Dances with death
published: Wednesday | February 25, 2004
THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON SATURDAY, February 21, I danced the song 'Butterfly Kisses' with my daughter at her sweet sixteenth birthday party. On Sunday, I was relaxed reading my Sunday Gleaner and I was captured by the story covering the death of senior superintendent McDonald. I noticed he has two daughters the younger of which is 13 years old. Having just enjoyed a memorable night with my daughter and her friends, I am struck by the reality that Danielle will never enjoy such a moment, because in three years time her father will not be there to celebrate with her, her 16th birthday.
How many more Danielles must there be before the authorities take the necessary action to stem the violence? After every murder we get the tough talk, no stone will be left unturned, but where is the action? Those in authority know who the dons are, but refuse to take decisive action to return this country to the rule of law. The police themselves are fearful of taking action because between the media, the human rights groups and lawyers striving to make a name for themselves, they know the criminals have more support than the victims and their families.
I know that somewhere down the road we must, as a nation wake up to the realization that what is happening cannot continue, and that it can only be corrected if enough of us stand behind the security forces and say enough is enough. Until we get to that point, more and more fathers will not be around to see their daughters 'trying out her wings in a great big world as she moves to lipstick and makeup from ribbons and curls'. As for me I want the minister of national security, the commissioner of police and others, to know that save for death through natural means, I would like to dance with my daughters again.
