Jamaica Pt. 1

I got back last night from the island of Jamaica. I slept till like 12:30 pm today if that tells you anything of what a week there did to me. I was shocked at the lack of beauty on the island. It really is a kinda ugly place. I hate to say it, but there are a few areas that border on third world. I find it astounding at what media continues to numb us to. Before last week I pictured Jamaica as a place of lush beauty and wealth from a great tourist influx. Not so much it turns out... Kingston, which is where we spent most of our time is very, very poor. People sleeping in what would be condemned by local governments in America are common sleeping ground for most. Even those who have money have to build large concrete walls around their homes to protect them. It is crazy that even though many of the Jamaicans who dislike Americans do so justly...they have never seen the wealth in which we live. Let me be clear that I am not preaching some poverty gospel so as to make you think we should all go abandon our $300,000 homes and live in cardboard boxes. I am however a big believer in giving accurate pictures of how people really live so we can respond appropriately. Just as my compassion grew for the Jamaicans when I saw their conditions (however right or wrong this mind-shift may have been); I can't help but wonder if the Jamaican's view of us would change upon visiting us for the better or worse...or at all.

All that being said...if you ever go to Jamaica make sure you stock up on Blue Mountain Coffee, Cuban cigars, and festivals (rolls that taste like funnel cake without the powdered sugar.

Part 2 tomorrow...