Devon Dick
ON WEDNESDAY, October 19, a letter to the Editor stated, in response to my article that 'Maroons should apologise', that I should 'let sleeping dogs lie' asking what an apology would accomplish.
However, that author failed to recognise that sleeping dogs can have fleas and they can have an impact whether the dog is sleeping or awake.
An apology would mean that the Maroons' story would have better balance and it would prevent hagiographies on the work of Maroons. And finally, it could prevent us from making the same mistake and help us to find correct strategies in crime fighting and in the quest for justice.
DISRESPECTFUL TO BOGLE
My interest is Paul Bogle, National Hero. I am examining all that I can get hold of about Bogle. So it led me to the book, written in 1997 and endorsed by an official of the Maroon community, which questioned the credentials of Bogle to be a National Hero and asked that the issue be revisited. The book further added that Maroon ancestors did not respect Paul Bogle and he was 'held up to ridicule by the Maroons'. It is the Maroons who should be told to let sleeping dogs lie. Until they retract these statements, it cannot 'just go suh'. This is disrespectful to Bogle and the 3,000 others from St. Thomas who sacrificed their lives for the well-being of Jamaica.
I remember The Honourable Barbara Gloudon once telling me that Bogle was one of her favourite heroes. And there are many like her. But this question mark over Bogle means that others might not have a high regard for Bogle.
MORE INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT
A couple years ago, I was interviewed by a man who was preparing a documentary on Bogle for BBC. His reason for doing the documentary was that Bogle's protest was the beginning of the end of the British Empire. Any day Jamaicans recognise what Bogle did for that country, then in honour to his memory, more investments and development would be there. The significant locations would be a must see for tourist. As a start, the government should build a village with exactly 1,000 houses in memory of the 1,000 houses destroyed by the authorities in 1865. What we need are more tangible things to remind us about that remarkable event - not vilification of Bogle's achievements.
The truth is, the Maroons should apologise. When I wrote the book on the contribution of the Jamaican church in nation building from 1865-1999 one of the chapters recalled the failures of the church. I also said that the Jamaican church should apologise for slavery. Only the immediate past Pope on behalf of his church on a visit to Jamaica apologised for slavery. I know of no denominational head or Church Council that has done the same. The Bible records the strengths and weaknesses of many heroes of the faith.
The Maroons have been criticised. Read Mavis Campbell who asserted that Cudjoe gave up too much to the English forces in that treaty of 1738. Read also, Jamaican-born professor, Orlando Patterson of Harvard, who, commenting on the treaty signed between Cudjoe and the authorities called it a 'sell-out' on the part of the Maroons. He further blamed Cudjoe for selling out the Windward Maroons who now had to sign a similar treaty otherwise Cudjoe and his troops would have captured them and sent them to the authorities. Guess who killed Tacky, the freedom fighter at the instigation of the English?
SELL-OUTS?
Maroons! Guess who killed Three-Finger'd Jack at the instigation of the English? Maroons! Guess who captured Bogle at the instigation of the English? Maroons!
Nanny of the Maroons was a great hero. Cudjoe did well to make the English forces ask for peace but the treaty and his attitude towards the Windward Maroons, Tacky, Three-Finger'd Jack and Bogle left much to be desired.
Jamaica is suffering from black on black killing. We have had two peace treaties under the auspices of Bob Marley, other treaties and codes of conduct and they have not worked. Learn from that Cudjoe treaty!
We are suffering from the fleas of 'sell out'. The freedoms we have and the benefits we enjoy, we are denying others. In addition, too many Jamaicans are sleeping with the enemy and catching fleas.
Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building'.
