THE EDITOR, Sir:WE ARE a violent people not far removed from the slave plantation. Once we face that awful truth, we will have taken the first step to resolving "the crime situation". The Bible was used to justify slavery and now some use it to justify the abuse of persons, including small children.
As Jamaicans, we condone the rampant abuse of spouses, neighbours, strangers and children. Psychologists can explain why the abused person becomes an abuser. We speak harsh words laced with anger, bitterness and venom.
We inflict pain on others and justify it by saying "pickney fi get lick!"; or "My parents used to kill me wid beating and it never do mi nothing". Someone accidentally steps on your toe and you think it is "OK" to curse him/her. If you feel that a person has verbally "dissed" you then feel justified in wounding or killing the person! Someone caught stealing a goat should be beaten because "he deserved it."
We are guilty of turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the abuse around us. Our explanations vary from "none of my business!" to "he deserves what he is getting". We pretend the situation is not so bad and express shock when another incident makes the headlines.
Against that background, I must congratulate the Ministry of health for not only recognising the problem, but also launching a violence prevention campaign. The challenge to the Ministry of Education & Youth is to do its part for the children who are traumatised at home by ensuring that they are not further damaged at school. This can be done by providing a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to learn!
We need to learn to communicate with each other without being abusive. The past is gone, but we can change and re-write the script for the present and the future.
I am, etc.,
ONYIJE CHIGOZILI
Camp View Apartments
Kingston 5
