THE EDITOR, Sir:THE GLEANER published a news story recently headlined "Saluting Volunteers" which was most uplifting. Of special note was editor-in-chief Garfield Grandison's comment on how good it was to see good news highlighted for a change.
It is not only great that there should be a front-page article on the issue, but also the fact that this year it was decided that there shouldn't just be a 'Man of the Year' award. Instead, it was decided that honour should be given to several organisations that work to help the poor and/or alleviate crime in the community.
This is especially good when we consider that two major things fuel humanity's drive to do anything in this life: money and recognition. If one cannot have both or even the former, then one can at least have the latter.
Recognition is one of the greatest ways of encouraging people to continue doing 'good without reward'. As we say in Jamaica, 'Encouragement sweetens labour'.
Furthermore, the publicity given will attract (hopefully) more volunteers for one reason or another.
Another endearing side of the matter was the fact that so many religious organisations seem to be involved.
Too often, there is criticism that the Church does nothing more than preach a pie-in-the-sky theology of some distant after-life of joy and richness.
This otherwordly ideal begs the question: What about some sort of fulfilment now? The growth of volunteerism is the root of the secularisation of theology - the only way religious musing will have meaning in this post-modern world of skepticism and materialism. This is praxis, action dominating theory, the ground of liberation theology.
The practicality of the argument is this: Man knows his current situation and his fellow man before he even knows about God or any other spiritual truth. The poor and destitute have no time for doctrinal debate. Their task is merely survival.
I am etc.,
NICHOLAS ALEXANDER
jamaicayouth@yahoo.com
nic7lex@hotmail.com
