By Leslie McLean, Gleaner correspondentST. ANN'S BAY, St. Ann:
I HOPE we don't jump on the band wagon of claiming, "we want to take back our country". It sounds good, but when did we ever have it?
So said Lord Bishop of Jamaica, Rev. Alfred Reid at the Diocese of Jamaica Order of Service for the commencement of the 131st Annual Synod of the Church in Jamaica, in the Province of the West Indies at the St. Anns Bay Parish Church on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme "Committed to Reclaim, Acclaim and Proclaim," he said the theme was decided at last year's congress in an effort to share with the wider church as he believed the Province was making some effort to disseminate it to the wider church.
His address focused on reclamation while two other bishops dealt with acclamation and proclamation.
Asking the question, what do we want to reclaim, the Bishop said, "how can you reclaim something you never did have. Given a year or two, this land has been under the control of the Spaniards and English and probably now, the Americans".
He pointed out that those calling for reclamation was of the view that those of European roots, had the right of exploitation and control, without the corresponding responsibility.
Bishop Reid said that while some of us thought about repatriation to Mother Africa and others to Europe, with no new psyche, Jamaica was left in limbo, "a kind of no man's land".
In revealing that Jimmy Cliff was one of his favourite singer and one of the songs he had admired was "Sitting Here In Limbo" , the Bishop lashed out against those "who claim to care for the poor but were hostile to the country." He added "my simple mind tells me that you can't benefit the country by mashing it up. Let us be champions of love and justice and show love for this country. We can't be willing to destroy it for partisan or personal advantage. There are people who find faults with Jamaica, but never really change as it would topple the mighty from their seats and exhalt the humble and meek."
Growth
He then encouraged the modern-day generation to "arise, put money to good use so that it can be treasured and built on to achieve growth", in order to improve the country.
Bishop Reid blamed easy solutions, lack of analysis and false hope as contributors to our present dilemma and called for clear publication of details, consensus on strategy, cost to achieve goal and payment of taxes.
He further stressed that "reclaiming was not about sentimentality and nostalgia and trust that we were a gifted people, of noble heritage ... worth reclaiming dishonoured vision of National Heroes and cultural icons."
Finally, Bishop Reid called for reclaiming of the youths, many of whom were perpetrating vicious, heartless crimes, but noted that "we could not write off this generation."
He said we couldn't confess to this failure, so our churches needed to develop effective youth ministries. "Not religious entertainment, but to reach out to gun and street boys and girls who don't know what's wrong. Reclaim them so that they can reclaim their lives, ideals, dreams and inspiration.
