Stephen-Claude Hyatt, Contributor
'OUT OF Many, One People', is the motto of the Jamaican people. We are from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, religions, social and ethnic groups; however, that which binds us together is the fact that we are Jamaicans, and that makes us one.
Whether we were born here or we chose to immigrate here and have taken up citizenship, we are Jamaicans.
While in training as a minister, one of the things I would be quick to state is that I am firstly human, secondly Christian and thirdly Church of God. This was of course to say to individuals that it did not matter what our denominational affiliation may have been, we all had something in common, our humanity.
Today, it does not matter what community we live in, what school we attend, what denomination we belong to, what vehicle we drive or what party we vote for, we are Jamaicans.
I am quite angered by the foolishness of our people, who are hurting and killing because the other person is different from them. Yes we are different, we may support the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) or the People's National Party (PNP), rich or poor, black or white, upper class or lower class, we may live uptown or downtown; however, we are Jamaicans, and that brings unity in the midst of the diversity. That for me is the point of importance, and the fact that as Jamaicans we may not all be upper class, but we are surely all first class if we believe it.
AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITY
Let us face the facts, those of you killing adults and children alike in the current round of violence islandwide, you are not killing PNP or JLP supporters, you are not killing the enemy, you are killing Jamaicans, your brothers and sisters. In addition, you are affecting the future of this beautiful land. You are preventing its workforce from working, and its children from learning. You are affecting productivity and mobility. What are we hoping to accomplish? What is the rationale for this foolishness?
This is almost similar to what happened on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, or the various other 'terrorist' attacks since, around the world, including in our own backyard, Trinidad. Wicked people with wicked intentions and terrorist-like motives launching attacks on innocent people.
The difference, however, which makes us worse than they are, is the fact that they were fighting against a people outside themselves who they believe to be the enemy. This does not justify their actions; however, we are worse than they are, because we are attacking our own. It is time we take the words of brother Bob seriously and begin to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. Even Jesus Himself declared that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
We are all in this thing together, we are all seeking to survive the harsh realities of the Jamaican economy, and we are all affected by the high increases in living, caused primarily by soaring gas prices. The truth is that the politicians are colleagues, they get along with each other most of the time, and I am certain that the leaders of the two main political parties are able to sit and discuss their differences, when the need arises. Who is responsible for the high prices we are faced with and for the hardness of living?
Certainly, it is not those who have been killed or forced from their homes. We all have to be a part of the solution to our problems, as they were created by Jamaicans. However, this violence is certainly no solution.
WHAT HAVE WE BECOME?
I am not blaming the PNP or the JLP, as both parties have experienced difficult times while in office. I am blaming no one. I am simply saying we have made mistakes, all of us, though some more than others. However, the solution will not be found in killing each other. You kill my brother, I kill your sister, you kill my dog, and I kill your children. Yes, children for dogs. I understand that one man's dog was killed in the violence, and there was the promise of killing children in revenge. My God! What have we become? Shooting little children in the head in the 'safety' of their homes, raping little girls, for what, to prove you are men? Get real. What with the spate of killing of our children, including the murder of those who have not yet celebrated 12 months on this earth. What have we become?
I am appealing as one who has to deal with young men on a daily basis, young men who go through the shock and horror of their communities being under siege. Think about young people who have to be relocated from their homes because they fear being shot at or killed. After we kill and destroy and leave serious scars behind, what is it that we hope to accomplish? What is it that we have been promised? After the world has ostracised and put Jamaica on their black list, and tourists cease coming to our shores, and we are prevented from travelling to certain countries, without a visa or not at all, what next? What do we hope to accomplish? Why are we killing ourselves?
Out of many, One people. There is a solution to our problems, but trust me, it will not be found in this manner.
You can send your comments to Revd. Stephen-Claude Hyatt at stephenclaudehyatt@gmail.com.
