THE EDITOR SirI WAS glad to see The Gleaner out on Sunday, September 12, the day the hurricane ended. But what disturbed me a bit was the absence of my favourite section, The Arts. Now, I may be biased as an artistic personality and I do acknowledge the situation
I believe the arts is as necessary as any depressing news on a major crisis. It doesn't have to be escapist. Poems and paintings related to or depicting the themes could be 'unearthed' (no pun intended); perhaps to soothe the depression the wind and rain brought or at least inspire reflection. It is known (see Savrianos' The World Since 1500) that the arts is a vital part of any nation's growth and survival.
The Eastern empires that once stood tall above their European counterparts fell because of negligence to this, according to the historians. I dread to think what would happen if after a crisis like ours, we (or any nation) abandoned the arts for 'more meaningful necessities'. The arts reflect life it is just that we have to dig deeper into ourselves to uncover it. Maybe, if more Jamaicans appreciated it we would not have the grotesque acts we hear of in the news happening in and after the passage of the hurricane.
For example, I was busy writing and reading during the storm, not looting and raping.
I am, etc.,
NICHOLAS ALEXANDER
Nic7lex@hotmail.com
