THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM very disconcerted by the level to which Jamaican authorities stoop in the shadow of religion. In every child's upbringing, I believe they should be taught how God's love for humanity was so great that in giving his own son's life we may have life eternal.
However, I am hesitant to think that most children were able to tease out the message of the crucifixion from the mangled flesh and blood in Mel Gibson's excellent movie The Passion of the Christ still showing at cinemas.
For the relevant authorities to lower the rating of a very bloody movie full of torture, murder and suicide, in the shadow of religious significance, is extremely disturbing. The cinematography of other movies depicting real-life events of the murder of God's children in history, such as Amistad and Schindler's List, were appropriately rated 'R'. These equally excellent movies did not show half the blood and gore as The Passion of the Christ.
Today, Christian parents/groups go to great extents to limit children from watching our own 'Reality TV', the local news; a woman gyrating to the beat of the latest dancehall; a scantily dressed 'mad' man walking down the street, all God's children. Yet are we so blinded by our faith otherwise?
I implore the authorities to show more scrutiny when readjusting a movie's ratings downwards; particularly when it receives adult ratings in nearly every other country.
I am, etc.,
SUZANNE WYNTER
suziesoares@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
Via Go-Jamaica
