Hilary Robertson-Hickling

How we communicate with each other is a critical part of human life, at home, at work, through the media, across borders and it involves the trans-mission of meaning.

So, the recent outburst by a popular American comedian in the face of heckling from two African-Americans has produced uproar in America. Unleashing a racist tirade, he used the 'N' word which many young African Americans suggest is a good word if it is used by them as a term of endearment to each other.

The word, of course, has negative origins, but some suggest that in the popular culture, bad words can be appropriated to say good things. I must admit that the discussion about bad words and good words is significant in that the meaning transmitted by a curse is not the same as for purposes of praise.

'Dutty': the latest craze

We here in Jamaica have been having some discussion about the word 'dutty' which is, of course, related to dirt - the earth with all of its positive and negative conno-tations. Dutty boy and dutty gal, dutty bungle are, of course, curse words, not praise words, so I am amazed at the appropriation of the words 'Dutty Wine' the latest craze. Of course, dirty dancing carries a particular meaning in the United States; I overhead a young woman 'greeting' a friend on the phone with "dutty whore" and challenged her to think about her words and suggested that she use her much wider vocabulary to convey her feelings. She met me with an initial hostility, but I hoped that I challenged her to think again about her words. My feminist sensibilities have certainly diminished under the pressure of women who look like me being happy to be described as sketel, whore, bitch and other words which have to appear in censored spots.

I must confess a preference for empress or sister as a form of greeting, and I would like to encourage that we spend some time this Christmas saying noel, nativity, new year at the end of this 2006. People should make every effort to spend time with their loved ones, trying to be more self-loving and using words of praise instead of so many curse words. I realise that for many of us, it is difficult to change gear as we have become so practised in the art of cursing.

Renew our giving

This is a society in which we routinely curse each other about our mothers who the curser is unlikely to know, about our private parts which he or she has not seen, and about the colour of one's skin which we cannot help. Now, there are those who have not breathed life into a blade of grass much less another human being who decided who is to die.

For 2007, I hope that every one of us can have and be a putus, can understand the concept of bonununus and can love someone and be loved better than cook food. Christmas has at its essence the giving of sacred life, joy, sacrifice and community. We should not get confused by the noise of the marketplace. I hope that the efforts of the Salvation Army can be strengthened and that we should renew our giving to a group of Christians who serve those at greatest risk. Those people who have stolen the gifts from the army have completely missed the point. Let us overwhelm them with goodness.

Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.