LETTER OF THE DAY - Needed: imperfect heroes
Published:Thursday | June 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I WATCHED scene after scene of violent confrontations between soldiers and citizens of Tivoli Gardens and the surrounding area, I could not escape the realisation that both sides are fighting to return to a state of affairs that is both perilous and morally indefensible.
The citizens: behind blockades, ardently, vigilantly, violently in support of a gangster who for all his murderous intent does after all 'feed our children'. The military: insistent that order be restored, never mind the fact that order means for many a return to an impoverished and borderline wretched existence.
If it was not so sad, it would be laughable. The only solution to this malaise of violence and corruption is not a virtual return to peace and quiet, if by peace and quiet you mean that reports of murder and mayhem are kept local.
Jamaicans must stand
What is needed is not less defiance but a more concentrated outrage by a contingent of imperfect heroes.
That it is ever acceptable that a gangster and a murderer feed your children, and the democratic process is corrupted by politicians in bed with these thugs, is the real cause for outrage. I wonder how many of those guns, now being used to kill soldiers and police, were purchased by corrupt members of parliament in efforts to compel the
Votes of their constituents?
When are the citizens of Jamaica going to start demanding more of their politicians, by demanding more of themselves? When will we say, "We acknowledge that we have sacrificed the soul of our country for baby formulas, diapers and a few scraps of bread?" No more.
No more
We will not accept the starvation and hopelessness of our children. We will not accept contributions from terrorists to stave off our hunger pains. We will not accept the notion that politicians will pay to coerce our vote rather than work ardently to earn it. We will not stand idly by as our once beautiful nation turns into a narco state.
We are not requesting a complete overhaul of our democratic institutions, we are requiring it! We demand a society that works for the betterment of all of its citizens, and we are committed to seeing that this vision come to fruition.
What we have witnessed in the past few weeks are the symptoms of the disease, and the disease is moral bankruptcy, apathy and complacency. Only after we cure these ailments, can we ever again say with pride, "Jamaica, land we love."
I am, etc.,
Dwayne J. Morgan
Ontario, Canada