HELLO, MI neighbour! The atrocities are mounting! People are maiming one another. Women and children are being raped, abused and murdered. Families are being dispossessed. Husbands are walking away from wives and small children to start a new relationship with a sweetheart or a new lover.

People have become lewd, crude and rude. They have lost respect for one another. They flout the laws of the land. The madness is spreading right across Jamaica - as it spreads across the entire world!

The news items are inciting violence, driving fear and stressing the nation. Many persons don't read, watch or listen to them anymore - their way of maintaining health and sanity. Mob killing is in vogue - be careful! Watch your steps! Don't make foolish mistakes, you could pay the ultimate price.

Man's inhumanity to humanity is at its zenith - and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Someone must do something quickly to stem this tide! But who can, when no one is listening to anyone? Everyone thinks he or she has a right to do whatever is right in his or her sight? How short-sighted! People don't care that their inappropriate behaviour creates discomfort for others. The fact that we are all connected as human beings is of very little concern to many. But whether or not it's their concern, the reality is, we are connected. That's why the whole country becomes incensed whenever a pregnant mother is killed or women and children are raped.

But do you know that there is a very simple way to rid the world of its atrocities - making it almost utopian? If this way is tried, there will be no need for courthouses, jailhouses, prison bars, wars, burglar bars, weapons, security guards, etc. After your cynical snicker, stop and think about it. Because jealousy replaced love for his brother, Cain killed Abel - the second child to be born into this world. From that time until now brothers and sisters (people) have been stupidly killing one another.

Plagued by inhumanity

With all the efforts of governments, sociologists, scientists, psychologists, coupled with thousands upon thousands of studies and findings, mankind has still not found a way to rid the world of man's inhumanity to humanity. Now that we are at the end of our tether, let's turn to the irrevocable/irreplaceable instruction of the Almighty - spoken thousands of years ago: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself'.

When we love our neighbours as ourselves we become the mirrors of one another - seeing ourselves in one another. If we don't like what the mirror reflects, instead of destroying it, we'll help to fix it! With God's help let's go for it as we restore sanity and build a harmonious society! And remember, there is no finish line.

'Loving neighbour as self' is what I believe should be added to the curriculum of the school system.

And I could not close without asking you to help me wish my neighbour and wife, Lorna, belated happy birthday!

Thanks for helping

Auto Channel for acts of neighbourliness.

Elaine, St Ann, for offering a crib, dresser and children's clothing.

Neighbour, for offering khaki to 15-year-old - please call us.

Sharnakae, St Andrew, for offering a sewing machine to a neighbour.

Mrs Dixon, St Thomas, for offering a sewing machine to Dunett, St Thomas.

Danville, Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Manchester, for offering wheelchairs to two neighbours.

Opportunities to help

Florence, mother of two, needs $5,000 for children's school fee.

Ms Coleman - husband and daughter are ill - wants to start a chicken-rearing business to help fund their medical expenses; needs a refrigerator/freezer.

Pamella, St Andrew, needs a stove.

Gillian, single mother, needs zinc and plywood for a wooden structure to house her four children.

Neighbour needs a dining table for family.

Neighbour, Manchester, needs a stove … tired of wood fire.

Beverly, St Andrew, student needs CSEC books for social studies and office administration.

To help, please call 334-8165, 884-3866, 299-3412 or deposit to acct # 351 044 276 NCB. (Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX) or send donations to Hello Neighbour, c/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com.