THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE MOST intelligent way to view the event of the 'Million Woman March' and rally by the newly-formed group Mother in Crisis, on Emancipation Day, Monday, August 1, 2005, is to see it as a positive response to the oft repeated injunction that a national effort involving all sectors of civil society is required in the struggle to defeat the monster of crime and violence in Jamaica. Defeating this insidious monster from further hugging our shores will involve more than the efforts of the government. It will require the active participation of every element of civil society, inclusive of the women of Jamaica.
The benefit to the country of seeing the march in this way lies in the practical demonstration it offered in how to achieve national consensus and unity around an issue, such as the defeat of crime and violence which in most cases has its genesis in the home, as a prelude to achieving our full developmental potential and safe delivery of the society into the third millennium.
The engaging issue of the 'Million Woman March' had less to do with numbers and more to do with transforming the impossible into possibilities such that women who had never before participated in anything outside their own immediate narrow interests, responded to the challenge to take a stand against the destruction of family life and the descent into barbarism, consequent upon the sweeping evil of crime and violence. Given that Jamaica has become a society in crisis (Capital C), we scoff at a national effort like this at our peril. For the human spirit is transformed at national moments like these when a mosaic of divergent consciousness, ideology, religious and political persuasion can coalesce into providing action for effecting integrated social change.
Creative solutions emanating from Mother in Crisis will follow. For now, let us appreciate that the diverse groups of women behind the march worked splendidly together as a team in the interest of something good for the future direction of the country. Failure to encourage and celebrate this achievement betrays a real 'bad mind'.
I am, etc.,
EVERTON PRYCE
CEO
DADS OF DISTINCTION
