The Editor, Sir:

In response to Ian Boyne in The Sunday Gleaner:

Dear Mr Boyne:

I enjoyed your article on the need for the resumption of teaching good values to our young (and old). I pretty much agree with everything you said.

There is one important fact that you left out, though. This is that good values and attitudes must not only be orally taught, but must also be displayed by those who take the lead in Jamaican society - the politicians, leaders of business, the constabulary, media, Church, etc.

Adopting good values

If we, the Jamaican middle-class, wish for the majority working-class to have good values and attitudes, we had better get used to the idea of living by those same good values and attitudes ourselves. 'Do as I say, but not as I do' may have worked well for the church pastor, but it definitely will not work for the broader society.

Our political leaders cannot expect Jamaicans to adopt good values when they themselves are willing to sacrifice the national good, for the sake of their own political careers and personal enrichment.

The leaders of business cannot expect Jamaicans to adopt good values, when they themselves treat their employees like dirt, pay them starvation wages and engage in cut-throat, dishonest business practices.

The constabulary cannot expect Jamaicans to adopt good values, when they violate the laws themselves.

Members of the media houses cannot expect Jamaicans to adopt good values, when they push a political agenda as factual news.

And, of course, our churches cannot expect Jamaicans to learn good values, if the clergy do not live morally upright lives themselves.

I am, etc.,

PETER HOPKINS

yamdigger@hotmail.com

Toronto, Canada