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| Letter of the Day
July 1, 1999
Unprofessional behaviour THE EDITOR, Madam: ALLOW ME to submit my two cents worth concerning the furore between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Government. I was appalled when I saw the news broadcast on one of our nation's television stations which depicted, what I suppose were policemen and women, dancing around and making general fools of themselves at the meeting wherein they announced a 48-hour deadline for amelioration to their demands. All of this is apparently because of what they call an anomaly which exists in their remuneration package. Forgive me if I didn't get that right, but the issue itself seems so petty that I haven't been able to narrow my mind far enough to grasp it. What I, and I hope all Jamaicans have grasped though, is the true level of unprofessionalism and incompetence which seems to be rife in what passes itself off as a police force. It seems that our local constabulary haven't a clue what the definition of policing is, let alone how to go about doing it. Who exactly do they think they are? And for what purpose do they really think there exists a police force? Do any of them have even the faintest grasp of what it means to be an officer? There may be some people who think that the 30-odd people who lost their lives in the past six days is as a result of criminals taking advantage of what seemed to be an impending break in the already poor service offered by the police force. I however, hold a different opinion. I speculate that criminals, who I assume also watch the news, witnessed the spectacle of police personnel behaving in the manner of hooligans and came to the realisation that that which they thought they should fear is more fittingly looked upon as an object deserving only mockery and ridicule. I for one didn't feel threatened by their scare tactics, since it is usually neither here nor there whether they're here or there. I have learned that the Attorney- General has begun proceedings against them in court. I say three cheers. The police say we the public should be reassured that they have not chosen to take this action in a bad light, in other words don't worry they're not going to strike. I say again who cares if they strike or not? It's all the same to me and I don't think I'm alone in that opinion. I am, etc., JOSHUA CHRISTIE |
| Colour code and beauty contests
THE EDITOR, Madam: FOR YEARS the organisers of our local beauty contests, namely the Miss Jamaica World and the Miss Jamaica Universe, have sent young ladies who are very Caucasian in physical appearance to represent us at international contests. It has always puzzled those of us who are conscious of the negative message this is sending to our people, and our young girls in particular how, in a country where the vast majority of our people are dark-skinned, we are almost always able to find each year two very light-skinned persons to represent us. For years too, we have asked why and have been told we have to send who they (the organisers of the international contests) want and who therefore they will allow to win. The question has always been if we don't send who we have in the majority how will they ever win. If Rosa Parkes had given her seat to that white man in the bus more than four decades ago, one wonders how far the civil rights movement in America would have reached even now. If we want changes we have to make them happen. Trinidad and Botswana have shown last year and this year that black-skinned women of African descent can win an international beauty contest. The often too silent dark-skinned majority is proud. Maybe soon in Jamaica, we will develop enough self love to send more often, women to represent us who look like the majority of our people. And maybe then, so many of our people will not see the need to bleach their beautiful skins with all manner of evil and our children will not come home from school insisting that they are not black, but brown. I am, etc., F.V. SMITH Religious freedoms under siege THE EDITOR, Madam: I READ in your paper recently, a report from CANA about three people in Antigua, who have been arrested and charged with of all things, obeah. I was absolutely floored when I realised that even as we prepare to enter the 21st century, there are still nations, which still engage in the Middle Ages practice of witch-hunting! By the way, is obeah also illegal in Jamaica? Added to this, they could face charges of attempted murder, not because they were found in the act of such with weaponry, but simply because they had dolls with the person's name on them! Imagine that! I am a practising Christian and have no personal interest in practising obeah, voodoo, dilawrance, black magic, palm reading or any other form of Satanic worship which is what all these things are. Nevertheless, obeah is, whether we like it or not, a form of religious expression, which in all civilised nations is protected by national constitution in articles pertaining to religious beliefs and expressions. My concern is, if Antigua will ban obeah and actually enforce it at that, what other religious expression will they not ban? This is of concern to me as a member of a much maligned minority Christian organisation. I am etc. PETER HOPKINS Self esteem and skin tone THE EDITOR, Madam: InThe Gleaner, I was disappointed that Dawn Ritch sugar-coated the article, 'Colour Coding Jamaica.' That's a very important topic, and I wish she had explored it a bit further, psychologically as to why these young women feel the need to alter who they are. What does colour mean to all those young women, and when will we begin to accept that having black skin is not like walking on the wrong side of the street? That's the way God intended. Making such an effort to try and change something so permanent as the colour of your skin is a form of self hate. I have seen some Jamaican women walking around with a pale face courtesy of bleaching cream, while their necks and the rest of their bodies tell the truth - You were born with dark skin. I say get over it and accept that you are beautiful no matter what society says about you. I am not a mother yet, but when I do become a parent, my child will know that he or she is more than just the colour skin he/she is born with. We have a long way to go in Jamaica in not letting others feel inferior because they do not have light skin, straight, pointy nose, and 'pretty' hair. What about character? What is the damage that these women are voluntarily inflicting upon themselves by taking these pills and using these bleaching creams? Does it make them feel better? And if it does, then the issue is deeper than the coating of cream or swallowing some pill manufactured to fatten chickens. Much thanks to Dawn Ritch for writing the article, and opening up to the eyes of many what's happening. I am, etc. ANNETTE DONALDSON The Boodocks comic strip THE EDITOR, Madam: NOT ONLY do I miss the mature humour of 'The Born Loser' and find its replacement to be a poor substitute for that item of entertainment in my daily routine, I also find certain aspects of this new strip to be highly offensive. As a melanin-impoverished person myself I take great exception with the first strip of Friday last (18 June) that seeks to furnish humour with the statement that "real-life white people are not all as funny as the ones on Seinfeld". I consider this and other racial/ethnic humour to be in poor taste and, one would have thought, beneath the dignity of your newspaper. I also find nothing funny in the punch line of the second strip "See? You're still alive!! This thing is worthless!!" Despite the previously published disclaimer of the author that this should not be viewed as condoning violence (or something to that effect) I still did not get the joke. I am etc. BOB FOWLER Note: We have removed the Boodocks in response to the many entreaties from our readers The Editor. US-based J'cans must give more to homeland THE EDITOR, Madam: I AM so tired of Jamaicans in the US telling Jamaicans in Jamaica that there are opportunities in Jamaica for them. Where, where, where? I wish they would go down there and show them where it is. I haven't seen it. If there were so many opportunities in Jamaica, why are they living in the USA? I left Jamaica almost 20 years ago. I am a college graduate, and there are abundant amounts of opportunity here (US) for me. I can always open the Sunday paper and choose jobs by type and location. This is not so in Jamaica. The harsh reality is that jobs are too frequently determined by whom you know. Young women are often asked to compromise their dignity in order to get jobs. This is the reality that they face. Jamaican professionals in the US should offer more than the 'stay in JA and change it' speech. They should share their experiences with Jamaicans and leave themselves available for further assistance if possible. I will begin.. Kirk Smith, occupation: Computer Science. Degrees: BS, MS in Computer Science. I am, etc. KIRK SMITH Time to teach grammar THE EDITOR, Madam: I AM a Jamaican studying in the United States. I try to keep up with what is going on back home by reading The Gleaner and other news sources. I could not have agreed more with the person who submitted 'The Letter of the Day', 'Why not teach grammar?'. We Jamaicans need to focus more on speaking and writing proper English. When I came to America I was able to write quite well in English but I found myself struggling a little when it came to speaking. I had not practised a lot when I was in Jamaica as I spoke patois with my friend all the time. Listening to other Jamaicans speaking even on the radio and television informs me that I am not alone. I must say after a two years of speaking mostly English my English has improved and that could happen for many more Jamaicans if we just practise speaking the language. I am, etc. RICHARD AARONS Clearing the air on spring water THE EDITOR, Madam: I WRITE in response to a misleading and inaccurate letter to the Editor by Angus Mackay on June 25th, in respect to his statements about duties levelled on imported bottled spring water. Contrary to the declaration by Mr. Mackay, please let me assure him that although I cannot speak for the importers of Canadian Spring Water, as agents for Evian and Volvic Spring Water, not only does our company pay 15 per cent GCT, but Customs Duty of 20 per cent is also assessed on importation. I am, etc., JOHN C. RAMSON
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