The clamor for Virgin Islands Culture in our curriculum has been heard many times over the past decades and may have first been uttered in the past century--if one judges by the tone and content of some of Edward Wilmot Blyden's writings, some of which are seen in this volume under the topic "Resistance". The following article is reprinted from the leaflet 50 Years, published by the St. Thomas Friends of Denmark Society in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the "Transfer" of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States of America, March 31, 1967.

Quo Vadis

(JH, SH, C-U)

Eldra Shulterbrandt

...And now to the future. All of us have pet hopes and dreams for our own future, for the future of our children, and for our loved ones. Far too few, however, allow themselves to dream of the future of the community of which they are a part, and for which they are partially responsible.

There is no gains-saying that the future of our Virgin Islands is inextricably interwoven in the dreams for ourselves and those we have for our children.

Any dream for our future must, of necessity, be broadly based in our past, and in the values which we presently hold dear. What are the important things to us here and now

. . .

If this question were asked, many people would say that the most important thing to us is "our way of life." What is this "way of life?" To different people it means different things. To some it is the quality of human relations practices here, (of which we are so proud)--that people of different races, creeds and persuasion can live together in mutual respect, in harmony and in peace. To others it means the current booming economy, and the charisma and challenge of their role in rapidly increasing this economic base. To still others it is as basic as our "quaint" street names, our wonderful climate, our culture, the unique blend of architecture which identifies us from the rest of the Caribbean islands, or simply our memories of the past. We hold that it is no isolated quality, no one dimension, but it is a subtle blend of the physical characteristics, combined with the human intangibles which are so difficult to describe, but which are so very real.

Admittedly, there are other places in the world which are as beautiful as the Virgin Islands, those that can also boast of gentle, friendly people. There are areas where the natural resources far outweigh those of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, but we know of no spot in the world that has the magic blend of qualities--human and natural--that we have here in the Virgin Islands. This, then constitutes our "way of life"--a beautiful, natural setting--people living in dignity and mutual respect for one another and with a common goal of creating and developing a better life, each having an opportunity of sharing in the fruits of his labor, in accordance with his ability and regardless of the roots from which he sprang. With this definition then, let us contemplate the future of our Virgin Islands. What may we expect it to be in the next fifty years, or more?

In any projection of the future, whether it be in the Virgin Islands, in Denmark, in Hawaii or any place in the world, we can be sure of only one thing, the inexorable mark of CHANGE. There will be Change on many levels and in many directions. There will be change in population, in communication, in economy, in culture, in transportation and on every other major front in which we are presently involved. There will be change in values and change in priorities. There will be change in education and there will be change in our social patterns. There will be change in our "way of life." We will pass through many new phases in the next fifty years, of this we can be sure.

Passing from one phase to another does not necessarily imply retrogression or negative results--it can be a blending, a modification, utilizing the best of what we presently have, molding it with the new and the fresh, to meet the challenge of the future. In order to do this, however, we must make a conscious effort to identify those areas of our "way of life" which are good and true, and to hold fast to them against all threats . . . maintaining our basic human values, while at the same time directing our growth and development along a positive, orderly path.

Let us take a look at a few of the changes which we must anticipate, dream about, plan for and direct. It seems reasonable to believe that tourism in the Virgin Islands will continue to be blooming in the next five or ten years, only if adequate provisions are made for its protection and growth. Some one jestingly remarked that it is cheaper to spend a two week vacation in Europe, all expenses paid, than it is to spend a similar time in the Virgin Islands. If this be true, what effect will it have on tourism, on our economy and eventually on our people? What is our responsibility to affect this change?

Visitors to our shores like our people, they like our sea, sand and air; they like our breathtaking view and our clean, healthy towns, but what provisions are we making to keep Sandy Point, John Brewer's Bay, Coki Point, Hull Bay and other beaches virginal, with sparkling white sand, free from empty bottles, cans, debris and, most importantly, in the public domain. This must be part of our plan. If the Virgin Islands is to continue to be recognized as one of the glorious spots of the world, we must preserve our natural resources, our dramatic views.

The possibilities of land values spiraling to such astronomical heights that those of modest means can no longer afford a plot, are real. Unless we plan, today, and direct ourselves to these possibilities, we may wake up to find that only those with substantial wealth are able to own a home on our hillsides, on our valleys--in the choicest spots where views are magnificent. Forbid it that the day should ever come when, on walking down Queens Street, Main Street, or Kings Street, we are assailed by sign after sign saying "For San Franciscans Only." This would strike at the very heart of "our way of life" and might destroy one of the very real reasons that encourage tourists to come to the Virgin Islands.

Since we are dealing in dreams, allow us the privilege of sharing with you our dream of what the Virgin Islands could be in the future. We beg your permission to be fanciful and free--to be visionary--to dream.

In our dream of the future, the glorious heritage which was ours has been sustained and enhanced. New discoveries in science and technology have been utilized to beautify our cities and towns, to provide water in boundless amounts, to maintain electricity and power in sufficient quantities to supply our industries, to make our hillsides and our valleys velvety green. There is food aplenty, grown on our own farms and served fresh daily on our tables. No longer are we at the mercy of the whims and fancies of external sources of food. We produce our own milk and cattle, our own bread and butter in sufficient quantities to fill our own needs, and to share with our neighbors.

In our dream, industries have been developed in a well planned, orderly fashion. They are servants to our people, providing them with their needs. They are never the masters.

We see our people producing and sharing the wealth which has resulted from sound economic planning.

Our dream continues. Our economy is strong and growing ever stronger, but it is developed, not at the expense of the people; but with their cooperation, their labor and their vision.

. . . and in our dreams there are microfilm newspapers and super transistor radios and broadcasting stations, television stations beaming pictures in black and white, and also in glorious color--but in our dream their roles have changed--they are media of education on all levels. They give facts; they provide leadership; they transmit news at the very moment it is happening. They have developed a tradition for informing and for educating the people of the world--the world is close knit as a result of their leadership and their efforts. They have been instrumental in bringing peoples together to share their language, history, culture, art--their diversities and their similarities. As a result of the new development of news media, the Virgin Islands is in the midst of world affairs.

. . . And so our dream continues.

We envision changes in educational goals, techniques and philosophy--our children do not "graduate," they grow and mature. The process starts with the parents, even before the child is born, and it is persuasive and pervasive--in the home, in church, on the job, in the community. Teachers are everywhere, and everywhere they are effective and inspiring. Classrooms are centers for the development and satisfaction of curiosity. In our dream, ideas surround us; they are exchanged and explored. Virgin Islanders read--they read for pleasure, they read to gather information, to learn new techniques, to understand the past; they discuss; they are alive, they are alert--they are educated and they are educating. There is intellectual foment; there are scientific discoveries that contribute to the well being of man--there is excitement and there is the satisfaction that comes from serious scholarship.

Our cloud floats gently upward--our dream continues. There has been a Virgin Islands Renaissance in art, in literature, in music, in philosophy. Young people have sparked this curious awakening. They are active in creating art--in writing books--in discussing philosophy, politics. They have purpose and dedication. They are the new leaders, they are the entrepreneurs. Our future is in steady hands.

Most important, however, in our dream we envision our island home as the world's greatest exporters of good will. From all over the universe, men come to live among us to learn the secret of our good life; and despite the fact that other areas in the world will have attracted the transitory visitor, we have become recognized as the Mecca for those who would study and learn the art of living-together; those who would discover the secret labyrinths of peace, those who would attain the comfort of self-realization.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Students should consult a dictionary or encyclopedia on the meaning of quo vadis; they should then do the same concerning the expression status quo.

2. Discuss the question: Does the author appear to be a proponent of the status quo for the islands? In what sense so, in what sense no?

QUESTIONS:

1.Can students furnish two examples of "quaint" street names? What do they understand by a quaint name? is it a Danish name or a folk name like Glass Bottle Alley?

2. In sum how does Ms. Schulterbrandt define "our way of life?"

3. What is it about CHANGE that is absolute in the writer's view?

4. Does the writer suggest that change is likely to be swift and radical?

5. Does Ms. Schulterbrandt suggest we make a choice between "our way of life" and development and growth? Explain your answer.

6. What are the writer's concerns about tourist attractions like Sandy Point, Trunk Bay and Brewer's Beach? What about Main Street? About 30 years later, were her concerns justified?

7. What would Ms. Schulterbrandt have liked to see radio and television doing today that they were not doing in her time? Have things changed where these media are concerned?

8. What is Ms. Schulterbrandt suggesting when she voices dissatisfaction with our school children just "graduating?"

9. In what way is Ms. Schulterbrandt's view of education a humanistic one and not merely a materialistic one?

DISCUSSION:

As students read the remarks of Edward Wilmot Blyden on upcoming pages on higher education, those of Jarvis on the Social Studies curriculum, Euwema on tourism and the economy, Emmanuel's and Clendenin's on the media and Sekou's on the status question, they must consider the extent to which Ms. Schultebrandt restated on the one hand and pre-configured on the other fundamental issues of interest to cultural education in the Virgin Islands.

Which of Ms. Schulterbrandt's views on modernization would be characterized as anti-development by today's standards? Which ones are likely to be considered radical and even socialistic? Considering developments in the Virgin Islands since her time, were her concerns reasonable ones?

Where do the youth fit into the scheme of the Virgin Islands Renaissance mentioned by the author? Do you believe Ms. Schulterbrandt's views of young people were the prevailing ones among persons of her age twenty years after she wrote this article? Cite two folk sayings or teachings to support your answer.

Appropriate field techniques are essentially important (1) if reliable cultural material is to be gathered and (2)if future field workers and specialists are to be assured a receptive reentry into the culture by resource persons and informants when such contacts are indicated In what follows one of our best known raconteurs, who is also a story-writer, shares with us some rules of the road.