Belize Melting Pot of Cultures

[topsieBeezelbub]

I can't believe I had to watch a stupid Republican commercial to see this video! Blech!

[TheUptown305]

i only listen to mayan people n try to see n heard things the way they do in belize no disrespect to the rest but maya comes first one love maya.

[MerchantofTarshish]

A salute to our Belizean neighbours from Trinidad and Tobago! Lovely country and people!

[wrenigade1]

This video is a BUNCH OF PROPOGANDA, and DOES NOT accurately reflect the TRUE cultural dynamics, nor history of Belize. And, yes, I am a Belizean -- born & bred! It was CLEARLY produced under the Said Musa regime. Lies!

[wrenigade1]

This video is a BUNCH OF PROPOGANDA, and DOES NOT accurately reflect the TRUE cultural dynamics, nor history of Belize. And, yes, I am a Belizean -- born & bred!

[ursa41]

a 0:17--"North American"???? My Spanish ass!!! WTF are you TALKING about?? Spain took possession FIRST around the 18th Century, followed by England; plus occasional intrusions by Scottish and French buccaneers , along with an influx of East Indian laborers and African slaves, and then add the Mayan population as a whole into the mixture. THAT'S BELIZE!!! Americans HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!!

[js4050]

Too many crooks moving to poor peoples countries and taking advantage of them.They destroy their cultures and religion.God please help these poor people not be taken advantage of like this anymore.Greedy people just need to stay in there own place.

[superdubman999]

@js4050 One day there will be a christian revolution in this country. Mark my words. They will be the first of the world to live as God intended us to. Acts 4:32

[ursa41]

@superdubman999 The hell with a "christian" revolution, as you so erroneously call it---what Belize needs is a Belizean Che Guevara to overthrow the governing kiss-asses who allow foreigners (i.e. Americans) to tear apart Belize's land and culture, and establish a "truely free" Belizean peoples' republic! Shit, Castro threw EVERY EXPLOITAVE FOREIGN ASSHOLE out of Cuba; Belize can do the same.....!!!

[superdubman999]

@ursa41 The Christian revolution would do the same except nonviolently. Violence is never the answer.

[ursa41]

@superdubman999 I agree in a sense, superdubman. But unfortunately, against "imperialist exploiters"(no, I am not an ultraleftist fanatic) , a Cuban-like revolution is the only course of action. Sometimes non-violence does not cut it, even though Ghandi was relatively successful in making India an independent republic through his "passive resistance" methods back in 1947.

[superdubman999]

@ursa41 I am an ultraleftist fanatic lol. In a sense, i used to consider myself a communist until i read the bible. I realized the answer to leftists and marxists is the bible. Socialism is a rip off without God. True sharing of wealth only works when the Spirit is among the people. And with a country that poor with 90% of the population being christian it is the ideal place to have a real christian nation, with no government at all. The people get along and the church provides.

[ursa41]

@superdubman999 It sounds fine and well, but I never trusted the Church as it has a penchant for keeping people uneducated, naive and "in the dark". An example was Europe in the Middle Ages--Church had the same power and practically monopolized all facets of society. The poor remained poor and the wealthy KEPT them poor, through the false hopes & promises of the Church, which was as suppressive as any king and queen (I DESPISE monarchies!). No, I think a secular People's Republic would suffice.

[superdubman999]

@ursa41 The church during the middle ages was horrendous? They had crusades and had indulgences and totally were hypocritical of the bible. Read the bible Acts 4:32 it describes how christians lived till 300AD when constantined perversed the christian faith. Real christians don't believe in ownership or join the military. They share all that they own. I never said the catholic church would run it, but that the church of people would run it. The holy spirit is in everyone, not just the priests

[ursa41]

@superdubman999 Like I mentioned earlier, it all sounds "good & sweet" but, WAKE UP "Heaven" THIS IS NOT!!!! You BETTER have a military and "Ministry of Internal Security" if you don't want your "Christian revolution" to be walked all over by belligerent states! You place way much emphasis on the bible, man; you need to research books and documentaries on world/military history. Re: French, Russian & Cuban revolutions: once successful, SECURE your revolution from within and from the outside!

[superdubman999]

@ursa41 It would be pointless to gain the whole world and lose your soul. God protected the Jewish people from egypt will he not do the same for us? If we don't have a military and devote ourselves to Loving all neighbors even our enemies we would have the worlds sympathy even the citzens of the evil U.S of capitalism. Only the truth can set us free. And Christ is the truth.

[romanrokstar]

this 2 1/2 minute video doesn't show all there is to Belize period!!!!! it makes Belize look so out of date.....most of the footage is of rural communities. i am a Belizean and i would like more than this portrayal.

[Mrcor916]

@romanrokstar I agree. Not a second of this footage on the beautiful islands. Well I guess it's a video on the people of Belize and not the country's natural beauty, but it's still a missed opportunity..

[romanrokstar]

this 2 1/2 minute video doesn't show all there is to Belize period!!!!! it makes Belize look so out of date.....most of the footage is of rural communities. i am a Belizean and i would like more than this portrayal.

[elenavlada]

is belize going to join miss universe 2011?

[Mrcor916]

I spent a lot of time in Belize in the 90's and found the people cordial, proud, generous and most of them were, despite the wrecked education system, a lot more aware of what's going on in the rest of the world, than Americans.

That being said, the country is run by a bunch of crooks, whether they'd be PUP or UDP. A bunch of self serving bastards and the Belizean people deserve a lot better..

[pritymity]

@Mrcor916 but when we migrate to the states or elsewhere we rival any and all in academic ability...true?

[Mrcor916]

@pritymity

Dunno. I have no idea how Belizeans are doing abroad. But I know some Belizeans who migrated back from the US, and yes, all of them were glad to be home ;-)

[LukeFFC]

As I can see from this video white Belizeans are the ones who work and the rest just party or do nothing.

[SkinnyFabulous84]

@LukeFFC Bullshyt cause there aren't many White Belizeans..The country is ran by Creole's and Mestizo's..Mennonites Belizeans don't even involved themselves with the rest of the Belizean people and alot of incest goes on with them..So you need to see correctly!

[EZ3Xicano]

@SkinnyFabulous84 Yea, Most Belizean mestizos are decendants of Yucatec Mexicans and Guatemalans

[macal38]

Mackcic,you are right,belize is a 3 world country,its a fact,only a fool with deny it,belize is glorified as heaven on earth,when is hell on earth,belizeans lack basic health care,lack of government services,belizeans go all thier life with ever having a cleaning of thier teet,physical exam,eye exam,is a jobless tiny country,tons of AIDES.

[pritymity]

@macal38 and you can sum all this up from a 2 and a half minute video...i have lived here all my life and that comment couldn't be more wrong...our health care system is now better than the US...

[mackcid]

From this video you'd take away that Belize is nothing but a nonstop party. They conveniently left out that it's a third world cesspool of poverty according to the world factbook.

[bostonred915]

you cant forget Rauls Rose Garden

[iluvyouwyatt]

woo belizean pride :O

[lpm742004]

Bello , muy bello pais, parece un pequeno Brasil, tan cerca de Mexico!,

[Mellow93552]

Belize is overwhelming Creole -Mixed-  Belize's Mestizo's,Garifuna, Mayans and others in Belize are definately more comfy in talking creole... And yes, African background is dominant!

[titoferni29]

I want to buy some land there, Me and my husband, I heard about crime there, is it over rated? I mean we would obviously use common sense, using it would Belize still be dangerous? and which areas are more probable to crime?

[dealermando]

@titoferni29 don't go there... choose instead monaco..belize is too dangerous for you... at night... a gang of aids infected inmates can enter into your house and rape your ass . at the end they'll put fire to your house.

[evageline01]

@dealermando this is such a ridiculous comment!!!!!! where are u from? obviously not from belize

[dealermando]

@evageline01 no, not from belize ! but you should be honest about your third world little country...at night you can't walk in the streets of belize city.

[evageline01]

@dealermando I am honest. Thank you very much. I walk the streets just fine. Go waste your time somewhere else.

[dealermando]

@evageline01 maybe to the same place where you waste yours...there's no need to be rude, ghetto girl !

[dealermando]

@evageline01 if you read the notice of other countries foreign offices ( france, uk, usa) concerning safety and dangers in other countries , you'll discover that belize has a very high crime rate . drugs... kidnapping, stabbings shootings by fire guns ...

it's a dangerous country.... no law enforcment...gangs acting in total freedom.

[evageline01]

@dealermando I would not consider Belize a dangerous country. There's a criminal activity in any country. We do not have a kidnapping and stabbing issue. This is rare. We do have a drugs issue, but its being transported through Belize (not from Belize) into the US. Of course, these people are dangerous. How often would tourist interact with these people??? hmmm Never! If u want to find trouble, you go looking for it. U said something totally false...how gangs of AID convicts are raping people!!

[evageline01]

@dealermando Please go find where u got this information for me. Try to find it and u have not!!!! Why??? It's because its a lie! Don't call me ghetto. U don't know me. I wasn't rude to u. I was just truthful. If u don't like it, its your issue not mine.

[chsn09]

@MrArtiii And LMFAOOO! Who mentioned anything about African roots? I did NOT even bring that up! That/it was YOU who brought that up! And FYI, I am aware of the African roots that exist in Latin America and the Caribbean and they are very much pervasive and have influenced every aspect of Latin America and the Caribbean respectively!

[chsn09]

@MrArtiii LOL! Watch your freakin mouth when you talking to me dude buddy!!! Belize is in Central America but that does NOT mean that it is included in or as part of Latin America! I don't really care but I have always wondered its place and positions as many have mixed feelings on its location and grouping and status!

[carameloxx]

mmm that first girl love those tiger eyesssss

[Dahnje]

yes

[dawns31]

My husband and I would like to live there possibly but we are just looking into it. He has a small income but I would need a job. Also we have two pets. Is there any type of quarantine there? That worries me. Went there on a cruise and feel in love with it and the people.

[djj6024]

No, Latinos?

[skatemagnet101]

haha...im in belize right now!!!!

[asopaso07]

Yes there is kriol speakers, aswell as Spanish, Mayan and English <--- official langauge because of the colonisation etc.

Belize got its independance from the English 1981 so its still relatively young.

I really want to go visit Belize and live in a palapa for 3weeks... thats my dream

<3 Belize

[ChineyEye24]

I miss Belize and La Ruta Maya is next week. I envy everyone that is there lol

[Anitatzec]

Love it!

[HechoenBelice]

Ahhh yes, the women. Gracias Dios!!

[CadjinGisclair]

are there any french creole speakers in this country?

[HechoenBelice]

lol no. well at least i've never met anyone that speaks french

[pgbk87]

nope Belizean Creole English or "Kriol" as we call it

[Delmi1993]

no!!!!

[latina0829]

yup thats Belize for you i miss my country

[Paulbarbato]

Wow I didn't know about the menanites... I wonder if most of them speak spanish/ mayan?

[pgbk87]

No they speak Mennonite German or low german as well as English and sometimes Kriol and spanish as well

[Marllon]

Belize is an English-speaking country.

[chsn09]

Belize IS an English speaking country however most of the population speaks and/or understands Spanish FLUENTLY!

A large if not majority portion of the population is mestizo or mixed with mestizo!

Belizeans actually identify as Latinos and Latin Americans and Central Americans!

[Marllon]

English is the predominant language of Belize, Spanish is the second most spoken language. Just because they have a large mestizo population does not make them nor the mestizos "Latin". Belizeans are anglophones, and very proud to be. They do not identify as Latinos whatsoever, and the ones who do are minorities.

According to Belizeans, you don't need to know Spanish to get by in Belize, but you do need to know English.

[chsn09]

Actually most people in Belize speak KRIOL and SPANISH! In fact there are many people in Belize that know little or no English because they know Spanish! English is used in the politics and government but Kriol and Spanish are WAY MORE pervasive! I know what I am talking about because I said the same thing as you are saying now not too long ago! I had an argument with someone who was Belizean! Most Belizeans I have spoken too identify as Latinos more so than West Indian!

[mykole84]

@chsn09. most belizean i meet say they aint latino and these r the ones with spanish last names. they mostly sound similar to jamaicans or to the people in bay island honduras. when i was in belize i could understand the spanish better than kriol but i could understand it as long as they didnt slang it up. most people spoke kriol even mestizos. this was in belmopan. which is mostly mestizo but they all speak kriol more than spanish.

[chsn09]

@mykole84 Yeah that is what I was trying to tell that BelizeanThug22! How can belizeans be considered Latinos! And some belizeans who claim latinoness they say they know how to speak spanish which is why they are Latino! I am like WTF? But it is up to them what they call themselves! Yeah Kriol is one of the major spoken languages

[Marllon]

Obviously, they're going to identify as Central Americans, since that's where Belize is located, however, Central America is not synonymous with Latin America.

[chsn09]

Well historically and even culturally, Belize and Panama are NOT part of Central America! Geographically Belize and Panama are part of Central America! Belize was an English/British colony while Panama was linked culturally and historically to Colombia and South America!

Belize and Panama were NEVER part of the United Provinces of Central America which developed from secession from Mexico, which was formed from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica!

[Marllon]

Panama is part of the Latin American Union, whereas Belize isn't. I was tyold by a Belizean myself that English is a much better useful language to know in Belize. Belizean statistics show a larger number of English-speakers rather than Spanish-speakers.

Belizeans are not West Indians, nor are they Latinos, they are Belizeans, and if you want to lump them into a group, then it's Central American. Kriol is not a language, but a dialect or pidgin.

[chsn09]

True, yeah Belize is an Anglophone country!

They consider themselves Central American and Caribbean!

In the USA they are considered West Indians especially since in its colonial history it was a British colony ruled via subordination to Jamaica!

But tell a Belizean that they are NOT Latino they will get angry at you! They consider themseleves Latino, even the NON Garifuna black people known as Belizean Afro Creoles or simply Creoles!

[Marllon]

The West Indies are the islands in the Caribbean, such as Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Curaçao , Bonaire, Aruba, Cuba, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, etc. Belize is not in the West Indies.

I don't think what you said is true about them getting angry. Some will get angry if you actually call them a Latino. It depends on the individual. They're not Latinos by geographical definition, though.

[chsn09]

West Indies actually include Belize and Guyana!

[Marllon]

That's a misnomer, just because they're former British colonies doesn't make them West Indian. Neither Belize nor Guyana are part of the West Indies Federation.

[chsn09]

Actually the West Indies Federation Dissolved in the 1960s!

Shoot, many Panamanians are lumped with West Indians when in reality they are Hispanic/Latinos!

And yes Belize and Guyana are often considered part of the West Indies and Caribbeans and Antilleans! I am not saying that is what I am considering them but that is what many people do!

[chsn09]

Actually there is NO geographical DEFINITION for Latinos in reality! Latinos has a meaning based on how it used here in the USA!

Latinos or Latin people would include much more or regardless of geography!

[chsn09]

Also that is why I think labels and categories can be a misnomer or inaccurate or misleading! When historians and anthropologists and related fields, talk about the so called "West Indies" they often exclude, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, sometimes Haiti, and the Netherlands Antilles, and Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba!

[chsn09]

Also many peple include Belize and Guyana as part of the West Indies simply because they are English speaking and have a common bond and have been associated with the West Indies! This is a form of differential association in a way except in historical and cultural terms lol

[Marllon]

I didn't mean that some people considered the ABC islands "Latin", because of influences from neighboring hispanophone countries, but because of the fact that they speak Papiamentu/Papiamento, which is primarily derived from Portuguese, with influences from Spanish, Italian, West African, Dutch, English, and Native American.

Yes, the ABC islands have a huge Colombian and Venezuelan influx, but the "Latin" influence was already there before their arrival.

[chsn09]

@Marllon

Yeah I know that! People say that to a certain extent the ABC islands as they are called are considered Latin because of Papiamentu/Papiamento but many have said Latinization because of close proximity to Venezuela!

Some Trinidadians have argued that they should be considered Latin lmfao!

[Marllon]

Well, I can see the Latin American Union inviting the ABC islands if they were to gain independence in the future, since the predominantly spoken language there is Papiamentu/Papiamento, but Trinidad? Trinidad is anglophone lol, they had Spanish colonists and their island's name is Spanish, yes, and some of them may even have Spanish ancestry, but to be considered "Latin" by the LAU's standards, they must speaking a Romance language.

[chsn09]

@Marllon Well Trinidad was a Spanish colony! And its Spanish heritage was influenced by Spain and also from Venezuela! Many Trinidadians speak English creole, but a significant portion speaks French patois/Creole due to the fact that " While the Spanish RULED, the FRENCH governed"! As a Spanish colony it was not highly populated and it was often neglected, and immigration was encouraged by Spain to boost the colony and so many Francophone immigrants came in the 1700s with their African slaves

[Marllon]

Was a Spanish colony that was taken over by Anglo-Saxons. You can't be part of the LAU unless the country speaks a Romance language, and the fact is that the majority of Trinidadians speak English or an English creole as their mother tongue.

[chsn09]

@Marllon

Yes True! I agree with you! All I was saying is that there are some people out there that say they could "technically be considered so called Latin lol!

[chsn09]

@Marllon

There is actually a Francophonie organization and many places that don't speak French ARE INCLUDED because of their proximity to French speaking nations as well as nations that speak a French patois/French creole interestingly enough!

The french are more lenient and inclusive!

[Marllon]

That's odd. I can see including speakers of a French patois or French creole, because they're derived from French, which is a derivative of Latin, but including neighboring countries that don't even speak French or a derivative of French doesn't make any sense to me.

[chsn09]

@Marllon

Yeah I think the same thing BUT I think it is because many of the African nations that don't speak French as an official language, have immigrant populations from French Speaking African nations and also because so many people in the non francohpone african nations already learn and or know how to speak french!

[chsn09]

@Marllon

Please watch the videos I sent you! One of them is a response to oolibrice Latino In America Afro Latino video!

This person made the video and they sound ignorant! And plus you can give a good perspective on it because you are Brazilian and you are SMART so you could comment on it and let them know!

[chsn09]

@Marllon And some vestiges of the population speak Spanish natively and fluently and some as an ancestral language! Immigrants in the 19th century known as Coco panyols came from Venezuela to work on cocoa plantations which the Venezuelan slave trade was based on, and many Venezuelans remained in Trinidad and they formed a unique culture where they kept alive their Hispanic culture as well as native Spanish Trinidadian culture, and this in turn made Parang/Parranda a popular cultural element!

[chsn09]

Also the West Indies includes such places as Belize and Guyana, because they have Atlantic and/or Caribbean coasts!

For example the full name of Cartagena a city in Colombia is, CARTAGENA DE LAS INDIAS, which would translate as to Cartagena of the Indies or Cartagena of the West Indies, simply because it is a port city and has similarities and culture and a connection to Caribbean and slave imports of trade and things coming from the West Indies!

[Marllon]

If we're going to consider Belize and Guyana West Indian countries solely because they face the Caribbean Sea, then we must do that every country that has a Caribbean coastline.

The term "West Indian"is beyond flawed.

[chsn09]

@Marllon

Yeah I agree with you that the term West Indian is FLAWED lol!

That is the same thing I was saying! People consider Belize and Guyana part of the West Indies because of the Anglocentricity of it all!

So I argued once that if they include these, then MEXICO among others should be included!

[chsn09]

Oh lol, the United Provinces of Central America existed until about 1840 just to let you know lol!

[chsn09]

And I am not LUMPING Belizeans or Belicenos into a group! Maybe you can lump them into a group!

What I was saying was what the majority of Belizeans and Belizean-Americans believe!

I would never consider a Belizean, Latino but they get angry at me when I tell them that!

[Marllon]

I just refer to Belizeans as Belizeans. I get so tired of people trying to "Latinize" Brazilians, Belizeans, Curaçaoans, Arubans, and Bonaireans, just because we speak a Romance language and/or are neighbored by a Spanish-speaking country. We're not Latins.

[chsn09]

Yes you are right all of the Netherlands Antilles islands and Curacao and Aruba and Bonaire have been luped into the categories of Latino and Latin simply because it has been influenced and "latinized" by neighboring Spanish speaking countries and close proximity to Venezuela!

Also Curacao among others has a huge Venezuelan population because of continual and increasing immigration do to them coming there as laborers!

[chsn09]

Also yeah statistics may show that Belize has more English speakers than Spanish speakes, however as statistics are off and somewhat not always reliable, because there is growing and continuing immigration of people from NEIGHBORING Spanish speaking Central American nations, so there is a huge portion of the Belizean population that speaks LITTLE OR NO English!

But I do agree with you however! English is an important langauge in Belize!

[zedjalyano]

nice

liked it