THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT WAS with a surge of tremendous pride and light-headedness that I left the Emancipation Park last evening (December 18), having taken my daughters to one of the daily Christmas concerts being put on. The light-headedness was not caused from consumption of the park's complimentary sorrel; that was non-alcoholic. It came from a renewed feeling of pride in being Jamaican.
As I sat with my fellow Jamaicans enjoying the delightful smorgasbord of talents, I was momentarily transported to my childhood experience at Christmas time. We experienced then such a feeling of what it was to truly live in a community. Everyone had a kind word. I so wish that my daughters could experience this.
There I was at The Park, sitting with my girls alongside total strangers, yet holding hands occasionally and singing carols and just being festive and feeling the love. We laughed heartily, sang spontaneously, responded naturally and energetically to the performers and the compere. We were all there, some sitting, others strolling, but all being enthralled and transfixed, even for a while, as we listened to stories deftly spun by the imagination of Auntie Amina, and the animated jokes and anecdotes espoused by Fae. There was no conflict, no gunshots, no scandal, just love and togetherness!
You know, that's what Jamaica is truly about. Warmth, enthusiasm, effervescence, drama, energy, spontaneity, wit, and I could go on and on. I am hopeful that my generation, and my children's generation will see a restoration of what it truly means to be Jamaican.
I yearn to see a restoration of values and attitudes; a revival of the care that it takes to be truly neighbourly, rather than being vulgar and uncouth. I am hopeful that the night will come, and soon when I can drive on the road without thinking that I might be killed, or abused; when our streets will be void of delinquent, and lost children.
When anyone can choose to become entrepreneurial without losing the very shirt from off their backs as a result of a bad economy and unjust rulers. When accountability will mean something; when the spirit of forgiveness will be as common as our penchant to dance, to music.
Truly, we can achieve this Jamaica. In the midst of personal disappointments, setbacks, and yes, yet another tax increase, we can choose to soar. We can choose to let peace begin with the man in the mirror.
Before long, our peaceful attractiveness will cause a peaceful chain reaction of love, cool vibes and togetherness.
I am, etc.,
ANDREA PARRIS-MOSELEY
Kingston 3
