The Editor, Sir:

Killed ... Murdered ... Mutilated ... just some of the words that form the silhouette of our news.

Unbearable ... Intolerable ... Unendurable ... just some more words that express how we feel, how the youth feel.

The persons who need to study late in the nights to pass an exam fail because of fear of death. Those children that need to be well rested for an exam ... fail because they are unable to sleep, they fear. The real fear is, will it continue to be unfair?

The real fear is, will the Government continue to fail us, and 'fail us?', because they have failed in their attempts to help us, and they have unknowingly given some of us the grade F. This news is depressing.

Become the change

The challenge is for us as youth to rise above the situations that we face. The challenge is for the youth to become the change (that these politicians speak so much of), the challenge is that we make the difference. The challenge is that we not let the society determine who we are, but we rise and 'take our place.'

Obviously, I do not expect the Prime Minister to stand between a gunman and his victim. We expected plans to effect this change, but we have waited, and far too long. Well, I guess better late than never, huh? We do not have any other option, now do we?

Or do we? On Sunday June 8, 2008 thousands of Baptist Youth across the world were scheduled to join together in their countries to pray about the plethora of issues affecting them. Does it really become necessary for us to list these problems...since they are present right on the front page of our newspapers? The theme for the day was "Dive Deeper in Prayer." I beg the Christian community, please, let us become totally immersed in prayer for our country, and let not the prayer end there, let us "pray without ceasing."

Stop blaming God

And, for those of us who have lost faith in prayer, and have lost faith in the Church: stop blaming God, stop blaming the Church, and do something. The change can begin with you. Each person can be the 'change' ... if you decide to change the course that Jamaica is on.

Let us learn to react to situations without shouting, let us learn to treat our neighbours well ... let us even learn to share a mango with the neighbour you have never spoken with. Let Jamaica return to the "one love" attitude that my parents tell me about. Give us the chance to experience peace.

Young people, let the change begin with us.

I am, etc,

RANI SITTOL

dr_s91@hotmail.com

Worried Young Person.