THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS very interesting that at this time the ruling People's National Party has several persons vying for the top job of leader, whilst the Leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party seems to be attempting to make his mark in his new role. The potential leaders of the PNP and the leader of the JLP appear to be addressing topics like crime and violence, as well as the economy on their political platforms. The National Democratic Movement is making a return to the political race.
However based on current world trends, it is predicted, just as night follows day, that those will not be the only major issues of serious concern to us in the future. The prediction is that the role of moral values will play a predominant role in society, and by that I mean "hot button" topics such as: gay marriage; homosexual sex between men in private; abortion; and euthanasia (the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease).
THE NATION MUST DECIDE
These life issues are so crucial that I think it is reckless for any potential leader or leader of our political parties to avoid them indefinitely. Perhaps they have private views on these matters and maybe they have discussed them somewhat quietly in their political circles. However the nation must know their views and make a decision on whether they will vote them into office or out of office based on the positions they take.
It was admitted in the great United States of America after the 2004 elections that it was moral values and not the war in Iraq that played the pivotal role in the return of President George Bush into office. It seems he has been subtly criticised for his Christian worldview on topics such as gay marriage. However at the end of the day, the majority of the voters chose him after he announced certain plans, such as the need to seek a Constitutional amendment that marriage should be a relationship between one man and one woman only.
President Bush is the president of the United States partly because of his position on moral values. In Jamaica, we have not yet as a people made these moral issues a major topic for our political decisions. However it will become so in the not too distant future.
The process by which any legal changes would be made will no doubt carefully scrutinised, that is, whether the government will want to decriminalise buggery by a simple majority in Parliament, or whether the nation will want a referendum, or whether the government will sit on the sidelines and let persons fight out the issues in the courts. In any event, any leader or potential leader who ignores these very critical matters, does so at his/her peril.
I am, etc.,
STEVIE STEVENSON
viestevenson@yahoo.com
