By sticking to shadow boxing - or by venturing into 'full body contact' at a given point in time ?
There are those, who fight for a noble cause - a just cause - a very legitimate cause.....
Week-in, week-out....talking, talking and talking even more....
In their 'secluded' quarters, they preach to ‘the choir’ which responds....hallelujah.....
It is so interesting to hear how they try to convince each other of how they are winning the fight...
Alas – only they believe they are winning - or at least they try hard to convince themselves, that they believe it...
And then there is another set of 'soldiers' out there, fighting that same, noble cause, that same just- and very legitimate cause ....
The stark difference however between the two ‘camp’ is, that one has got stuck in ‘shadow-boxing’, with their own ‘sparring partners’, who make them feel that they are real champions...
The other camp conversely, has long since moved away from the friendly, self-serving ‘shadow-boxing’ matches...
They realize that the proof of the pudding and the test of how best to champion one’s cause - is to do that in the REAL world, overcoming all kinds of ‘booby-traps’ and enduring hostility.
To keep it all in understandable boxing-terms – the latter camp has decided to engage in ‘full body contact’ against all the able- and aggressive ‘contenders’ in the entire world...
Of course - the risk of getting licks and seriously beaten up is real – but then again – so is also a victory under these circumstances – for real...
Case in point.
The St. Martin Grassroots People Movement is more than ready, prepared and eager to champion the cause of St. Martin nation building - not by excluding others, not by shadow-boxing – but through direct, honest and critically constructive engagement with others.
We therefore look forward to our new St. Martin nation building television program, in which we will promote the participation of people representing all ethnic communities on the island.
Only mature people- and nations, are able to sit around the table with others with whom there might be issues.
It is not about liking- or not liking each other – it is about forward thinking...
About realizing that - if there is to be peace, justice, stability, harmony and sustainable growth- and development – we must leave the ‘shadow –boxing’ behind in the gym and enter into the roped ring and prove ourselves in the real world.
It will require engaging in ‘full body -face-to-face’ contact with the world – engaging in talking St. Martin nation building with all ethnic communities on the island and taking a lead role in the process.
Of course -the ‘Soualiga exclusion Camp' is free to continue its weekly ‘shadow-boxing’ matches – why not ?
That is the right thing to do for those who are not yet ‘up-to par’ to put their pre-match rhetoric to the test – in the ring.
But - if they ever manage to see the light – there will be a very legitimate role for them to play in our new program - alongside all other stakeholders in the ring.
Until such time – the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement will forge ahead towards inclusion of all non-native St. Martiners, who have a LEGAL status on the island and who are of an added value and are willing to sign a pledge of allegiance in which reciprocity toward St. Martin is a condition sine qua non.
One love,
Leopold James
President of the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement – the inclusive
