SO where are the doubting “Boltites” today, the people who had convinced themselves (or the bookmakers) that Gatlin is the greatest, and (I suppose) Bolt should go back a Trelawny? While the real world salutes the man who got Jamaica on the map once again, I guess the naysayers are gearing up for another round. The battle is not over until the relays — whatever that outcome, we can at least hold our heads up high.

The Bolt story will go down in history, not just ours but elsewhere. I have to admit that I was not a fan in his early days because of his ridiculous habit, as a young competitor, who ran with a gold chain dangling from his mouth. I criticised him in a column and faced the fire which came from fans who spoke up for their hero. Usain did not complain about my criticism. Chainless, he continued with what he had to do. I do not claim that I was the cause of the absence of the chain. The chain-in-the-mouth returned at Beijing with our hurdler Omar McLeod, roped in his mouth was a string of beads. To each his own?

Usain Bolt is one of a kind. He has many years ahead of him to create his own history. We wish him every good. Retirement is not the kind of word which young people are interested in hearing; but it doesn’t go away. Usain has a lot of post-track time ahead of him. How he will spend, how he will use it, is one of the questions of the day. We have a terrible habit of not knowing what to do with our stars when they complete their rounds, but I’m just wondering, will we honour him in a creative way? Will he share his talents with another generation? Never mind our pride in our stars when they bring us the glory. The question is, what do we do with them after the spotlight goes off?

For instance, besides the statue at the National Stadium, how much did we do for Wint, McKenley, Laing, Rhoden, four men who got us attention on the world stage? Do our young people today as they go past the statue outside the National Stadium even know who they were? How many could identify them today? How will we honour our heroes of Beijing 2015 when they come back? Not Bolt alone, but the others, who excelled? I’m just asking. One thing is certain, respect is due to ones who have truly earned it.

BREAKING NEWS: The Minister of Education has apologised for alluding to unmanageable students in public schools as “leggo beasts”. Who is a leggo beast? What has the minister apologised for? How many of today’s people even know the phrase? I heard someone asking about it, reacting to the latest throw word which has come from the political arena.

“Leggo beast” was — and still is — used by elders who make use of the customs of their time. You won’t find “leggo beast” hashtags on social media (yet) except we decide to plant it there. It originates in words of another time, an admonition of disorderly children, urging them to behave better, to stop being “out of order”.

Like it or not, add it to the current political battle or not, there are too many children in our schools who persist in behaving like wild animals on the run. The minister doesn’t need me to defend him. He can stand up for himself. Why the description should become such offence is another matter. There are many old sayings which slip easily into conversations.

Once again, we ignore other challenges to fight the battle of proper speech. For some people, the very thought of using Jamaican patois instead of English words to pass on Jamaican information is beyond comprehension. Why should we talk that way when there is so much we can take from elsewhere? Why should you use the words “leggo beast”, and in an official capacity at that? That is poor people speech.

I’m not moved by the objection. Is it because the minister should have kept to the path of official correctness and found another way of addressing his audience in today’s language? “Leggo beast” is so…so…ordinary. Why not “animals on the rampage”, “feckless creatures resistant to order”, or “untamed specimens of nature”. There are many more. However, you want to cut it, it is not just about appropriate language. Political opportunity is the order of the day.

Was the minister dissing children and parents by publicly stating that there were students who are unmanageable and uncontrollable? If so, we all agree it can’t only be the responsibility of the school system, for which the minister is accountable.

The minister has now offered an apology to those who have been disturbed by what he said. Whether that will cleanse the system of two words, whether it will make parents, politicians and the wider public to help maintain peace and order in the schools, is a beast still remaining to be tamed.

WOMEN AND STYLE AT BEIJING

Have you noticed it? No more sweaty, baggy uniforms making the rounds on the track. There’s a whole new fashion sense. Thanks to factory-created substitute, all the females on the Bird’s Nest track are flashing hair and more hair. There are more ponytails than you will see at a horse race. Our girls make no apology for taking over the spotlight when it comes to hairstyling. Earlier in the week, our queen Shelly-Ann led the way, adding a garland of flowers around her head. Other teammates followed. While the rest of the world was watching, CANON, the noted photo company, published a stunning photo of a beaming and bright Shelly-Ann and named it the Photo of the Day on the IAAF website.

HONOUR THE WOMEN

It is usual to pay more attention to the men more than the women when it comes to giving out the honours. Jamaica’s women have taken our image to a new level, this year in particular. The rest of the world is acknowledging it, and we must do so too. I’m not afraid to ask if we can erect statues to honour men, who is preparing the one for the women? And not because of style and fashion, but that their dedication and hard work is no less to be appreciated than the effort of the men. Fair is fair. Do the right thing!

gloudonb@yahoo.com