Garth RattrayA COLLECTIVE elation and pride swept over the island as the commentator shouted into the microphone, "Jamaica has won the gold!" Congratulations and adulatory commendations poured in from all across the globe. All our athletes did us proud. For such a tiny country, our presence was strongly felt at the 2004 Olympic games. The entire world watched excitedly and celebrated with us on our sports achievement. Filled beyond capacity with national pride and overflowing with the emotion of the moment, Veronica Campbell cried when our anthem was played and our flag was hoisted above all others.
Although she cried tears of joy, many of us could just as easily have cried tears of sadness. The unprecedented waste of lives and resources because of the unbridled, malevolent lust for power and money among a few despots determined to destroy this beautiful country to achieve their selfish ends, constitutes amorality in the extreme. Several editorials on our outstanding performances in both The Gleaner and the Observer sought to remind us of our innate greatness and of our capacity to excel. They highlighted the hope that youngsters would look upon the accomplishments of our athletes and turn away from truancy, crime and violence.
ASTOUNDING EVENTS
As a committed Jamaican I wholeheartedly endorse these sober expressions during this time of jubilation. I also hope that the astounding events of last week will galvanise many of our upcoming youngsters to seek the good within them and channel their efforts towards productive endeavours and enterprises, thus assuaging the tidal wave of criminality. I hope that the Olympic victories will remind those seduced by the promise of easy materialistic gains that real successes require dedicated effort.
Luck plays no part in success. I particularly like this quote on the subject. "I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it" (Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790). Too many Jamaicans depend on or blame "luck" for their successes or failures. It takes discipline, sacrifice, hard work and honesty to earn anything worthwhile, especially a place on the Olympic team and to gain Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. The fulfilment of knowing that through your own good, clean efforts you have climbed the pinnacle of success is immeasurable.
HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE
It is my fervent wish that perhaps some in the underworld will see that our athletes could not win medals through threats, extortion, bribery, violence or thievery. There would be nothing to gain from cheating (doping), only ignominy awaits those who do. No amount of bling-bling, money, power, connections, gangland violence or political affiliation could propel our representatives into stardom.
The Olympic Games teaches us that nothing worthwhile is ever gained without discipline, hard work and sacrifice. If Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson, Tayna Lawrence, Aleen Bailey, Nadia Davy, Novlene Williams, Sandi Richards, Michelle Burgher or Danny McFarlane took the easy road, it would only lead them to failure. Too many people seek shortcuts to achieve success in life by gravitating towards the lucrative drug trade. Whereas the illegal substances in and of themselves are not necessarily deadly, because of the extraordinarily large sums of money involved, extreme violence surrounds and permeates the trade. Illegal drugs wreak havoc on our society with devastating repercussions and wide-ranging, long-term negative effects.
DISCIPLINE
The discipline of our Olympians stand in stark contrast to what we see all around us everyday. We need to ride the wave of our successes in Athens and apply what we learn to our daily lives. Our small nation is internationally renown for its natural beauty, music, culture, friendly people and sports prowess. Whereas our athletes epitomise patriotism, here at home people sometimes blatantly disrespect every Jamaican by sitting and sometimes chatting loudly during the playing of the same National Anthem that brought tears of joy and effusive pride to us all.
Criminal activities should be deemed unpatriotic. Murders and other anti-social activities demoralise the entire nation. We needed the Olympic medals to lift our spirits and hopefully serve to influence our people into taking a long hard look at the potential for greatness within each and every one of us.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
