Letter of the Day - Helping children after tragedy THE EDITOR, Sir: AFTER THE unbelievable terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., acts of hope have begun to surface. Among the most bittersweet is a penny drive for the victims spearheaded by a group of 5th graders at a mid-western inner-city school. The media has played a large role in getting word and analysis of this tragedy out to the American public and the world at large, hence schools have been unable to avoid discussing the unspeakable action with students providing informal counselling. Web sites include information on how to speak about this attack with your children. The First Lady also offered advice to her nation in that regard. Three months after a national tragedy of our own, we still have not begun to address the need for counselling of the victims. We don't even seem to have really acknowledged such a need. Yet, we have also had some rays of hope the wife of the Leader of the Opposition established a victim support fund. The Commission of Enquiry, which we can only hope will bring about justice, has commenced, and some of our children also acted in sympathy even though school was not in session. Hoping to show the children of West Kingston that people all over Jamaica love and care for them, the Hellshire United Church Community acted on the suggestion of a nine-year-old parishioner to stage a fun day for 150 children from Denham and Hannah Towns. On July 29, just a few weeks after these children were effectively kept under siege for a three-day period, the Hellshire United Youth Fellowship planned and led a day brimming with talent and positive energy. The day included a church service, lunch and art and craft activities such as the making of peace banners. Food and refreshments were secured through dedicated solicitation as well as community efforts in cooking and baking. Many of the children from West Kingston had never been to Hellshire and their faces were covered in smiles as they eagerly looked around them noticing cacti and the styles of houses in Portmore. Many laughed freely as they crossed over the causeway. For those of us who accompanied them, it was wonderful to hear children's laughter knowing that for many in recent weeks there had not been much to laugh about. The day was hopeful for many reasons the greatest of which, like the action of those American 5th graders was that an act of goodness managed to overcome one of evil. The Hellshire United Church community deserves to be commended for their generosity, the gracious spirit of their welcome, their compassion and the vision behind listening to their children. I can't help but wonder how much better Jamaica and the world might be if we all shared that vision and took more time to listen to our children. I am, etc., REBECCA TORTELLO Barbican
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