The ties that bind

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WOULD like to respond to ­ and speak to the connections between ­ the letters to the Editor in Friday's edition of The Gleaner. I would first like to respond to Mr. Messado's letter: I did not listen to Ms. June Hines' programme that evening, but in her defence, this IS the time to talk about the US and its domestic and foreign policies ­ particularly now as it prepares to make decisions that will ultimately and most seriously affect us all. And this IS the time for the leaders of the US and some of its citizens who follow them like sheep to look at themselves.

I say this even though I waited anxiously to hear from family and friends in NY and DC, and have yet to hear from a friend whose mother is now one of the missing in NYC ­ so I, too, am grieving. As Mr. Lindo pointed out in his letter ­ whether or not this was his intention ­ the reaction of the US to the events of this week is understandable, but it demonstrates the reason there are so many across the world who are anti-USA. The US, and its media in particular, is now participating in the demonizing of a people (in this case, Arabs ­ whatever that means since they come in all shades and from different countries), and the US is threatening violent retaliation, though these actions will cost the lives of innocent people in other countries (its track record in military vengeance foretells this).

The legal system of the country you defend, Mr. Messado, prides itself on 'innocent until proven guilty,' yet, as Mr. Lindo correctly states, the country has presented no real proof of the guilt it has placed on Osama bin Laden. The handful of Palestin-ians who rejoiced at this event ­ whether that footage was from that day or not ­ is not a frivolous reaction; it is, I am sure, in response to the feeling that finally, something tragic has happened to the people of the US after years of supporting Israel ­ a country which has murdered thousands of Palestinians. And yet, the US wonders why anyone would want to hurt them, and show them up for their hypocrisy. Yes, the US has helped several countries in their times of need, but don't be fooled, Mr. Messado; it does so after it has determined that these actions will be in its best interest. Its 'aid' is not selfless. The US only became involved in the war in the former Yugoslavia after it had been condemned by several NATO countries for its non-participation (countries like Britain, who are now standing by the US ­ see the connection?).

And yes, the US has assisted Jamaica, but let us ALL not be tricked; it has not been in the name of philanthropy to help poor little Jamaica ­ it has been in an effort to ensure economic and social stability in a region of which it, the US, is part and wants control. The buying out of our local companies by US ones is not because they feel our pain ­ it is a step towards owning us and Cuba, when that country eventually opens up. And yes, many people risk their lives to go to The Land of the Free, but is freedom dangerously crossing the Mexican border into California to then be denied bilingual education and thereby be kept working in grape fields for minimum wage? Is freedom leaving Jamaica to live in a country whose systems of power still treat black people, and people of colour in general, as third class citizens? (The treatment of us at the US embassy in our own country should give us a hint as to what awaits us across the water). One's finances may improve in the US, but does one's quality of life?

Reflect

The events of this week are a sign that it is time we all look at and reflect on ourselves, the ways in which we are participants in the injustices that surround us, the ways in which we treat one another. Peace and justice are all about ourselves and how we react to violence and invite it through our own undemocratic actions. I would bet that these activists ­ not 'terrorists' or 'cowards,' as they acted bravely on behalf of cause we may never fully understand ­ were reacting to the violent and undemocratic actions of the US, but did so, most unfortunately and horrendously, in a violent and undemocratic way.

To echo the sentiments expressed by Ms. Stephens in her letter, this IS the time for us Jamaicans to look at ourselves; to realise that running away to the US for a 'better life' will leave our country stagnant ­ it is already stagnating in several realms, but is still very alive in a spirit incomparable to that of the US, a spirit which we must use to re-energise and remobilise ourselves; to be aware that the events of this week will have ­ and is already having ­ economic repercussions for us and for which we must ready ourselves; to understand that the young gunmen in this country from whom we are running are reacting to the violence of being unloved as children and of feeling disconnected from the education system, the government, and fellow Jamaicans; to recognise that we need to fix crime ourselves by, at the very least, working with TODAY's young children; to face up to the fact that we can no longer complain about and lay blame on the political and legal systems that have failed us, but must instead work hard to transform them. But let us not aim to make change in our country by acting in violent and undemocratic ways, with our words and actions, as we have been tending to do. It has long been time for us to seriously work together ­ if it must come from the grassroots ­ to create practical and long-term solutions, to work with, talk with ­ not talk to ­ one another, to move from self-centredness so that we may begin to rebuild trust amongst ourselves. The events of last week should be a wake-up call to us all.

I am, etc.,

MARIAN A. McNEAL

mariana_00@lycos.com

Kingston

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