An irreverent display
published: Sunday | August 29, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I THINK that the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission should be commended for the tremendous amount of planning and work which they do each year in bringing to the forefront the talent and creativeness of the people of Jamaica and especially young Jamaicans. For this reason I am somewhat hesitant to make the following comments, but feel that I must.

Recently, I listened to a young child, a prize winner, making a dramatic presentation, the narration of which was punctuated with the expression "Lawd Gad". It seemed to me that such a display was quite irreverent because the Lord's name is a holy name and should only be bawled out in worship and praise. One of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 v 7) states, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain".

It seems to me that perhaps there should be some screening of items which are to be presented by our children and for which awards are to be made, and should include those things which are spiritually and culturally uplifting while entertaining and should move our children, in particular, from confrontation to reconciliation and inculcate in them reverence for God and true respect for all ­ we must.

I am, etc.,

ELSIE SAYLE

Kingston 6