Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Joe English hangs out with Anna Bechnova during his recent visit to the island. - CONTRIBUTED
AND SO, the talons are out, as some have gathered to 'feast' on the would-be carcass. They will remain hungry yet, as there is really no corpse on which to feed and the real feast is to be found, in the corners from which they currently derive succour. It was the sage Balthazar Gracian who wrote: "It is a fixed rule with the wise never to defend themselves with the pen. For such defence always leaves a stain, and does more to glorify one's opponent than to punish his offence.
"There is no revenge like oblivion, through which they are buried in the dust of their unworthiness. The art of reproving scandal is to take no notice of it."
And remember: "There are vulgar people everywhere, but be careful to avoid the common kind as this kind speaks folly, blames impertinently, is a disciple of ignorance, a patron of folly and a past master of scandal. More importantly, you need not notice what it says, still less, what it thinks."
Dears, the above is the mantra to which this scribe subscribes and shares with friends and associates when their good name is called into question.
100TH VISIT
Dears, he probably knows the island better than most Jamaicans, as since his first visit in 1989, Chicago's real estate powerbroker, record and movie producer, Joe English has returned to this country a total of 99 times, making his return visit on June 1, his 100th.
A world traveller who has visited Europe extensively and partied in all the major capitals of the world, English has never been able to replicate or find the warmth, hospitality and or friendliness of the Jamaican people in any other part of the world, and it is this unique charisma, plus the beauty of the island that so enchanted him and sees him coming back all the time.
A resident of Chicago's fashionable south loop, or the Printer's Row, and one of that city's more celebrated real estate magnates, English has made every visit to Jamaica a new experience with visits to every nook and cranny, places some have only heard of, other places some have never heard of, but all in all, having a grand time exploring the island's beautiful spots and cultural/historical landmarks.
So impressed has English been by the warmth and hospitality he has experienced on each visit, that he has been running a one-man crusade in exposing the island to his friends and associates on the American mainland, and particularly in the Chicago area. English has funded a number of familiarisation tours for friends and relatives who would not normally make the trek, because of the reports of violence.
Not all his visits have been without incident, but such incidents pale in significance to his overall positive experiences. And he recalls that on his eighth visit to the north coast, he met a New Yorker who was on her 36th visit who told him such a moving story that it actually won him over.
The lady, it seems, was big on Jamaica, the people and their genuine warmth, cheerfulness and infectious spirit. She was unable, however, to convince any of her grown children to ever vacation in Jamaica because of the reports of crime, and they always cautioned their mother about her constant return visits to the island.
WOULD-BE ROBBERS
She was eventually able to persuade her two older sons to accompany her to Jamaica to celebrate their wedding anniversaries. Now, imagine horror of horrors as on their third night in Jamaica, the family was on the private beach of their north coast villa, barbecuing and celebrating, when their partying was interrupted by three armed men, hell-bent on robbing them of their money, jewellery and other valuables.
Well my dears, the mother would not have any of it - not after years of trying to convince her children that Jamaica was a safe place.
And so, she placed herself squarely in front of the armed men, and she told them that these were her children and their spouses' first ever visit to the island, and they only came because of her insistence because they were always afraid to do so. She then advised the would-be robbers that she was inviting them to join her and her family and friends, in celebrating their anniversaries, and that she would give them some kind of a reward at the end of the occasion, but she would not have them rob her party.
Well dear hearts, the armed men set their guns down, sat, took out some pot, rolled some joints and joined in the celebrations. A number of drinks later and with the celebrations all over, and visitors and uninvited guests all settled into a kind of coexistence, the hostess, true to her word, gathered herself together and offered them would-be robbers items of jewellery, a CD boom box and other items she thought would have satisfied the armed men. Well honeys, the would-be robbers would have none of it!
Luvs, not only did they refuse all offers of 'gifts' from their intended victims, they also apologised profusely for their intrusion and before leaving, wished their intended victims happy anniversaries, and presented them with a gift of their own - a little parcel of 'high-grade' - tendered their apologies once again before heading off into the night.
Well sweethearts, that not only took the cake, it won the day over and today, our island's tourism is that much better for it. It's a story English tells with relish, as he thinks it underlines the essential nature and goodness of the Jamaican spirit.
It is that spirit, which has seen English producing a mento CD - Jamaica is Calling - done by the Embers mento band out of Runaway Bay, St. Ann, after he had heard the band in performance at a private party, in Cardiff Hall, St. Ann. He was so impressed by their natural and infectious sounds he sponsored their visit to the recording studios, where they made the record.
THE FILM
But English did not stop there. Years later, he was home in Chicago attending the annual downtown Cultural Arts Festival. He came across a riveting play, written, performed and produced by Jamaican-born Canadian citizen residing in Los Angeles, Phillip Michael Edwards.
The play Runt had just been named one of the best at the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning a Fringe First Award the year earlier. So arresting was the topic and theme of a rural Jamaican boy migrating to North America, and the challenges - socially, culturally - which make assimilation somewhat problematic, that English financed the film version of the award-winning play. He thought it was an excellent vehicle to sensitise the diaspora to some of the challenges that have an impact on migration. And so Runt, the film, was commissioned.
Since its completion, the feature-length movie, filmed largely in Jamaica, and with a cast of some of Jamaica's leading actors, has played to rave reviews at select showings across the U.S. and here in Jamaica, as English shops around for a lucrative distribution deal that will take the film to as wide an audience as is possible. There has also been no shortage of new products, ideas and/or production offers submitted to English for his consideration, after his success with the CD and the film.
Well, his centennial visit is the longest one-time visit yet. And dears, parties there are a-plenty, from Negril all the way to Port Antonio, with several stopovers in the nation's capital and on the south coast, as polite society, all across the island, toasts one who has truly made a very significant contribution to maintaining Jamaica's positive image abroad, and the well-being of Jamaicans, here.
And when asked by his hostess at a swanky north coast dinner, thrown in his honour, "Just what is it that keeps you coming back?", English's response was, "The trouble with Jamaica is that some things work."
The hostess, without missing a beat, responded, "and the other half soon come!"
