Dennie Quill, Contributor
JAMAICANS WERE home in great numbers for Christmas 2005. I have not seen the figures anywhere and I have not heard any public discussion on the masses returning home for Christmas rituals, but I have a feeling there is great significance in the numbers. During my rounds, I met persons from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, who had brought along their children and friends to experience a Jamaican Christmas. And the word is that they had fun. Many attended the Third World concert and left the venue feeling refreshed; still others had a tonne of laughs at various playhouses in the city, while others just basked in the sorrel, cake and assortment of food that were laid out on tables across the island. And, there were parties aplenty. Those who experienced the toll road for the first time were effusive in their appreciation of the progress being made in the country.
One might argue that it is impossible to reconcile this deep desire to be at home when our country is wallowing in crisis, when the murder figures are spinning out of control and crime is at an all-time high. Yet, Jamaicans feel this urgent need to embrace their culture and to take pride in any achievement - however, small.
In thinking about this, I am reminded of George Orwell's definition of patriotism : "Devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which we believe to be the best in the world ..." Yes, there are thousands of people who continue to be devoted to this little island and their only reservation is 'the crime situation'. So amid the revelry, there were heated discussions about crime and violence. And one heard frenzied mutterings by young men - college students included - thinking about getting firearms to protect themselves. It has come to that. Young people don't want to be caged behind grills in their homes. It is a time of life when they feel invincible, and without the responsibilities of family, their number one priority is to have fun.
CITIZENS ARMING THEMSELVES
So we may soon have another problem on our hands - hitherto law-abiding citizens taking the unprecedented step of arming themselves (legally or illegally) since the state is unable to protect them from the marauding gunmen who want to reap where they have not sown. There is a growing number of people in this country who refuse to tolerate the killings and mayhem; they have seen too many of their friends soaking in their own blood and they want revenge. Police Commissioner Thomas should take note of this, for I am convinced that the year 2006 will see a realisation of this phenomenon.
What we are experiencing in Jamaica is domestic terrorism. Inner-city children unable to enjoy Christmas because Santa doesn't call anymore - kept at bay by barking guns. But, soon we will have a new Prime Minister. And, even as the Cabinet goes into retreat, each of the prospective candidates must be thinking of the remedies they will institute to put Jamaica on the right path for building a viable and peaceful country. As each one of them has been part of this Government, it is puzzling why they haven't been able to find the answers to this worrying problem. But, let's wait and see.
So 2006 will bring us to a crossroads and offers a new leader an opportunity to reconsider the national priorities. At the same time, the Opposition will be moving to shape the agenda on which the next general election will be fought.
Taking all the above into consideration, one wonders why this love of country cannot be translated into love of each other. The criminals among us are preying on women, children and their peers each day. We are currently at war. This war has been going on for years and no one knows when it will end or who will be the next victim. So until the problem is fixed, Jamaica will continue to be a nice place to visit, with visitors basking in the culinary delights, etc., while pretending that all is well. Many of them won't live here though - after a few days, they are all packed and ready to leave.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
