Orville
W. Taylor Better late than never! Well, this is generally so, except when buying lotto. This is an imperfect world where policy makers, world leaders and the local state institutions must make the step in righting wrongs and establishing the rule of law and consistent standards to promote fairness and justice.
In true reflection of the stance taken by the commissioner, the Police Officers' Association, the Special Constabulary Association and the Jamaica Police Federation, a number of policemen have been arrested and some charged with corruption. One allegedly tried unsuccessfully to swallow the monetary evidence. Really now! I understand that police are underpaid but he adds a new meaning to the term 'money hungry'. This is just the beginning and there are still a few scoundrels in the force who also tell citizens that they have committed offences that they did not, in order to solicit a bribe. It is a pity that we no longer have 'corporal punishment'. Actually, it should be at least 'sergeant punishment'
since they need to be chastised with more stripes. Nonetheless, all are presumed not guilty until due process has been carried out and they have had their day in court.
a sign
Still, whatever the outcome, the message is clear that no one, especially the police, is above the law and the police are serious about cleaning up their own house. This should be a sign for the other law-breaking cops to "tikkya".
I am also happy that after three years, charges have finally been laid against the abusive caregivers in the ironically named, 'Place of Safety'. Last week, there was a front page story in another newspaper with a dramatic picture of a little boy being beaten in the palm by a 'scare' giver at one of these institutions.
The photo is eye-catching but I feel a bit hypocritical since I know that
this limited form of 'spoiling the rod' and 'sparing the child' is very common.
In fact, I am willing to bet that more than 90 per cent of (black) primary school children have experienced this from teachers, parents and other proxies with the latter's consent. Nevertheless, since there is zero tolerance to any type of physical punishment, then it must be stopped.
'Uncle Tom' rice
A major shift in American foreign policy occurred last week when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accepted that in the Middle East, the United States had often sacrificed 'democracy' in the pursuit of 'stability' and achieved neither.
Rice has long being criticised for being an 'Uncle Tom' (or maybe 'Uncle Ben') because of her strong conservative profile and her faithful defence of President George W. Bush. In fact, she expresses his foreign policies even clearer than he does.
Indeed, while he is staunchly defending his 'I rak' policy, she is almost apologising for the mistakes the American government had made over the years in the Middle East.
Faced with criticisms from the European Union regarding the 'indefinite detention' and alleged maltreatment of prisoners in
Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, Bush remarked, "The fundamental question facing our government is: What do you do with these people?" He argued that they are not traditional prisoners of war. "Sorry Prez, I love America too, but that is the dilemma you created."
If George Bush had gone the appropriate sanctioned route of the United Nations, which I consider supreme to any nation-state, then they
would qualify as bona fide war prisoners. Problem solved!
Nevertheless, whatever one may say about the United States, unlike many of its critics, it is mostly a democracy and its press has no bones in exposing its nation's dirty laundry.
Still, the president is learning a very hard lesson like the squatters who illegally erected houses in 'no-build' disaster zones. When you start on improper foundations, it
is almost impossible to correct. Yet, try you must!
I have great sympathies for Americans because one has no choice but to support the troops while they are in Iraq. No patriotic American or American sympathiser can say anything less than give the forces what they need. It is like supporting your rude little brother who started a fight but is being mauled by the 'badder' kid that he should not have provoked. Yet, to continually blame him publicly will strengthen his adversary. Bush does not often publicly acknowledge his mistakes but I believe that he is quietly seeing the wisdom of a strong United Nations and consistent international standards despite the U.S.A. being the 'world'. Better late than never! Eh?
restoration of faith
Back in America, my faith is being restored in the justice system. Two weeks ago Michael Jackson, showing that it does not matter if you are 'black or white' (and he is neither
or both), walked or rather, 'moonwalked' free. He may or may not have actually molested the little boy but the system says if there is reasonable doubt, then you acquit. The boy's mother was so dishonest and inconsistent that she could not even believe herself or remember the original stories. Therefore, the verdict was a just one.
For his sake, however, I hope
that when next Michael defends himself against sexual allegations, it is not from 'Billy's jeans'. And when he asks "Why?" he should not sleep with boys "tell him that it's (not) human nature."
In another case, after 41 years, former Ku Klux Klansman, Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of following his name too literally. He was found guilty of being involved in the 1964 killing of three civil rights workers who had gone to Mississippi to register black voters. In Jamaica we say 'long run, short ketch'.
Time longer than rope; Massa God nah sleep!
Dr. Orville Taylor is lecturer in the department of sociology, psychology and social work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
