The Editor, Sir:I could not believe the headlines in that other newspaper this morning. Money is actually going to be spent on a project to 'translate' the Bible into patois. This has to be the most bizarre, outrageous, ignorant, insane and regressive piece of excrescence with which I have ever been confronted.
If this is really going to happen, then why not do the school books as well? Since we do not need to learn proper English, why have English Language exams in school? Why have English Language classes?
Teaches proper english
The Bible is one of the main 'teachers' of proper English for us, and proper English is absolutely necessary if we are to progress as a nation in the global environment. Already we are dismally failing to read and write it in schools and the society, failing to pass the examination at GSAT and CXC as the number one subject of importance for our social and economic future as a people.
At every social event, the MCs are bellowing broad patois into our ears. It is learned from birth from their parents and the communities by the children, who then find it almost impossible (q.e.d.) to unlearn it in English classes in school. It is embedded permanently into our music. The English language in Jamaica is becoming extinct, to our great peril.
Mental slavery
Which cracked mentality came up with this idea? Who benefits? Only those who might be apparently getting paid huge sums of money to do it. It is MENTAL SLAVERY to deliberately devise ways of keeping our nation of people from being able to survive and compete in the great wide world outside of this little island called Jamaica.
Patois is cute and fun to speak and has its place as a part of our culture, but it is a formidable burden to the chances of meaningful progress for us, a people who deserve better than to be enslaved by our own misunderstanding, and by the greed of those who would keep us in the dark corner of ignorance for their own enrichment. We cannot allow them to do it.
I am, etc.,
L. DUPERROUZEL
33 Waterloo Mews
Kingston 10
