Greeting
Background
On Saturday, June 1st, 2013, I learned for the first time of the long-running illness of Archbishop Granville Williams, leader of the Afrocentric Christian, Spiritual Baptist movement in Barbados.
I had been thinking of the Archbishop a lot in previous days, maybe weeks. Cognizant of the influence and power he wields among Barbados' Afrocentric academics, politicians cultural activists and others, I had contemplated reaching out to him and asking him to act as a mediator or go-between (a "Malcolm In the Middle", approximately) between myself and my Barbadian adversaries. Some of these persons, like Pan Africanist politicianDavid Comissiong, are named in a human rights abuse petition I have filed with the Inter-American Council of Human Rights (IACHR), the body within the Organization of American States' (OAS) that addresses such abuses in the region.
I had received an indication of His Excellency Archbishop's possible interest in assuming such a mediatory role or otherwise assisting me, through an email offering to purchase the modest plot of land I own in Barbados. That land is adjoining the Poetpourri House property where my organization, Intelek International, was founded. The offer came from Mr Roger Bryan, formerly a long-time friend and latterly a priest in the Spiritual Baptist movement (Mr Brian has apparently removed me from his Facebook list of friends for some reason).
I made Mr Bryan a counter-offer, inviting him and Archbishop Williams (through him) to help me develop thePoetpourri House project.
The prayers solicited for publisher Carol Pitt are requested in the same spirit.
Dear Archbishop Williams
First let me use this opportunity to express my surprise on learning today of your long-running illness.
It seems that until that sad seed was deposited in my mind, only vibrant images of you had found good soil, ‘fermented’ and fossilized fruitfully - choosing, as it were, to fixate on your former self; the vigorous ideal.
In my mind, much beloved Spiritual Baptist elder, Excellency, time has not been unkind and hastened on its way. But rather, has been so enthralled by the mystical majesty of your momentous display, that it has seated itself for the show – or else, has stood still, internalizing the scene.
On Saturday, June 1st, 2013, I learned for the first time of the long-running illness of Archbishop Granville Williams, leader of the Afrocentric Christian, Spiritual Baptist movement in Barbados.
I had been thinking of the Archbishop a lot in previous days, maybe weeks. Cognizant of the influence and power he wields among Barbados' Afrocentric academics, politicians cultural activists and others, I had contemplated reaching out to him and asking him to act as a mediator or go-between (a "Malcolm In the Middle", approximately) between myself and my Barbadian adversaries. Some of these persons, like Pan Africanist politicianDavid Comissiong, are named in a human rights abuse petition I have filed with the Inter-American Council of Human Rights (IACHR), the body within the Organization of American States' (OAS) that addresses such abuses in the region.
I had received an indication of His Excellency Archbishop's possible interest in assuming such a mediatory role or otherwise assisting me, through an email offering to purchase the modest plot of land I own in Barbados. That land is adjoining the Poetpourri House property where my organization, Intelek International, was founded. The offer came from Mr Roger Bryan, formerly a long-time friend and latterly a priest in the Spiritual Baptist movement (Mr Brian has apparently removed me from his Facebook list of friends for some reason).
I made Mr Bryan a counter-offer, inviting him and Archbishop Williams (through him) to help me develop thePoetpourri House project.
The prayers solicited for publisher Carol Pitt are requested in the same spirit.
Dear Archbishop Williams
First let me use this opportunity to express my surprise on learning today of your long-running illness.
It seems that until that sad seed was deposited in my mind, only vibrant images of you had found good soil, ‘fermented’ and fossilized fruitfully - choosing, as it were, to fixate on your former self; the vigorous ideal.
In my mind, much beloved Spiritual Baptist elder, Excellency, time has not been unkind and hastened on its way. But rather, has been so enthralled by the mystical majesty of your momentous display, that it has seated itself for the show – or else, has stood still, internalizing the scene.
Soliciting prayer for Carol Pitt
Or maybe my mind has just filled your time with another’s space; another’s face. A face, perhaps, like that of our more youthful compatriot, and my peer: publishing "pontiff" Ms Carol Pitt.
I have known Sister Pitt, the proprietor of indigenous Barbadian publishing label, Caribbean Chapters, since our school days, at Carrington’s Primary.
And an important reason for this open letter to you now, Excellency, is to entreat on her behalf that you intercede.
Please pray for my former friend, who would now likely make herself my enemy.
Please pray for that frightened child, who, not understanding the energy of the love and goodwill that I bear toward her, accuses me of hatred.
Archbishop, please pray that her fear-fantasizing mind be made a mirror not darkened, but increasingly clear: not filled with frigid, fundamentalist feminist fantasies of a hatred I supposedly possess, but rather with the warm rains of tropical truth; rains that bless every barren place.
Please pray for me that I may demonstrate my love and goodwill more clearly, as I sometimes err, through haste.
Please pray that my empathy with her would not be obscured by the benefit of her awaking to settling her bill; but that like I, she too might pray “Not my will” and forsake her former receipts of deceits and treacheries.
Pray that she would forgive herself for her part in other Treasurers’ capitalist conspiracies and adventures of financial folly.
The Carol I would know, is a woman of profound integrity and piety, like her sister, formerly named "Cecily".
Not a blind pit bull headed obscenity. No, the precious Pitt I would partner (though not marry) is faithful company to priests: a competent consort to the clerically enlightened; not one frightened by specious Papal Bull scripts.
She is a model of discernment, charm and wit. Enduring beauty.
My Ms Pitt possesses a spirituality that scandalizes conventional human understandings of Christianity.
Like Pope Sylvester II: her Gergbert, to my Constantine. I hasten to defend her from her own fantastic lies.
I have known Sister Pitt, the proprietor of indigenous Barbadian publishing label, Caribbean Chapters, since our school days, at Carrington’s Primary.
And an important reason for this open letter to you now, Excellency, is to entreat on her behalf that you intercede.
Please pray for my former friend, who would now likely make herself my enemy.
Please pray for that frightened child, who, not understanding the energy of the love and goodwill that I bear toward her, accuses me of hatred.
Archbishop, please pray that her fear-fantasizing mind be made a mirror not darkened, but increasingly clear: not filled with frigid, fundamentalist feminist fantasies of a hatred I supposedly possess, but rather with the warm rains of tropical truth; rains that bless every barren place.
Please pray for me that I may demonstrate my love and goodwill more clearly, as I sometimes err, through haste.
Please pray that my empathy with her would not be obscured by the benefit of her awaking to settling her bill; but that like I, she too might pray “Not my will” and forsake her former receipts of deceits and treacheries.
Pray that she would forgive herself for her part in other Treasurers’ capitalist conspiracies and adventures of financial folly.
The Carol I would know, is a woman of profound integrity and piety, like her sister, formerly named "Cecily".
Not a blind pit bull headed obscenity. No, the precious Pitt I would partner (though not marry) is faithful company to priests: a competent consort to the clerically enlightened; not one frightened by specious Papal Bull scripts.
She is a model of discernment, charm and wit. Enduring beauty.
My Ms Pitt possesses a spirituality that scandalizes conventional human understandings of Christianity.
Like Pope Sylvester II: her Gergbert, to my Constantine. I hasten to defend her from her own fantastic lies.
Benediction
But I am sure Your Excellency knows this. Like the pope-like poet Edward "Kamau" Brathwaite of “Cow Pasture”, your Excellency’s vision though veiled, is penetrative.
Like the Gullah elders of Trinidad, settlers of The Company Villages; and the Seers of Washington’s “company town”, the District of Columbia, where President Barack Obama now sits.
Red House, White House, one-two-three: I pray blessings and peace to you, O’ Excellent Victor, of our Middle Earth, in the Caribbean; I pray Poetpourri House like light and power, to you, as you widen your lead.
I honour you, perennial "Pope Victor": the light of the land is ever green.
Yours
In the service of beauty and truth
Junior Campbell
Principal-founder
Intelek International
Like the Gullah elders of Trinidad, settlers of The Company Villages; and the Seers of Washington’s “company town”, the District of Columbia, where President Barack Obama now sits.
Red House, White House, one-two-three: I pray blessings and peace to you, O’ Excellent Victor, of our Middle Earth, in the Caribbean; I pray Poetpourri House like light and power, to you, as you widen your lead.
I honour you, perennial "Pope Victor": the light of the land is ever green.
Yours
In the service of beauty and truth
Junior Campbell
Principal-founder
Intelek International
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