Gordon Robinson | Make a change

Despite most of us having no clue where the time went it seems another new year is upon us.

The thing about time is that it not only flies but changes direction, fortunes and perspectives while doing so. Time is multi faceted. And relentless.

For example, look at what time has done to the art of communication. Last week I wrote about old and new telephones. But how many of you, other than Game of Thrones devotees, know there was a time when telephones didn’t exist? And how many Game of Thrones’ zealots believe that the ravens used to send messages were accurate depictions of that bygone era or just a figment of George R.R. Martin’s fertile imagination?

If I show any member of Generation Born Yesterday my vintage Polaroid Camera the response will be “What a way phones looked strange back then!”

Alexander Graham Bell, who allegedly invented the “modern” telephone and actually did, in1885, found A.T&T (American Telephone and Telegraph Company) was born on March 3, 1847, to a world without phones. Had he lived in rural Jamaica he would, as a child, have performed all services ultimately provided by the first telephones.

“Go tell Mr. Bell down the road to come help me wid di planting.”

If father fell ill, Little Alex would’ve been sent running over hill and dale to Doctor’s home in the next district. He’d arrive, panting, at Doctor’s door and knock. Doctor’s wife would open the door.

“Quick,” pant, pant “send Doctor. Daddy sick!”

“Did Mummy send money?”

So Little Alex would run back over hill and dale to bring money.

When I first knew myself, we had a phone attached to the wall that, when picked up, a magic voice was heard “Operator. How may I direct your call?” Then, one day, I saw a strange instrument with a set of numbers in a circle with each number also individually circled. It kinda looked like a clock. We could dial the number we wanted ourselves.

Well, not always. Although we had our own rotary dial, we didn’t have our own telephone line. With what was called a “party line” we shared the phone with total strangers living elsewhere. If they got to the phone first, we had to wait until they were finished to make a call. For non-believing readers I recommend you find and watch the 1959 romantic comedy Pillow Talk starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day. Apart from being a good old time fun movie without today’s essentials of blood, gore and random nudity, it’ll tell you all you need to know about party lines.

Finally, we got our own phone with our own line. But we still needed “help” to make overseas calls which were expensive so not for children. Even parents only made or received overseas calls at Christmas to or from family far away. The phone was very much a secondary form of communication. Letters, lovingly handwritten and sent by post, took precedence. The postman’s daily visit was greeted with much excitement unless he delivered a telegram (the quickest way to communicate in writing) which always meant bad news.

Neither rain nor shine nor sleet nor snow…..

I never got used to the telephone. I don’t trust it to this day. When I lived in Barbados for two years as a law student I wrote home every week and phoned zero times. Again, long distance phone calls were drilled into my consciousness as unnecessary, expensive luxuries to be used for emergencies. So we developed writing skills as a part of being.

Who remembers the introduction of International Call Authorization System (I.C.A.S.) in the 1980s? To call long distance you dialled an interminable series of numbers as your code before being connected. Thus long distance calling was further discouraged. It was during this decade that my distrust for the telephone was cemented as a friend working at Jamaica Telephone Company (JTC) warned that my calls were being bugged.

Before political tribalists get all excited this had nothing to do with government. My reputation for successful horseracing investments had spread and it was well known that my best friend was a top trainer. So JTC employees would tap my phone (and his) to listen in to our conversations and hopefully receive investment guidance. Thereafter, we were extremely circumspect on the phone and only spoke freely face to face.

To this day, I prefer to speak to you face to face rather than on the phone. It has become a phobia.

So when cell phones came in I wasn’t interested. I didn’t even own one until about two years ago when the Old Ball and Chain bought a Magic Rectangle for me and forced me to use it. Even so, it’s turned off for most of every day and I still use e-mail (and what’s App with the few who know I can use that feature) as my main communication tools.

I was cured of granting media interviews (or participating in any radio show) by phone after, as a public servant (briefly), I was interviewed by “Motty” Perkins and discovered how he used the technology to over-ride what I was saying and insert his own view. So, thankfully for all listeners, you are more likely to see the second coming before you hear me being interviewed by telephone on radio or participating in a he-said-she-said verbal wrangle on a “talk show.”

Not that I get any invites………

I continue to prefer to put my views in writing and then allow anyone sufficiently interested to make whatever comment. But I know times have changed and the world is obsessed with their Magic Rectangles at which they stare transfixed for 90% of the day.

Today “scrolling” is a synonym for “exercise.”

When, in 1870, Jules Verne wrote Twenty Thousand Leagues below the sea, he was laughed to scorn as delusional. Now submarines are routine seafaring transport. When the Jetsons spoke to each other on video-phones we chuckled knowingly. Now zoom and the video telephone call are routine.

Expect more changes in 2026. We should revise our New Year Resolutions to cater to anticipated change rather than asking for more of the same. So, with tongue firmly lodged in cheek here are some musically themed new year’s resolutions some public figures might make.

Donald Trump: Eighteen and Over by Cocoa Tea

Andrew Holness: You’ve got your troubles by Desmond Dekker and the Aces

Chris Tufton: Action by Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous

Olivia “Babsy” Grange: Never Grow Old by Toots and the Maytals

Daryl Vaz: Let’s do it again by the Staple Singers

Mark Golding: Dance with my Father Again by Luther Van Dross

Dayton Campbell: The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

Julian Robinson: Don’t Fence me in by Bing Crosby

Philip Paulwell: It wasn’t me by Shaggy and RikRok

The sole purpose of New Year resolutions is change.

I’m gonna make a change

for once in my life.

It’s gonna feel real good;

gonna make a difference;

gonna make it right

I exhort every Jamaican to approach the New Year with a view to making a change in yourself so you can force a change in Jamaica. I plan to dedicate 2026 to advocating for change in Jamaica’s governance structure beginning with making a change in my approach.

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Michael Jackson understood that changing the world begins by looking in the mirror. As a friend commented to me recently there’s more life behind than in front of us. So I can’t expect to continue to do the same things. I won’t. I’m asking you to do the same. Ask yourself what does my country need? Why has my country been stagnant for over sixty years?

Whatever answer comes from deep within your soul then ask yourself what can I do to ensure my country gets what it needs to change its stagnant trajectory? When that question is also answered, no matter how uncomfortable that effort might be to the traditional you, do it!

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com