THE EDITOR, Sir:

A COUPLE of weeks ago I felt a sense of pride when I saw fellow Jamaicans celebrating together, smiling and cheering with each other at bars and restaurants as Jamaicans did well on the world stage in Athens ­ and sending lots of love to the Olympic team through the media. However, when the Reggae Boyz lost the very pivotal match to Panama on Saturday, I saw a different set of Jamaicans.

I actually heard someone say "a nuh Reggae Boys dat a reggae gyals" in a very derogatory manner. Needless to say that I was most disturbed to hear that. Why do we as Jamaicans treat our ambassadors so fickly? Our love for each other and our athletes is a condition of their success and that is most sad for that will not build anything. Why can't our love and support be constant and undying?

The Prime Minister in his national broadcast said he was hoping to build on the unity and good feelings created by Jamaica's performance in Athens, but he will have to build solidarity on something else. We need to love and appreciate each other not for accomplishments and the pride it will bring us as a nation, but simply for making the effort to do something worthwhile.

I am, etc.,

S.A.H.

New Kingston

shellyannmair@hotmail.com

Back to Letters

Go-Jamaica | Jamaica Star | Go-Local Jamaica | Sports Jamaica | Letters to the Editor