PAIN OF THE WEEK: A pregnant woman in a public space was said to be “cussing bad wud” in the presence of a cop who confronted her. When he tried to make an arrest, she resisted. He drew his service revolver and fired. Mother and unborn child lay dead. The community responded with anger. The rest of the nation was horrified yet again. When will the violence end? The anger has continued.

It is said that the cop showed signs of stress some days before the incident. Questions – did none of his colleagues see the warning signs – and if so, did anyone consider intervention? While we’re at it, what’s become of the convalescent facility developed by the Police Federation, to provide a time-out space for fellow police personnel? It is being said that fear of being labelled unable to cope, not fit for active duty, might be the clue to the cops’ avoidance of “convalescence”.

Everybody is supposed to know by now that stress can be as lethal as a weapon inappropriately used. It is being said that the latest incident is the second in which a pregnant woman has lost her life at the end of a policeman’s gun. It is not a pretty story.

In the present case, two lives have been ended at one time. “Sorry” won’t bring back a mother and the new life she was carrying. Some people are saying the cop should be charged for two murders.

Debate has been stirred up about the use of inappropriate language. What is a “bad word” anyway? A widely held view is that it would be far better if the police were to use their valuable time pursuing the really serious crimes, instead of petty things like cussing. But the law is still on the books and so long as it is there, it is punishable. In things large or small, the law must take its course. Some say it is because we’ve ignored the small things up to now why we’re in the mess that we find ourselves. Whether we’d be better off or not, if everybody could cuss as many “bad wud” as we feel, is another matter. Let’s face it, the bigger issue is about indiscipline, the result of everyone wanting to do whatever they want and then offer justification, “Ah nuh nutten.”

WAS THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY the result of “bad wud cussing” or was it more about indiscipline and poor judgement in the exercise of authority? If there was no such thing as “bad wud” to cuss, there would have been no confrontation. Sadly, we’re still not out of the woods, as they say. In two separate shooting incidents over in St James on Wednesday night, two pregnant women were among the victims. This is certainly not good for our image.

MEANWHILE, Yute-Man went off to school the other morning in his new tight-foot pants. When he got there, he was surprised to find the gates barred against him. There is no scientific evidence to prove that apart from creating some discomfort in certain delicate areas, over-tight trousers would be a hindrance to getting an education, but it is not the accepted dress for students in our schools.

As far as Yute-Man and his parents were concerned, this was a wicked plot by school authorities to “cowl-up” his constitutional right to wear the latest fashion. This is a free country. “Yute-Man have him rights and lefts too.” So, what if he passed only one and a quarter subjects in exams? You don’t need “subjects” to become an entrepreneur, which he says he intends to be.

Dissing the Yute’s trousers should not be the school’s business, said his father, who ironically, was dressed in the required uniform of his workplace. From the day he took the job, it had been made known to him in no uncertain terms that any employee who couldn’t keep company rules should check the nearest exit. Is that any different from what Teacher was required from Yute-Man – to obey the rules of the institution? Yute-Man’s father refused to see the connection.

AT ANOTHER school gate, Yute-Man’s sister’s short skirt was not being made welcome. Her mother expressed the view that it was grudgeful the teacher grudgeful why she was sending home Tanisha-Alisha-Beyoncé-Rihanna. Just because her puffy bloomers were showing, ah nuh nutten. “After is not underwear. Is the newest style in shorts, Teacher don’t know style. Imagine saying that they look like old-time baby baggy,” said the mother as she left promising to return again the next morning.

DINNER IS SERVED: “Your meal is ready, Sir. This way to the table… she’s ready for you…” She? The young woman lying flat on her back, covered in chicken gravy with a piece of jerk pork in her left ear and roast fish in the right… she was the table and the meal, all in one. The Body Bar, the latest addition to the Party Scene. The Japanese invented it as a new way to share the delights of sushi. Americans got on to it for a while, but dropped it. So we pick it up like “what-lef” to give our boys something new to revive jaded spirits.

To build a Body Bar – take one attractive young woman willing to submit her body to being adorned with food and drink, like a well-spread table. To complete the illusion, she must lie still while the guys, using their mouths only, graze and forage, like beasts of the field. They say this spectacle was first seen locally in some of our hotels as a tourist attraction. Now it is the locals’ turn to pay big bucks for the privilege. Don’t even ask why young women would submit to being party to such sleaze? We’ve been losing it for some time now.

SHOW OF THE WEEK: We can only be spectators, but we and others around the globe got a high from the Democratic Party convention on our TV screens over past days. Obama well-wishers couldn’t have been happier. Michelle Obama ruled the world on Tuesday night. They say if she was running for office, they could begin re-decorating the Oval Office in her favourite colours from now. The lady blew everyone away. On Wednesday night, Bill Clinton showed that he ain’t over yet. His performance was incredible, but will that save Barack from Republican tribalism which has been using every trick, like kicking people off the voters’ lists? Can you imagine what they would say if we had done that?

gloudonb@yahoo.com