Own Whee Yu Com From

Today, you might say I have a little bone to pick with a few people.  The people I'm referring to are the ones who find it difficult to tell people the truth about where they are from.  I don't care where you're from.  I'm talking about what ever part of the world you originate from, where your family comes from.

The reason I'm on this topic today is because I was speaking with someone who is also from the Island of Jamaica.  I'll call this person John.  John and I got into a conversation about how we came to be where we are at at this stage of our lives.  We found out that we both serve in the military and and that we are both Jamaican.  I was born there and his parents were born there also.  I asked where in Jamaica are his parents from, he looked dead in my face and said Kingston, I replied "for real whe yu family come from", he said Kingston.  That right there send me into a frenzy.  I then told him how sick I was of people who was afraid to really say where on the island they are really from.  Every time I ask someone from Jamaica, where on the island they are from, the tell me some place like Kingston, Montigo bay, Port Antonio or even St. Ann.  No one ever says places like Clarendon, which is where I'm from, or May Pen, Old Harbor, Kellits or even St Mary.  These are all parishes or cities as we called them here.  A lot of these parishes, as most Jamaican knows are hill or bush countries.  Some of these places back in the hills to this day still does not have running water or even electricity.  That does not make it any less of a home to the people who live there.  Sometimes the simpler your life, the more you live it.

I know there are people who are afraid to say which part of the world they come from, because they  are afraid for their lives and the lives of their children.  To those individuals, I keep you and your family in my prayer, but for the rest of us I say OWN WHE YU COM FROM.  Think of it this way; you may be in the United States, but your family came here from Greece, Ireland or even Russia.  The same goes for us Jamaicans.  You live in Kingston, but yu family com from Bug Walk Linstid.    That don't sound too beautiful, does it?  Well take it from someone who has been to the town of Bug Walk in the parish of Linstid, it is a beautiful place.  On the way there, the one main road which leads into the town, runs along side a beautiful steady running river which has these huge rock the size of a mini van or car sitting in the middle of it and across the river are the most magnificent vined trees with these huge green leaves flowing down into the water as it steadily rolls by.  There is also a land mark along the  way call Pum Rock.  This rock is not a well known area unless you're from the island. It got its name because the structure of the rock is shape like the female private part.  Now instead of hiding that bit of information, being from the area, you should be glad to share it because it makes a great conversation starter and it may help you make a new friend.

So to all my yahdi here in the U.S. and everywhere all over the world, it doesn't matta whe yu com from, jus own whe yu com from.  Irie? (Alright)  Be proud of your heritage and represent at all time.