Story of courage

I am so inspired by your story of 17-year-old Andr? Reid, a student in Trench Town, who is devoted and focused on creating a new reality for himself and his mom.

It reminds me of the terror in which I lived in volatile eastern Kingston as a young adult attending school, not being sure some nights whether I would ever survive 'barking bullets' to see morning. But I stayed focused and have indeed survived and have been able to relocate to a 'safer' place. Being so prone to complain at times about what 'more' I need, I'm reminded to count my blessings and look for opportunities to give more. Thanks for running that story of courage.

- Cynthia Grant, judiglen@aol.com, Vauxhall, NJ, Via Go-Jamaica

Lack of discipline

I support the substance of yesterday's editorial 100 per cent. The tales I heard and read during the World Cup tournament ofthe West Indies team members lacking discipline, effort, and even a willingness to try and train hard quite blew me away.

Added to that was not just losing matches, for one side in a game has to lose. It was how they lost. Then, on a talk show discussion recently, it came out that the coach had stopped reporting to the WICB on the players' lack of fitness and the lack of effort to improve on that lack of fitness because the WICB 'leaked' it to the players who were annoyed at those comments.

Those annoyed players should have been dropped instantly.

Only then will a new West Indies side learn to take pride in themselves and their game, and who they represent. What the present players lack in discipline, fitness and regional pride they make up for with greed, gall and hubris.

- Geoff Madden, gbrmadden@yahoo.com

The killing way

Why can't the Government of Jamaica accept that things have gotten out of hand, beyond the realms of their ability, cry for help from the international community, and allow the people of Jamaica to retrieve some sort of life that is worth living?

There is a whole generation of young people in Jamaica that are in need of counselling; it is so unreasonable to allow this to continue. We have a generation of young men who are convinced that killing is the way to achieve their goals. They are multiple offenders and they convince themselves that they are normal.

They are totally unaware of the fact that they have become psychologically defective and in need of urgent help. Unfortunately for them and the rest of us, there is no help coming anytime soon, and there will never be any help until the two political parties hold their hands up and confess to failing. The PNP has failed us miserably, the JLP cannot do any better.

- G. Parker,

xtparker@yahoo.com. Via Go-Jamaica