The Caribbean is a sober snapshot of the world as a place of plenty and poverty. It’s a clear picture here because the two extremes rub shoulders at opulent resorts. There is much meta-communication in the rehersed sing-song “Good Morning!” of staff in the corridors. Just the sheer numbers of young, bright people employed by tourism (often far more staff than guests) makes me suspect a low hourly wage.
I’m in Jamaica as a Television Host, the guest of Marjoe Gortner, former child evangelist turned adult event-planner extraordinaire. Marjoe is an alchemist who is equal parts showman and philanthropist and his Celebrity Sports Invitationals draw an eclectic crowd of celebrities, capitalists, and activists where money is raised for one good cause after another. This event will benefit Robert Kennedy’s Waterkeeper Alliance, an ecological group that provides support to small community leaders who protect American waterways by standing up to polluting corporations.
But the backdrop of Jamaica and a growing global awareness of disparity in so many places weighs like a heavy fog in this glorious sunshine. Hunkered under this fog the goodwill and compassion at this event is creating many positive relationships. Last night, I bonded with Geneive Brown, the Jamaica Consul General in New York. Our two spirits united and while we sipped red-wine and munched gourmet food, we hatched a plan to fill empty hotel rooms in Jamaica with compassionate travelers who will work as teachers and drivers to get more kids to school. Although the Jamaican government offers public education, many children still grow up illiterate because of silly barriers — lack of transportation, no lunch money, and no money for uniforms.
Then this morning at breakfast, Joey Pantoliano (The Sopranos, Memento) asked me to join his board of “No Kidding. Me 2” the charity he created with his lovely wife Nancy and Academy Award Winner, Marcia Gay Harden to stop discrimination against the mentally ill. The statistics that he spouted about the suicide rate of our soldiers serving in Iraq was startling. His campaign to get every American kid in touch with their feelings and away from the dangers of “self-medication” is as noble a cause as any I’ve ever heard of.
And at the same breakfast table, the Waterkeeper Alliance’s Nancy (Oh gosh, what was that vibrant woman’s last name?!) summed up the nature of compassion when she described the various water keepers whom her foundation supports. “Some are scientists, some are lawyers, and many, many are outraged housewives. Never doubt the power of an angry mother.”
It is truly a new age. The gift of the new economy (read: new found time,) global commerce and instant internet communication is that everyone can be effective in some way. Everyone can find a way to leave the world just a little bit better than they found it. When I enjoy our beautiful beaches back home in California, I have a hard and fast rule that my kids adhere to. We not only take away every piece of litter that we create, but we also each find one extra piece to take to the trash. Can’t we also do that with our consumerism and our tourism? We can make the world one tiny bit better with everything we do.
It’s certainly happening here in Jamaica this week.. Can’t wait to see what ingenious idea sprouts at dinner tonight!