McCain’s Palin and the EPA

Sep 07, 2008 Features / Columnists

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The Parrot, like millions of male Parrots, is still dumbstruck by John McCain’s bombshell VP choice, Sarah Palin. Out from obscurity, as the media there are saying, and out from the freezing cold in Alaska, she has taken America by storm. Even Gustav weakened as she was about to be formally introduced. Television viewing of the campaign has been reinvigorated. Local country-side Parrots have only one connotation for “palin”; a wooden fence made of “wallaba staves”. The fence can either be ragged, or neat, depending on the efforts put in. White-wash usually adds a nice finishing touch. Looking at Sarah, she needs no finishing touch.
There are many stories that can be told about these “palin staves”; other than being used in fence making, individually, a single “stave’ can be a lethal weapon. Many a country fight in the days gone by would have involved a “palin stave”. Many “Bad-Johns” were tamed by a “palin stave”. Many “fighters” would have paid compensation for “plucking” a “palin stave”. Many screamed when they saw a hand pulling a “palin stave”.
The Parrot recalls the “Bad-John” of my village in confrontation with a villager. Given their contrasting sizes, it was David and Goliath. Well that’s overused, more like Woody Allen and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The villager, “Woody”, stood with hands behind his back, meek but defiant with the “Bad-John Arnold” ever menacing towering presence, just a few feet away. Everybody screaming; “Woody, don’t commit suicide, go home to yuh wife”; “Arnold, stap teking advantage, pick pun somebody yuh own size, like the other robots in Terminator”.
None listened. As a complacent “Arnold” advanced to crush his mosquito-like “opponent”, “Woody” whipped out a 22 (cutlass). “Arnold”, caught off guard, took refuge in Uncle Joe’s “palin” fence for his defence. The “stave” didn’t budge. It stood firm. “Arnold” didn’t realise that Uncle Joe, like some other villagers who became fed up with their “staves” being “plucked”, had nailed metal strips along all the “staves” at the top and bottom of the fence – no one “stave” could have been “plucked”. Sensing his advantage, “Woody” advanced; sensing his dilemma, “Arnold” retreated in the opposite direction at a speed that could rival Usain Bolt. That was the end of “Bad-John Arnold”. Sad to say, that despite that, “Woody” still had difficulty in dealing with Rosy; his wife.
Just like “Woody”, Sarah from Alaska has caused some people to run; wavering Republicans to run inwards and the Democrats running to their televisions to stop and look. Isn’t the look worth it? While some male Democrats were looking, their spouses were ushering them away; same here for some males in Guyana. Not to sound like ah “fresh”, the Palin woman doesn’t look like she has mothered five children. What’s the secret? The Parrot wants to know, since parts of the plumage are being “plucked” by nature.
Anyway, back to the meat of the issue. What a word to use. McCain’s Palin looks strong; reinforced like Uncle Joe’s fence. Her “fence”, Sarah’s that is, did not only change the aesthetics (far more advanced than Uncle Joe’s white-wash), but has provided a sort of insulation for good ole’ Uncle John and as a protection to keep unsure Republicans from rushing across to Bill and Hill’s… oops, sorry, Barack’s  party. He, Barack that is, may now be contemplating the possible consequences for not teaming up with a female, a la Hillary. Her people might be saying “see”.
From all indications, Sarah is undoubtedly the star of the McCain band, from a hunter and a “hockey” mom of five, to potentially, the Vice President of the US of A. Talk about your life being changed in an instant.
Knowing McCain, as described by the intrusive US media, he played true to form; didn’t conform to routine. He isn’t afraid to take the risk. He isn’t afraid if his voice is not in chorus with others. He isn’t afraid to take a chance for the betterment of his country. In many ways he reminds me of Uncle Bharrat.
Uncle Bharrat went against the odds for the construction of the stadium, his initiative on climate change, the hosting of Carifesta X amongst others. He is no different now with the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). He is not afraid to be publicly vocal about his concerns on the agreement. He has been advocating for a review; few supported. Most of his colleagues in the region differ; some giving in to special and self interest. He is not against an agreement; he is against an agreement that can see the return of colonialism. Some Heads basically agreed under duress. Uncle Bharrat is making it clear he is not willing to do so. He will concur to what is in the best interest of Guyana. John McCainism. For this he must be commended and supported.
He is building his “palin” fence to protect us from what is being forced upon us by those in the corridors of power in the EU. Time will bear him out as it did with Providence, Carifesta X and as it is seemingly doing with climate change.
A staunch supporter of his stance on the EPA is Sir Shridath. In his trademark eloquent style, Sir Shridath urged the region to put the signing on hold. Signing now has long lasting economic consequences. He described the rush to sign as “going through a marriage ceremony contemplating divorce”.
As the John McCain/Sarah Palin campaign hits the road, Uncle Bharrat’s advocacy on the EPA is hitting home. Be aware, he has sounded a warning. Sir Shridath is echoing it. Maybe it’s time for related “palin staves”. Squawk! Squawk!

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