THE EDITOR, Sir:DR. ORVILLE Taylor, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the UWI, Mona, in an article appearing in The Sunday Gleaner dated February 6, 2005, said he is informed that the word 'picnic' came from the words 'pick a nigger', meaning to lynch, which was a custom in Oklahoma and other similar states where the Ku Klux Klan was powerful.
He then goes on to say he is not sure how correct this is, but he wouldn't stick his neck out to prove it. What was the point of even saying any of that and how difficult would it have been to research the origin of the word?
In a previous article, Dr. Taylor, purports to be quoting from the first gospel of the infancy of Jesus Christ, which tells the story of a boy whose parents accused Jesus of throwing their son from the roof causing him to die. Dr. Taylor in his article said Jesus commanded the dead boy to say it was not Jesus who threw him from the roof.
What really happened according to the first gospel was that after being accused of killing the boy the gospel states "The Lord Jesus replied to them, 'Do not charge me with a crime of which you are not able to convict me, but let us go ask the boy himself who will bring the truth to light.'"
Then the Lord Jesus going down stood over the head of the dead boy, and said with a loud voice. Zeinunus, Zeinunus, who threw thee from the house top? Then the dead boy answered, "thou didst not throw me down, but such a one did."
I am etc.,
ROBERT GALLIMORE
1 Seaview Avenue, Kingston 10
