Isn’t it Ironic, don’t you think?

By: Mike Rudon Jr.

“Its two and a half years into our term and it is clear that the magic is still there.” – PM Dean Barrow at UDP National Convention

Magic trick: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers

By the thousands they flocked to Orange Walk for, as the effete outgoing UDP Chairman called it, a big celebration. The scene was redder than red, claimed the enthused news writer for Channel 7. The more than 10,000 red garbed celebrants, according to an official UDP release, chanted in the stands, danced to music from the bands provided and partook madly of the food and free flowing beverages. It was a glorious, heavenly time for the UDP, this massive convention. The leader near split his cheeks as he grinned from ear to ear and raised his hands high like a bald Moses preaching to the masses from atop the mountain. Oh, this is a magical time, Mr. Barrow lisped. With eyes shining he simpered – my word, the magic is still there!

I remember times like these not so long ago; a little over two and a half years ago to be exact. Oh boy, those were glorious times. By the thousands Belizeans flocked to every corner of the country to select locations. In buses and cars and on foot they came. They chanted in the stands, danced with mad abandon in front of stages, waved banners and placards and flags, pledged undying devotion. Love shone from their eyes. Back then, as I remember, the only difference was that everything was a sea of blue and the faces on stage were different. And oh yeah, back then we called them Love Fests. Hell, Jules is talking about more than 100 buses taking UDP supporters to Orange Walk! Boss, back in the day I was in charge of buses, and I counted 185 buses bringing people to the last PUP Love Fest held at Cumberbatch Field in Belize City. That’s right Jules, 185!

There is another difference. Back then, when the thousands massed in support of the PUP, or so we thought at least, Mr. Barrow’s eyes lit up with righteous indignation. Grotesque, he said of the revelry, with his nose in the air. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, it is a magical time, he simpers with lashes fluttering. Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? A little too ironic..!

I am sure that I do not need to remind Mr. Barrow about those last days of the PUP, when it seemed that blue stretched from horizon to horizon, and I don’t mean the sky above us. The gentleman who leads the UDP is many things, few of them admirable, but he is not a stupid man. He does many stupid things, but he is not a stupid man. I am positive that when night fell and his brain cleared from the euphoria brought on by cheering masses and the haze brought on by pain meds for his back, he realized exactly what was going on. We’ve been there, Jack. Don’t you remember? We sure do!

If the Love Fests had been any reliable indication of support for the People’s United Party, I wouldn’t be here right now spending valuable time composing hateful odes to my favourite person. If those many thousands who came out every week in bright blue and screamed their love for anything and everything blue were any affirmation of the PUP’s popularity and indication of the way things would have gone at the polls in 2008, I wouldn’t be in front of a computer hammering away right now. I’d probably be Ambassador of the Free Zone holding consultations at the neighbourhood tacos stand (which also sells cold beer by the way). In short, my bald friend, if the revelry told the tale, you wouldn’t be where you are right now destroying the country and talking crap about magic. Hell, I wish somebody would come up with a spell to vanish Dean Barrow. Now that would be some spectacular magic.

But yeah, they flocked to Orange Walk by the thousands. I don’t blame them. I won’t call them rent-a-crowds the way Dean once did. What I will point out is this. Things are really, really bad right now. It is a daily struggle to even put food on the table. So a free ride on a free outing far from the misery of home, complete with free food and free drinks and free music. Damn, even for those who weren’t slipped a $50 or a $100, it seems like quite a deal. Next time you can pass for me, buddy. I could have used the outing to ease my mind, but there ain’t no way in hell you’ll ever get my vote. Get the sense?

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