THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HAVE just had an opportunity to read Melville Cooke's commentary entitled "Memories of September 11, 1977." I do share the same sentiments with him. I am appalled to see how many black people sit and wallow in pity for 9/11 when there are so many other events that have occurred to our black nations, brothers, sisters and children over the years.
We have never had moments of silence for our foreparents who endured hardship, hunger, beatings and not to mention our foremothers who were raped and tortured in slavery. We need to recognise our own issues and realise that things only get recognised when it has a major impact on the white race.
There are millions of people dying in Africa from the AIDS epidemic. I watch television on a daily basis and I don't hear or see the world making a big deal about the sufferings of these people. There are so many hungry children in these parts of the world that were never or still have not been recognised as much as this 9/11 event. We are still oppressed, nothing has changed.
Not too long ago the same heroes that they were honouring and praising last night for the great job they have done (which is their duty), brutalised a black man with batons by inserting it in his rectum, no one held a moment of silence for that. Another event, the same heroes shot and killed another black brother whom they claimed pulled "something black from his pocket" and in their defence they had to shoot him numerous times, killing him. If these are our heroes, who are our enemies?
Mind you, it is sad that so many families were disrupted by the event of 9/11 but in slavery our families were destroyed and torn about by plantation owners. Let's let go of the event of September 11, 2001 and deal with the issues that we have still standing before us -- the AIDS epidemic, hunger and destruction of the black race.
I am etc.,
NADINE BROWN
nchristie@ogilvyrenault.com
Via Go-Jamaica
