THE EDITOR, Sir:

Two weeks ago a man wiping windows at the Devon House stoplight punched my window when I asked him not to wipe my windscreen. Before I could react, another motorist came to my rescue. Another day and another stoplight (Molynes and Boulevard intersection), I was in my car feeling quite despondent when a motorist going through the filter light pulled up beside me and said "Smile nuh man?" then sped off to catch his filter light.

My point is this; I could have migrated to any of the countries I had visited before and would have lived a 'better' life. I am no patriot - no more than the next guy and would leave in a heartbeat provided that I could be guaranteed that ever so often I would have at my disposal the Jamaican spirit that these two motorists demonstrated.

Perhaps I am not desperate enough to consider 'greener pastures'. Desperation is relative as it is dependent on what one is desperate to achieve, be it basic sustenance, increased acreage or larger bank balances. Further, desperation to any degree is a global condition and I find that though I could and would achieve material gains overseas, my Jamaican soul would despair.

New accent

When I was 14 years old, I spent two months overseas. When I returned home, I had a new accent, gained 10 extra pounds and felt disconnected and slightly un-Jamaican. It took me a good four months to return to my true nature. Maybe it was a bad combination of youth, lack of exposure and all the fish and chips I ate.

I will continue to stay in my country for my sake and my son's sake. He deserves to experience the awesomeness of being Jamaican and appreciating his heritage. If we leave, it would be because this rock ceased to be the Jamaica of my mother's and my grandfather's times when you could take the neighbour's clothes off her line because it looked like the rain would come; where people still helped children and old people cross the street, even if they were going in the opposite direction.

Do you know that you can still drive through the countryside and stop at a jerk stand and chat with the patrons for hours and forget that you were on your way to the beach? A Jamaica where I can go to church three times a week, if I wanted to, and praise my God without hindrance.

Apart from the occasional Florida run to visit family and view their robotic lifestyle, this Jamaican life is what I want my son to experience. I pray that amidst this intrusive globalization process, we do not lose ourselves in another man's culture.

Kay Watson

keth_w@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica