Dennie Quill, Contributor

It's that time of year again. We get all excited about the celebration of independence from British rule. We do so by showcasing our rich heritage, including food, music and the arts. Scores of Jamaicans and visitors are expected to witness the various commemorative events. For the next few days many will forget about murder and mayhem, high gas prices, soaring food and utility bills and party from Negril to Morant Point.

Yes, we are proud Jamaicans - we change our governments via the ballot box even if we kill a few people during the campaign, and individuals are free to choose their religion and other associations, even though we tend to be very hostile to homosexuals.

We are also extremely proud that people from all corners of the earth come to our little rock and become absorbed into the mainstream of our society. The world celebrates reggae music as if it were their own, and dreadlocks has become a fashion statement. But even though successive governments have promised us progress, prosperity and peace, many people remain mired in poverty, and the social ills, such as crime and violence and corruption, continue to envelop thousands of Jamaicans.

Ugly side

Yes, there is an ugly side to Jamaica. Many, by virtue of money and geography, escape this Jamaica and live life behind the windshield of their tinted vehicles. However, this scarred-face Jamaica is the one known to the majority.

This is the Jamaica where disrespect flourishes, where schools turn out illiterates, who become part of the undereducated workforce. This is the Jamaica where adults abuse the children entrusted to their care. This is the Jamaica where life is cheap.

When one thinks about this Jamaica the joy of celebration quickly seeps away. I could not help reflecting on this Jamaica. Take the way we treat our public buildings. I refer to our hospitals, police stations, courthouses and markets.

Whatever else can be said about the British, we have to admit that many of these elegant structures were in good shape prior to independence, to have withstood the test of time. Today, many of these buildings have fallen into disrepair and are little more than crumbling concrete. They are unsafe and unsightly.

Rot and decay

I know a few persons who watched the horror of May Pen market unfold on national television recently. There we saw in lurid details rot and decay in the form of festering animal entrails, decaying fruits and vegetables, pools of stagnant water. It sparked outrage from citizens, who cited the lack of action on the part of the local authorities to ensure that basic standards of hygiene are maintained at this market. May Pen market is not the only one; I am told that nearly all the markets across Jamaica are filthy.

Then there are the police stations. The deplorable condition has been highlighted over the years. These once sturdy structures are falling apart, roofs leak and several have been found to have structural damage.

Many people say they love Jamaica. We hear people talk glibly about patriotic Jamaicans. But Jamaicans are engaged in a war that has resulted in the death of thousands of citizens each year.

People who are engaged in smuggling guns and drugs - do they truly love Jamaica? The policemen who sell ammunition and disclose confidential information, do they really love Jamaica? The extortionists whose activities result in the closure of businesses and rampant unemployment, do they love Jamaica?

These patriots who love Jamaica are putting weapons in the hands of criminals and are responsible for Jamaica earning the dubious distinction of being the murder capital of the world. I ask the question: Is loving a country less about what you say and more about what you do?

Grieving families

Can we really feel a sense of pride in the condition of our nation at this time? What do you say to the grieving families who have witnessed the vile barbarism of their fellow Jamaicans?

The need of the hour is to build a new Jamaican society. Those on the wrong side of the law, I urge you to think long and hard about your actions.

What kind of country do you want your children to inherit? I appeal to you to change your ways and help to move Jamaica forward.

We never hurt those whom we love. Let's love our country like a person.

Send feedback to denniequill@hotmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.