Queen's Commonwealth tour

[anotheoldgit]

Did anyone watch the Channel 4 Documentary on the Queens tour of the commonwealth last night?

How times have changed. One thing I noticed was how well dressed we all were, for saying we had just come through a World War.

When they got to Jamaica it was interesting to note that the Islanders that came out to greet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, were full of enthusiasm and joy, a little different to the present day Islander's.

The TV presenter took us around an ultra poor shanty town, a town that was in two parts each governed by a different gang, there was a strip of land between they called 'no man's land'.

The cameras also went into the local radio station, were the Radio Presenter was conducting a phone in. The people who phoned in were saying that their lives where better before Jamaica became independent. This caused much laughter both by the Radio Presenter and the Channel 4 TV presenter.

Why did these two find it so funny? Having seen how the Islanders lived back in the 50s and how they live now, I tend to agree with those Islanders who phoned the station.

[hc4361]

It is 'easy care' fabrics and elasticated waistbands that have contributed to our sloppy ways. We expect to put our clothes in the washing machine and tumble drier, and wear them without ironing or pressing them. Casual wear has extended into all realms of life.
They were laughing because the reactions were so opposite to what was expected. I thought it was laughter of delight rather than derision.
It was unfair though to portray Jamaica's shanty towns as a new thing since independence.
These shanty towns existed long before then.