THE EDITOR, SIR:
THE FIGHT against crime is foremost in the minds of many persons whenever they think about what needs to be done about the present in order to secure a better future for Jamaicans.
What has been posited as the 'Road Map', as some other reports before were, is at best a bandage, because it, if implemented, will only lead to a temporary cessation of the criminality in our country, instead of being a sustainable solution to a deeply ingrained problem.
We need to realise that peace is not just the absence of war, and the deviant behaviours we see being displayed in our country on a daily basis are not just a disease to be cured, but human beings whose lives need to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Sometimes the impression is given that if we just had the resources to catch criminals we would be OK.
'MIS-SOCIALISED' CHILDREN
These 'criminals' are children who are 'mis-socialised' and in many instances were not shown an alternative lifestyle. Sometimes we speak about the impact of criminality on the economy, as if that is the main reason we want the crime to stop, without making reference to the importance of the life of the person we call a criminal.
The solution to the crime problem, the pursuit of peace (wholeness), is to be found in the Christians' Road Map, the Bible. The message of Jesus, referred to as the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15) is centred on the idea of love, and without this all attempts at achieving peace will fail.
The love referred to here is the genuine concern for the well-being of others, and not the 'movie love' which means 'I want to have sex with you'. Jesus spoke about this genuine love in Matthew 25: 34 ff. when He made reference to the judgment day where persons will be reminded of their behaviour towards Him when He was thirsty, hungry, sick, and in prison.
Instead of focusing on catching and punishing criminals (as necessary as that may be) let us use some of our time and energy to show them, and potential criminals, genuine love. How many of us go the prisons and show inmates that we care about them? How many of us go into the ghettos and do what we can to help those in need? If Jesus were in prison, would you visit Him? If Jesus were hungry would you feed Him? Let us see Jesus in everyone and commit ourselves to do all we can to spread this Gospel of Peace by showing love to everyone.
I am, etc.,
REV. GARY GARDINER
garyogardiner@yahoo.com
Vineyard Town
Kingston 3
