Heather Robinson, Contributor
LAST SUNDAY, I was in the presence of a group of Corporate Area residents who had gathered for a political meeting. On my arrival, I noticed that they were huddled in groups looking at a particular document.
Wondering what could have captured their attention so much, I decided to investigate for myself. This group of Jamaicans was studying two separate funeral programmes. One of the funeral programmes was for three young people and the other for two. The three had the same date of death and the two also shared the same date of death.
I tried desperately to remember when these five persons were murdered, but I could not. And so I asked to be reminded of how they were killed. The three were the victims of a drive-by shooting that included two, and not one, cars, and the other two were killed elsewhere. How could I have forgotten so quickly both incidents, I asked myself, as both had been in the news? Looking at the dates of birth of these five young people revealed that four were born in the late seventies and one in the eighties. They had just started to live.
Whenever we listen to the weekly crime statistics on a Monday, we are told how many persons were killed by the gun. This is by far the weapon of choice. We are also told how many were murdered using a knife and any other killing weapon. What we are not told, however, is the number of persons who were murdered without being able to offer any resistance, or put another way, defend themselves. This group of murderous killers that are now plaguing our country prey upon defenceless persons, and it does not matter if that victim is four months, four, 13 or 15 years old. As long as they determine that your life has no value, then it is their right to determine when you die.
Since Sunday, I have been trying to figure out why these murderers operate this way. In the old days of the "wild wild west" in the United States, there was an honour code that cowboys observed. They did not subscribe to shooting persons in the back, and certainly never shot unarmed persons. What is obvious is that the Jamaican murderer does not watch 'The Western Channel' or the really good cowboy movies on cable or local television.
MURDEROUS CRIMINALS
Sometime ago, someone who tried explaining why these murderous criminals operate this way suggested that a large part of their motivation is all about the receiving of recognition. So there are parents, communities and leaders who must now accept the responsibility for growing members of a generation who have no concept of the real value of human life, and who also believe that the quickest and easiest way to fame is by becoming a multiple murderer.
Every day Jamaicans ask themselves the question: what can we do about these heartless criminals who are willing to murder defenceless children and adults? Firstly, we must recognise that they are armed cowards who murder for reasons that are not obvious to the police or the families of the dead. And since there seems to be no real logic to their actions, we must ask the question: Is there any one person or small group of persons who know and understand the reason for this behaviour?
REAL MOTIVATION
For my own part, I am at the point where I have to believe that among our entire citizenry, there must be someone who understands what the real motivation is for all these murders of defenceless persons. A word now to such person or persons: Nothing lasts forever, and one day soon your logic will become clear to the entire country. If indeed there is no earthly logic for all of this, then we can only conclude that the world is coming to an end and we will soon see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. But, even if that is the case, while we wait on that time, we must work together to find the mastermind behind all these murders that appear illogical to us, but logical to others. Is there a mastermind who is reading this today?
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former member of Parliament.
