Restore hanging
It is with trepidation that I read The Gleaner each day. I am a Jamaican living in New York and deep down I am one of the many Jamaicans living abroad who would like to see our beautiful country control the crisis in regard to crime and violence.
It is disheartening to see how we are ending the year. I think that it is time to bring back hanging as a means to punish these ungovernable individuals who are obviously out of control.
They have total disregard for the lives of other individuals. The impression that one gets is that with gun, one has power. Let us, as Jamaicans, start pushing and lobbying the Government to bring back hanging. Probably when the punishment fits the crime our lawless citizens will think twice before they pull the trigger to commit another audacious crime.
- Sherry Southe, SSouthe@hotmail.com, New York, NY, Via Go-Jamaica.
Misguided youth
I recently travelled to Jamaica to attend a funeral and I was shocked by the lack of Jamaican men in positions of authority.
I'm also disturbed by the lack of interest in school, expressed by many of the young men whom I came in contact with on my trip. They have been misled to believe that getting an education is not important, or necessary for that matter, anymore.
The prevailing attitude was one of 'fashion, sports and electronic game playing'. I spoke with one young man who had been out of school for several weeks, because his mother could not afford the price of a pair of black shoes, yet this young man had no problem spending the money he was given on movies, music, etc.
And, worst of all, as I was encouraging him to get back in school, his focus was on me sending, or bringing him a Nintendo game player. I agree that it's clear that drastic changes are needed in Jamaica, regarding Jamaican men (old and young) and these changes can't come soon enough.
- N.C. Smith,
ncsmith@lawa.org, California, Via Go-Jamaica
In tribute to Herb
I too want to add my condolences to the family of the late Jamaican Herb McKenley par excellence. I have been thinking that with track and field for Boys and Girls Championship, just around the corner, having some T-shirts bearing Herb's portrait, the national colours and any other distinguishing mark would establish a grand market both here and abroad. Run with the idea please.
- Madame Carty, a conscious Jamaican teacher, Bog Walk High School
