A "conversation" developed Sunday on a friends Facebook page as follows:
NEW STAMP: The Bahamas has a new 70c Stamp showing Will & Kate celebrating the Christening of Prince George (their baby).
Which do you think is correct – A or B???
A – Is this another example of Bahamians celebrating their former SLAVE & COLONIAL MASTERS further pushing much of our own colorful history deeper into obscurity contributing to a nation without any real identity lost in the wilderness eager to copy any and everyone else whilst hiding the real absolute atrocities carried out by the Monarch which we revere so much with our heart and soul…
OR
B – Is it just another cute moment that all Bahamians should embrace as a wonderful part of our past and present and eagerly await the next issue of imagery that celebrates who we are as a people…
What do you think A or B???
There were over 55 comments when I looked at it last, overwhelmingly in favour of Answer A.
I commented asking if this could it mean nothing more than the post office trying to sell them to philatelists everywhere?
A response came that "Next someone will say the Statue of Queen Victoria is good for tourism… Smt"
So I suggested that in some minds it is, and we have Sir Milo's bust across the street, thinking of the historical aspect.
Then I got this rejoinder: "You mean the bust of Butler while Victoria sits high on her throne… Ummmmm.."
So I closed with what I assume is a rhetorical question: Can't we form historical groups and raise money for the statues we want? I guess we have to wait for those prescient politicians to direct us?
But really, if a single commemorative postage stamp can cause us to believe we're "worthless", I feel sorry for us as a people. This is a simple postage stamp and they issue quite a number a year with Bahamian and other themes. Surely we've come further than that?
Besides, collectors like them, which caused me to discover, there is a web site devoted to "The Royal Fans" (heaven knows why but…) and Bahamas Information Services issued the following press release to accompany the new issue of stamps.
Here's a snippet:
"NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas Postal Service has released a set of stamps celebrating the christening of Prince George.
"Born July 22, 2013 and christened October 23, of that same year, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge is the first child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine Elizabeth “Kate”: nee Middleton). Prince George is also third in line to succeed his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, after his grandfather Prince Charles and his father.
"Along with the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the United Kingdom Overseas Territories of Ascension Island, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha, also produced a celebratory collection of stamps.
"Andrew Robinson designed the set of stamps issued by The Bahamas, which feature photographs of royal christening scenes.
In the final, if the post office, which is a burden to all taxpayers, can get some revenue by issuing a stamp that collectors around the world want, I say go for it.
