Life lessons exist to inform us, mold us and supposedly shave off our rough edges. Tough times such as now are said to be challenges that help us to grow. They are seen as necessary to create better individuals, often challenge our weak points and may even be divinely inspired. In the book of Job he wrote ‘the thing I feared has come upon me and that which I dreaded has happened to me’. He was tested and in the end was able to reflect on his losses in the light of new found gains. We hear repeatedly that we won’t be given more than we can bear.
A whole lot in life is predictable- one plus one is two, the sun will rise, and one day we will die. This is absolutely good for us as we are given good guidelines and patterns in which to live. It would be absolute chaos if we had no idea whether the sun would rise the next day. In fact the mastery of chaos lies more in our ability to predict and prepare for it than in our response to its aftermath.
Anguillahas come a long way in predicting and preparing for chaos. Meteorological technologies allow us to prepare for the arrival of storms days in advance. Anguilla was the first english-speaking territory in theCaribbeanto be declared tsunami ready. Doctors and nurses encourage at risk persons to screen with mammogram, Paptest and colonoscopy to avoid deaths from advanced cancers. The quality of our lives will be improved considerably if we adhere to the Boy Scout slogan ‘be prepared’.
Such planning for calamity must be militantly executed if we are to avoid the anguish that is scheduled for us. Furthermore we must not negate the importance of readiness as the consequences of being lackadaisical will be horrific. In 1960 Hurricane Donna came upon little prepared locals and caused widespread destruction, injury and five deaths. Looming large problems call for a great deal of preparation.
So, in our zeal to ensure all will be well, Anguillians have geared up to fight giants such as tsunamis, hurricanes, mass casualties and earthquakes. The national will to defend our island against nature’s fury or human-caused catastrophe is strong and growing. It has caused us however to lose focus of small, seemingly innocent threats that will hurt us, referred to in the new testament as ‘the little foxes that spoil the vines’.
One such threat exists in the upper valley, near the entrance gate to koal keel restaurant where a large genip tree grows in the public road. That huge plant will one day cause certain injury or death for a motorist who is intoxicated, distracted or otherwise unaware of its existence. It is important that we stop and ‘check out’ this tree again and give those who have never seen it a quick chance to view it. It symbolizes much about us as a people and exists to teach us in the hardest of ways, some old lessons.
Firstly, this common towering green organism is the hulk we often face but fail to see. Our eyes may be wide open but we lack 20/20 vision. Threats cause torment because they are often disguised, allowing them to lurk around and grow. Wolves in sheep clothing still exist. If the green tree were instead a similar sized large rusty piece of junk it would have been gone ages ago. We should regularly take another look and a different view of every scenario.
Secondly, our obstacles grow when we don’t deal with them. A little twig twenty five years ago is now solid tall timber today; our mole hills have become mountains. Interestingly, as the threat posed by this tree literally grows larger so does the controversy about it. Had we plucked it up as a four inch plant growing in the road there would be no mention of it, but today inAnguillait will be the new topic, even earning its place in this newspaper. Early signs of any physical threat or relationship decay in families, among young males or among owners of large corporations are best dealt with in their infancy.
This introduces another lesson termed rationalization. To err is human and all fall short. Nevertheless, too often we do not refer to situations as they exist but instead we develop mental constructs to reframe them so that they are acceptable to us. Hence do not be surprised that although genip trees exist ‘a dime a dozen’ here, someone will propose environmental preservation as a legitimate consideration to let this tree live. Surrounded by an abundance of such trees others may suggest transplantation. To my knowledge it does not even bear fruit. Decisions determine our destiny and though it may seem absurd that we have allowed a green danger to blossom and obstruct the path to progress, it has happened. We ignore it, go around it and justify it to our peril one coming day.
Next, when everyone or anyone can act, paradoxically and quite often no one will. This is a well observed aspect of group dynamics and calls us to keep assigning tasks in our society to specific individuals or departments. Responsibility can make us feel empowered and accountable. Curiously, this may have been the biggest factor that allowed this genip tree to remain. Who is the clearly designated executioner? Is it MICUH, private road contractors, the electricity company, Department of the Environment, Department of Disaster Management, motorists, business owners or villagers?
If the question is a puzzle, the solution need not be. Anguilla is waking up in these tough times. Years ago the French had to shake us into switching from gasoline to diesel ferries. Today the Agriculture department calls it as they see it, pointedly ‘farm today or starve tomorrow’. Much of this is for our benefit and our genip tree in the road has come to final days. The small axe is at the root of a big tree. I propose a deadly fate for our grounded friend and it must be followed through to secure our wellbeing.Anguillamust be the nation that makes the right decision and acts on it. That is the key to progress.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
