Vic Reid legacy
On page C3 of Wednesday's Gleaner, the item giving some information about the 'ICON' Victor Stafford Reid short-changed him by omitting several important facts and publications. Mentioned were New Day, The Leopard, Mount Ephraim and Sixty-five as his major works. It should be Peter of Mount Ephraim and one cannot forget The Jamaicans, Nanny Town, The Young Warriors and what I think was his last major effort in 1985, The Horses Of The Morning, about National Hero the Rt. Excellent Norman Manley.
Vic Reid also wrote many short stories, and in addition to the Order of Jamaica which was mentioned, he was also awarded both Gold and Silver Musgrave medals, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in Literature.
He is one of the best authors produced by Jamaica, and I am pleased to see him being remembered at this time.
- Leroy Brown, lab935@yahoo.com
Condom choice
I find it curious that the same individuals who would spend money to purchase a cellular phone then spend money to place a credit on the phone in order to speak to the partner to make the sexual rendezvous does not have the presence of mind to spend money to purchase their own condom.
The issues of decency and morality are under attack here. The Government should not be put in a position to make provisions for people's poor choices. I also heard where parents are even weighing in on the side of the schools and the government providing condoms. I say to those parents. 'If your child is doing it and you want to create a safe environment for him/her to continue, then you provide the condom.'
- Tony Clarke, covenantchurch@msn.com, New Haven, CT, Via Go-Jamaica
Self-destruction
Where is the 'Assure, Serve, and Protect' in the police force's mission statement? What can protect you from the 'long gun of the law?'
I felt so ashamed when I heard a tourist on national television stating that she is surprised and shocked at the brutal way our law enforcers handle their fellow citizens! She has never experienced such brutality anywhere else before! I am now convinced that violence we are now reaping is a direct result of the hand-me-down brutality that we receive from the law, filtering down through our society to our schools!
It will never get any better until we start the brotherly change from the top. Until we can see each other as brothers struggling to find some peace and pursuit of happiness on this little rock we call Jamaica, we will be all consumed by this monster of self-destruction. Mr Commissioner, Hon Minister of Justice, Hon Chief Servant, will we ever get that change that we voted for?
- Natty Marcus, nattymarcus@yahoo.com, Clarendon, Via Go-Jamaica
