SEXIST AGENDA
After reading 'What Will Men Think Of Next', I found the opinions of Winnie Anderson Brown to be very archaic and extremely sexist. She decried specifically the 'men' in Parliament for wanting to take action to require women to maintain men. It is only fair that the spouse with the bigger income be required to maintain the other spouse. It goes both ways. Miss Anderson Brown does not want equality, she wants preferential treatment. Was she bothered when those same men in Parliament required men to pay alimony to women they were never married to?
What about men who are stay-at-home dads? Should they not be maintained if a marriage is dissolved? There is an increasing number of men who are stay-at-home
parents and she undervalues their efforts by calling them good-for-nothing. As a woman herself, she should not be encouraging gender roles that require women to stay at home and men to maintain them. If a family's arrangement with a working mom and stay-at-home dad suits them, she has no right to denigrate them.
As a liberal, I believe in gender equality, not gender preference. Nothing should be made available to women if it is not made available to men and vice versa.
- Clyde Junior, cjportmaria@yahoo.com, Port Maria, St. Mary, Via Go-Jamaica
COMMON-LAW UNIONS
I disagree with the opinion of the author of the letter entitled 'The case against common-law unions'. I believe that the Jamaican Government was correct and realistic in making sure that common-law unions are granted an official legal standing. Common-law unions have been and still are a strong aspect of our cultural heritage. These unions have many times led to the more formalised marriage ceremony. I believe that Jamaicans were wise in their wish to try to live together first before an attempt, at the more binding legal ceremony. At the same time one has to realise that after living with someone for a period of time, some legal obligations must be accepted.
I believe that contrary to the author's argument, this legislation may motivate people to try the more formalised approach. One of the perceived benefits of the common-law marriage was the lack of official legal obligations to your partner; this benefit has now been removed. This law will protect all parties involved in such unions and eventually allow this form of union to become more stable. Common-law unions have contributed to our development and I don't believe any stigma should be attached to it. Rather than being archaic, I believe that research will prove that it has been one of Jamaica's most innovative and successful traditions.
- C. Cameron, nilocr@hotmail.com, Nassau, Bahamas,Via Go-Jamaica
THE EDUCATION KEY
Just as 'water is life', education is the key to success and a very important tool in making the future prosperous. Times are hard and are getting harder with employers trying to cut back on spending and high labour cost. Employees have to contend with the increasing fight to keep a job in this constantly changing world. A good education and constantly upgrading oneself are the solutions to the prosperity that we all crave. GSAT, CSEC, SSC, GCE, CAPE, first degree, etc. are all stepping stones along the path of life. It is now that a certificate has little or no value. First degrees and PhDs are what employers are now asking for.
That is why passing the CSEC is important, for it is the ticket to university/college, the reward for the second stage of the marathon. Then on to university/college to face the challenges/obstacles, which after overcoming, open the gates of success. We are now in the technology age, where people are losing their jobs to computers and machines. Machines are now cooking, washing, cleaning, cutting, making, etc replacing human labour. Almost every vacancy notice today includes "must be computer literate" showing the importance of the machine. Computers, phones, remote fan, DVDs, etc. are all products of technology, but to acquire them, education is essential. Education makes you trainable, training makes you employable, employment makes you able to move with technology.
- Hezekan Bolton, h_e_z_e@hotmail.com, Spring Village, St. Catherine, Via Go-Jamaica
