of all things, Mother Earth emerged from Chaos and bore her son Uranus as she slept. – Greek myth.
In the beginning Eurynome, the goddess of all things, rose naked from Chaos . . . . The first man was Pelagus, ancestor of the Pelasgians.
Eurynome (wide-wandering) was the goddess’ title as the visible moon; her Sumerian name was Iahu (exalted dove), a title passed on to Jehovah as the Creator.
IN THIS ARCHAIC RELIGIOUS SYSTEM there were, as yet, neither gods or priests but only a universal goddess and her priestess, women being the dominant sex (as now – my words), and man her frightened victim. Please read my book The Diary Of A Randy Old Coot (available at Pages Bookstore or from me).
There is that, and there is Genesis! It is a matter of belief. The 34 000 supposed atheists in Barbados may have opted out.
We cannot opt out of what is happening in Barbados, and within the next 12 months we have to choose. Either we opt for the Opposition under Miss Mia or Mr Owen, or we opt to return the present Government under the leadership of our Prime Minister or another member of the ruling party.
It does not matter to me. I would like to see a change, as the present lack of direction and communication cannot continue. Naming the unresolved issues facing the country would take the whole of this submission.
I do not think that the People’s Empowerment Party has the political numbers to gain leadership even if a few members are successful; therefore they are what the NDP was – a serious think tank.
Just suppose in the coming election that the present Government was returned even with a slight majority, even with the same players – who will bell the cat and elect an alternative leader who can lead and not procrastinate?
Why would such a person not emerge now that we are in a crisis? Would a new election resolve this?
If a new leader does not emerge, are we destined for five years of the same thing? We, a Christian society (they say), could as well go back to the early Greek beliefs about Creation and mythological characters.
We might find common ground in that some of the mythological characters resemble those we see featured in today’s newspapers.
I like Tantalus, son of Zeus. When his cupboard was bare and he promised the gods on Mount Olympus a feast, he sacrificed his son Pelops and served him in a stew to the gods who had allowed him to live among them and enjoy ambrosia and nectar. By the way, Tantalus gave the food that was the prerogative of the gods to his friends who were mere mortals. Remind you of anyone you know?
To carry the analogy further, even when Pandora clapped down the lid after opening the box given to her by Zeus (changes in the Budget), since only men existed on earth at the time and Pandora was the mother of all women, out flew plagues innumerable, mischief and unimaginable sorrow (my apologies, women). This could only refer to the 2008 and 2011 Budgets.
In the olden days they used soothsayers to interpret the present. Charlton Heston confronted them in the presence of King Herod. Could it be that Apollo has infused me, the Wild Coot, with the intelligence of the oracle at Delphi?
People are beginning to recognize me in the street and engage me in chat. The same thing happened to Socrates. He said that stories of ancient myths were doubtful and he too remained doubtful.
But you know that Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and of impropriety because he failed to acknowledge the gods (in 399 BC). His punishment was to drink hemlock, determined by a commission which in those days could make that decision.
Today’s equivalent to hemlock is Gramoxone.
You see my dilemma, Gramoxone?
• Harry Russell is a banker.
