Blogs

                              by Michael I Phillips (book available at amazon.com $12.95)

( actually the following is a revision added to Chapter 10)

The government to spread ‘goodwillism to make Jamaica shipshape

Jamaica probably has more “bad wuds” , that is words of profanity, than any other country, or at least much more than America,  In addition, we are notorious for cussing, ‘tracing’, ‘bad mouthing’ threatening and other aggressive talk. This derision, so popular in our country, needs to be replaced with goodwillism. This derision just will not go away because of this little book. The government has to take an active role. By government, I actually mean bi-partisan support of both JLP and PNP parties. Democracy is reeling all over the world because parties are placing their parties over their country...This is another side effect of the rat race. Unfortunately, it is a problem in Jamaica too, but both parties will need to come together to implement this  precious program of goodwillism.  Jamaica can lead the world in goodwillism.

It sounds like a formidable task, to many, an impossible one, but I am confident that it is feasible as  it’s been done many times. As my Jamaican prep school, The Lottie McMillan Sunshine School, taught with its motto, “what man has done, man can do.  The way to do this is to convert a significant and very visible (noticible) citizens into goodwillists. This Jamaican group to pioneer goodwillism is the Jamaica Civil Service.

Of course, numbers of skeptics will rush to say it can’t be done. This is compounded by the fact that our civil service employees have a bad reputation. Good customer would be a compulsory requirement for their job. Can you imagine the positive thar would have islandwide?  But, we have an incredible group of employees, that will serve a model for the civil service employees.

We have the perfect model for the civil service. These model groups consist of thousands of employees. Virtually every single one is, diligent, friendly, helpful, understanding, reliable, responsible, patient, co-operative. Besides these  workers represent a wide diversity with different nationalities, ethnicities, cultures, religions, races, Some are from powerful developed countries, but most are from little undeveloped countries, that many never even heard of. Some are even Jamaicans. Some of these Jamaicans have excelled, starting near the bottom to achieve top level jobs.

Now, all these model workers did not become so impressive by accident. It is obvious they have been extensively trained in customer service. The Jamaica Civil Service, under such training, will be impressive too.

But, I am sure you are curious, probably even skeptical. Who are these outstanding model employees? They are the staff of cruise ships. Take a cruise and see for yourself.

Now, I realize  that there will be employees, mired in the old system, that will balk at the change. However, this change will make them more valuable workers and give Jamaica a better quality of life. It will be their patriotic duty to participate fully.

These brilliant workers will be interspersed all over the island. But even more, to increase their visibility, they will wear a uniform on the job. Besides increasing visibility, uniforms:

• create a feeling of belonging and teamwork
• will be specially designed to look attractive
• will be more economical as preoccupation with selecting and buying clothes for work will be eliminated.
• Will ensure that all workers will be well dressed

I remember vividly school uniforms and people like bank clerks in their snazzy uniforms. These civil service uniforms will be the hallmarks of the new, improved goodwillist Jamaica. It will make Jamaica the best country in the world. No other country even cares about that, much less do anything about it.

Jamaica can make this dramatic change. But, do they have the guts to make so bold a move. Or, will it’s leaders sit around waiting for America or some former colonial power to lead the way? Alas, most of the current world leaders are abysmal. They are rat race leaders. Now is the time to “step up, Jamaica!”

Why can’t we treat everybody nice?

I recently was at a Johns Hopkins Hospital clinic for a medical procedure. Everybody there treated me so nice and I told them and thanked them for it. This is particularly important  to me because I think we desperately need a cultural change where this is typical behavior. I advocate this change in three of my books, “Boycott Money And Save Your Soul”, “Leave The Rat Race To The Rats”, and “A Jamaica Poor No More”.. This cultural change that I advocate, I call the Goodwill Revolution. Being nice to everyone creates goodwill which is an important part of the Goodwill Revolution.

Hostility and belligerence between countries are creating catastrophes all over the world. Brutal wars and destruction abounds. Instead, countries need to make a conscious effort to be genuinely nice to all other countries. I know it is a very difficult task, but it is better than death, destruction and desolation. The goodwill Revolution is the solution. Let us start in our personal relationships

Unique

It would be unrealistic and even unfair for many of those who spent their lives acquiring material things to throw them away in order to join the Goodwill Revolution. Such a transition is probably very tough. We want to bring people together, even those that reject the Goodwill Revolution. But I think it is reasonable to no longer make materialism to continue to be their life’s goal.  Stop that and welcome to the Goodwill Revolution

But, this goodwill revolution is unique from other revolutions. Many other revolutions, despite their outstanding merits, have had their reign of terror. But not the goodwill revolution. For goodwill is our goal and also our means to achieve that goal. We will win over our opponents with goodwill. We will seek to make friends of them, to convert them to be  goodwillists too.

But, don’t expect gratitude, appreciation or even positive results right away. Many people are so (conditioned) screwed up by the rat race, that they will be cynical and suspicious. Some will even try to exploit our goodness. Give them time. Persevere. The more converts we make, the better our environment becomes. We are making a better Jamaica at least one person at a time. But, don’t be impatient.