Our ancient governing system, as written by the chroniclers, was a monarchy, a governing system that, historically speaking, has been a failure. And with the postcolonial mentality, intergenerational trauma and historical grief we carry, a monarchical system leaves us open to despotism, tyrrany, dictatorships and totalitarianism. Is it our immaturity or is it our damage that impedes us from getting it together?

Personally, I wonder about the chroniclers accounts… Was our governance truly a monarchy as described or were these the only way the chroniclers knew how to express their understanding of what they saw? The political systems that existed (and in some places still exist) here in the American hemisphere at the time of European arrival was not the same as that in Europe, it was completely different. So why would it be that there was a monarchical system only in the Caribbean when tribal leadership systems across the Americas were so fluid? A leader was a leader until he/she was followed no more. A leader was an example to the people. Their behavior was that to be admired and imitated. A good leader led the people, they didn’t impose upon them.

That is not what we see now. We see subterfuge and pretense, scheming and deception, gimmicks, gossip, bravado and machinations. We see lies. Look close enough and we find our leaders have more than one face depending on who they are speaking to.

Why do things stay the same? I don’t know. But I do know that history repeats itself and that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is pretty much insane, so maybe we can do something different. Sometimes doing just one thing different brings about a whole new situation.

Why do some Taino leaders get away with this? Although I agree with you when you say “Good Taino do Nothing”, I do so only up to a point. I think some good Taino sit on the sidelines and do nothing out of fear, confusion, sometimes even laziness. But there are others who do focus their times and energies in positive ways. You have been instrumental in creating and nurturing a yearly artistic event where the Taino are featured prominently. I have done that kind of organizational work and it’s not easy, but your results have been fabulous! This is a good thing.

And although my words are unpopular and very few people dare post responses for fear of social recrimination and organizational retaliation, the truth is many people read my words and like you, they get what I speak of. Regardless of whither they reply publicly or not, they are listening, so a different perspective is getting out there. People are accepting the invitation to think a little differently about what they are being spoon-fed by their leaders. This is also a good thing.

These seeds we plant by our actions may not germinate in all hearts, but they will in some and that’s what matters. Don’t lose hope, my friend. Don’t despair. Just keep doing what you do to the best of your abilities and trust the Creator.

Taino ti

N

Again Nanu u get straight to the point in what plagues our community. A cult of personality leader getting flattery and praise while not living up to the Title runs rampant in our community. A whole host of verifiers who in their haste don’t know that they are doing more harm than good in verifying the nonsense that we the Taino people call our organizations today.

It was said 20 years ago that Taino people in this point in time are too immature to take on the Cacike system. Accountability and responsibility along wit professionalism is lacking among our communities and for the most part people suffer in silence or just go away because after all everybody is Volunteering their time and energies to the so called Taino Resurgence.

It looks like that person was right because the Cacike system has divided us more than it has united but why do things stay the same and why do some Taino leaders get away with this??

Because Good Taino do Nothing!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for revisiting my blog and adding your thoughts. I welcome comments that are well researched and thought over. It makes these important discussions fun and interesting; a real pleasure. Thank you

As for expansion, a better question to ask, I think, would be how the Polynesians got to those islands 2-3,000 years before the European expansion began if the Europeans were the first to travel such distances. The only evidence we have is of people being on these islands that far back, but not how they got there. The same way they expanded thousands of miles into the Pacific is the same way they expanded elsewhere.

You are right when you say that possibility doesn’t equal occurrence, but lack of physical evidence doesn’t equal lack of occurrence either; especially when the people are there already. The Europeans didn’t find empty islands.

N

“Please notice that my disagreement with Van Sertima is not with regards to the idea of pre-Columbian intercontinental travel. That makes complete sense to me. Hawaii is about 3,800 miles from Guam and Guam is about 1,500 miles from the Philipines. The Maori (New Zeland/Aotearoa) have an oral history that links them to Hawai’i and these islands are over 4,000 miles apart. The indigenous population in these islands have been present for thousands of years before the Europeans even dared travel out of land-sight distance and I’m sure they didn’t swim there. Just because scientists don’t believe in ancient man’s intelligence and ingenuity doesn’t mean they didn’t have it; it’s what has brought us to the technological levels we enjoy today.”

Possibility does not equate to occurrence. You still have to find evidence that Polynesians ever made it to the Americas.

It’s pleasing to see when one’s writing strikes such deep emotional cords. These are important discussions to have and I am always open to honest and respectful dialogue; particularly since emotions can run high and an interesting discussion can degenerate into a free for all…

I hope you enjoy the post I recently wrote responding to your comments… (Nanas and Beans and Heads, oh my!)

N