THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I read The Sunday Gleaner in the frequently disturbed solitude of my bedroom, frequently disturbed by inaudible music being pounded from cars driving by, I began to admit to myself that we live in a society that may never be what some of us believe it can be.
I read Orville Taylor's article 'The Killing Fields', Ian Boyne's piece as he looks into 'Jr. Gong's' Welcome to Jamrock and, as if those were not enlightening enough, I had to read Peter Soares' 'Vision of a New Kingston'. Imagine if John Maxwell wrote for this newspaper, what would my evening of social commentary be like?
RESOUNDING MESSAGE
At the end of it all, there is one resounding message radiating from each article: as a country we lack vision! Or is it that those with vision are no longer living in this country, but have taken flight to countries where vision seems appreciated?
Those who have not yet left might think to be careful, because, while I am no supporter of Dawn Ritch or all the points she raised in her article 'America has lost its spirit', it goes to show that we are not alone in our myopia.
Peter, I share your disappointment as well as I share your vision. But when successive governments waste taxpayers' money, what we get are roads that cannot be maintained; squatter settlements all over Kingston, making it one big ghetto; our young men starved for opportunities and recognition; many are fatherless, left to interpret life and their role in it all on their own. Hence, Jr. Gong's Welcome to Jamrock!
We spend so much on debt repayment, how can we spend on development? What will we have left to spend on education, housing, health and basic infrastructural development? We can't afford the basic, how can we afford the cosmetics, such as maintaining the median on the Sir Florizel Glasspole and Michael Manley boulevards, which incidentally is the entrance way to Kingston from the Norman Manley International Airport? Walter Rodney wrote about how Europe underdeveloped Africa, but in this the 21st century, who do we blame, Jamaica? Are we not all contributing to our own demise?
ADDRESS THE SMALL THINGS
If we allow things to spiral out of control, we end up with a greater task of correcting the issues, if ever they can be corrected. It begins with addressing the small things, each little one, each at a time.
I have the greatest respect for the Mayor of Kingston, though not necessarily my favourite person. He addresses the issues and stands up for principles. Why do we disobey stoplights because there is no police around? Why not keep our trash in our hands until we find a receptacle (hopefully we will)? Why can't we envision a better Jamaica? Is it because we can't see that the change begins with each of us?
"Give us vision lest we perish".
I am, etc.,
GARY WALLACE
garyw@cwjamaica.com
Kingston 17
Via Go-Jamaica
