The Editor, Sir:

As I sat and listened to Barack Obama's victory speech, I was struck with a sense of parallel; that what was being said extended beyond the American people, in many ways, it was a message that the Jamaican people need to hear delivered not as cockamamie promises, not as empty words and certainly not without action on our part.

I listened as Obama spoke of the good 'ole country values of pitching in and looking after not only ourselves but each other; of the need to resist the temptation to fall back on petty partisanship, but rather going forward with determination to heal the divide. "Oh yes" I thought, "these indeed, are words for the Jamaican people."

Pride

Love for my nation coursed through me, as I saw the pride that Americans took in their nation, their democracy; and I thought of the scant regard we oft play to that of Jamaica land we love; the moment, the parallel came to roost.

While the president-elect of the United States of America spoke of the power of his country being imbued in its ideals, I thought: what are the ideals that define us as a nation? What shared, known, ideals define our greatness? Where are they? Where are our ideals that made the saying 'Wi likkle but wi talawah' true? Have we managed to forget them? Are they buried beneath the coffins of the children gone missing, and the innocent murdered this year?

My heart literally hurts, and tears come to my eyes as I think about what is happening in my nation home. It hurts to see how much it seems we have lost our way.

Grandparents values and attitudes

We need to imbue once again our youths with the values and attitudes that our grandparents taught us, and of our great grandfathers' time. This can only be had on the backs and through the sweat of the Jamaican people; only in the 'yam' hills of Trelawny, on the streets of the man 'hustling fi mek a money', only in our schools, only in our churches, only in our homes, only by the sports coaches and mentors, only on the fields and courts of play can that change be had. Only by US.

Barack Obama prompted what I believe is quite suitable for our time, for the challenges we face on the rock - we need to summon a new spirit of patriotism, or service, of responsibility, where we resolve to pitch in, and work harder, and look out for each other, in this Jamaica, Land We Love.

I am, etc.,

A. STEPHENS

sgastep@gmail.com

Via Go-Jamaica