THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS pathetic that during the period that we were celebrating the legacy of Emancipation from chattel slavery which our forefathers left us, we seem to be bent on shackling ourselves in frivolities.
This seems to have been started with Dawn Ritch's recent articles in the Editorial Pages of The Sunday Gleaner. Then to be followed by the "Much ado about nothing", which is centred on the statue in Emancipation Park.
In trying to get rid of mental slavery, or any type of slavery for the matter, (spiritual, economical, political, cultural) there must be the realisation of the fact that in the situation there have to be: (a) slaves (b) slave masters and (c) the process of liberation. The question begs the answer from everyone of us, in which category are we?
It was the philosopher J.J. Rousseau who said these profound words, "Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
The eternal price of freedom is vigilance in every area of life. For the media the challenge is to be involved in informing rather than inflaming. To light candles rather than join in cursing the darkness. To liberate through education and awareness. To uplift not to put down. To empower for spiritual and mental liberation and not to be carried away in ignorance and confusion.
In the words of Marshall McLuhan "The media is the message".
I am, etc.,
Dr. FRANK E.
LAWRENCE
St. Ann
