The Editor, Sir:

Every time I read the newspaper my heart bleeds for my country. So many things are going wrong. The violence that the country is experiencing today did not start yesterday.

It happened over a numberof years. Forty-odd years later, I can still remember the whippings I received at home and at school, and the state turned a blind eye because we should not spare the rod.

The Church has not spoken out with a clear voice against violence of all types. Over time we as a people have become hardened to small acts of violence and now we ask 'Where did this come from? Why is this happening?' It did not start yesterday.

Not the way

We need to begin to teach our youth that violence, verbal or physical, is not a way to solve problems, but in fact, we are telling the child that this is how to act when we are upset.

I am sad when I hear the leaders talk about praying that God will heal the land or for miracle cures. The cure is here ... in our hearts. Why do we need to look for an outside solution when we created the problem to begin with?

This ongoing violence destroys the good name of the country and prevents much needed investments from coming in. The problem is home-grown and the answer has to come from within.

I am, etc.,

V. TAYLOR

Eccehomo@look.ca

Toronto, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica