THE EDITOR, Sir:

How disturbing it was to have picked up The Gleaner for Tuesday, January 22, 2013, and to see what, apparently, was the primary thing Jamaica gleaned from President Obama's inaugural address.

Could it be that immigration reform, to the benefit of Jamaicans wanting to leave Jamaica or to gain permanent residency or citizenship in the United States, was the most valued part of the speech to Jamaica? Has Jamaica become so crippled by a handout or otherwise entitlement mentality, that in such an inspiring speech from which innumerable lessons could be extracted, all those lessons were lost? That must not be the case!

It behoves Jamaica to take another look at its own list of priorities, its own economic trend, and the 'values' it continues to advocate. If with its 'value' system, all Jamaica has to boast is its inordinate degree of poverty boosted by the devastating lack of productivity, high crime and corruption rates, ignorance, and discrimination, could it possibly have any message of value to the world, and can its claim to be a Christian country be in any way validated? I think not!

It is high time for Jamaica to truly become independent and eradicate the handout, entitlement, and lazy mentality that has gripped Jamaica and infused its culture. Excuses are the hand tools of the inept, and for the first 50 years of Independence, excuses have been skilfully used to the detriment of Jamaica.

Let us collectively put forth a concerted effort to make President Obama's speech propel us into making the next 50 years of Independence reflective of our abilities.

DOEFORD SHIRLEY

doeford@yahoo.com