THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM convinced that the country has reached a state of anarchy, when our policemen are being murdered openly and brazenly in the streets. In this beautiful island where we invite visitors to enjoy our shores and culture, its citizens live barricaded behind bars, gates, guards and dogs. It is a shame that we have reached the state where nightfall brings the fear of crime that terrorises people under the cover of darkness.
I have noted this decline in our society has been expressed in a number of scenarios, which affects all people, rich and poor:
The corruption, ineffectiveness and inefficiency of various governments;
The decay of public offices that are supposed to provide services to the public;
The decline in the education and health systems;
The decline in moral values and discipline;
The on-going poverty of the country, the people and of people's minds.
Jamaica, where are we going? Children walk the street with no mother or father to care for them. Whereas the previous generation used to leave the unplanned child with 'granny' or 'in the country' to be raised by a kinder, gentler society, children are now being reared by stressed-out single parents and quite often, by the television, the helper, the overburdened classroom or simply left on their own. A society cannot survive where mores and values are not passed down from one generation to the next. What we are seeing is the result of a complete breakdown in the family unit and thus values in Jamaica.
Jamaicans, wake up! It breaks my heart to see the violence, indiscipline, and plain stupid actions and ignorance that occur daily. When are we going to stand up for what is right and decent, instead of celebrating the man who 'gets away' with something? Am I the only one who feels this way?
I am, etc.,
KATHRYN THOMPSON
kstjam@yahoo.com
