LEAVE US ALONE

THE recent debate over the legalization of homosexuality in Jamaica has reached a level we have never seen before.The intensity that has now characterized the discourse in the country on both sides is intresting to say the least. On the acceptance right,they have taken it to the courts to challenge the constitutionality of the Nation's buggery laws that criminalizes Homosexuality. The court action is significant for a couple of reasons:it has galvanized the forces against it in such away that hasn't been seen in this country before on anything,of importance. The Church has taken it on headlong,organizing demonstration and speaking out in almost perfect harmony,denouncing any move to legalized homosexuality. On the other hand,however,their is those that support the move towards freedom and equality-as they put it-and the current court action has brought them closer together in there quest to gain acceptability.

 BACK GROUND TO THE COURT ACTION.

To give a background to the current court action that is now before the courts brought by a gay rights activist is both timely and instructive. The gentleman is alleging that he ask the two free to air television stations in the Island(TVJ AND CVM) to air a documentary promoting tolerance towards homosexuals and they refused. He is also contending that the Nations public broadcaster,(PCB)when asked did not show the documentary either and they are now party to this matter. The gay rights activist is contending that his right to freedom of speech has been breached when all three refused to air the documentary. Not surprisingly,all three entities are saying they did no such thing. There is also another suit in the courts that has been brought by a homosexuals,who is alleging that he was removed from a house he rented based upon his sexual orientation. He is challenging the constitutionality of the buggery law. Not surprisingly overseas gay rights groups have joined his constitutional challenge.

With all of these different court actions and interested parties joining each camp,it has reignited an issue that has not died a natural death even though the government of Jamaica has not made any real attempt to repeal the buggery law due to public opposition,and the fear that any Government that repeal that law will never be elected to office again. The Prime Minister, however has indicated a willingness to have a look at the buggery law,and  that has infuriated a wide cross section of the Jamaican populace.What many persons do not understand it seems,is that the strong opposition of the populace,is due to what they see as an abhorrent and unnatural act,alien to our beliefs and cultural practices.It cannot be that the majority of Jamaicans,are against the legalization of homosexuality and are been forced by gays,and their supporters to accept what is considered to be a nasty and frankly ungodly act. To use the nations courts to force their lifestyles on us,is tantamount to treason,and should be thrown out of the courts forthwith! Jamaicans do not subscribed to that sort of behavior,and in my estimation should be allowed to live without that sort of nastiness been legal in this country.The homosexual community is demanding that they be allowed to carry out such unnatural acts,on the basis that they have the right to do so,and everybody must accept and live with it.But contained within that,is the wanton refusal,to allow  the majority of the populace that do not want that to happen,the freedom to have our government keep the law that criminalizes such acts. It seem these fellows believe that they alone have rights! 

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is founded upon the principle of majority rules. People are free to elect Government to enact legislation that serves the interest of the majority. That's simply a fact of life.If the majority decides against homosexuality been legalized,in a real democracy,that should be the law,plain and simple.The gays should not be given any leeway whatsoever to force there lifestyle on us. If it is that they feel so aggrieved,there is a simple solution,just leave! We do not want their sort of corrosive lifestyles contaminating a society that is still heavily Christian in character,(if even nominally so) and where we subscribe to the view that a man and a woman must have sexual intercourse,and not two men.Like it or not,we view homosexuality as a sin and an unnatural act,that is a crime against nature and should indeed be criminalize.We do not want our kids to be taught that it is acceptable and normal for two men or women to be having sex,and to be called wife and husband. Thais an abomination,of judgmental proportions. Our lifestyles may look archaic to others that embraces the homosexuality,but to us that's our way of life,and we make no apologies for that!   

UNDERSTAND US OR LEAVE US ALONE.

The homosexuals should understand that their behavior will never be accepted by the majority of Jamaican's,no matter what the court rules. It would be a dark day in Jamaican history if the court ruled that the buggery law must be repealed. That would be the end of our nation's identity and character. Our society is one that is based upon our beliefs,garnered from the bible,and culture. These nation's that now has embraced the homosexuality agenda and has legalized it,was once against it. But once the homosexuals attained high office they push through their agenda and force it upon others who do not subscribe to that sort of living., Because they have so much success in first world countries they believe that they must ensure that the world embraces their warped way of living. So far Jamaica has stood up against that sort of living and hopefully our judges will not betray us and struck down the buggery law. Those that seek to contaminate us with such despicable behavior should understand that we will not embrace their culture and will not subscribe to such nastiness. They may be first world economically,but they are worse than third world morally. Leave us alone with our way of life. .

JUST SAD

Just a few days ago a ghastly incident took place at the Anchovy high School in ST. James where a thirteen year old school girl stabbed another fourteen year old school girl to death. Both are said to be friends but had an argument which spilled over into a fight where one was stabbed to death and the other now in police custody. Undoubtedly,it shocked the Nation,and brought howls of condemnation and wringing of hands,and calls for something to be done about the state of affairs within our Island schools,from every section of society.

 VERY SHOCKING

The shocking nature of this particular stabbing that was video by a student on a cellphone,brought home the grim reality that our schools are not a place of learning anymore,but a virtual war zone. The violent nature of our Children nowadays is a cause of alarm for anybody that has a brain and is concerned with the future of this country. It's like there is a spirit of aggression that is coursing through the veins of our school children, that is causing them to react in a violent manner to every provocation,no matter how simply. It is very troubling to see how these kids are reacting to simple provocations, with such violence, only reminiscent of war torn country's,where there is a civil war going on and everyone is at each others throat. What is even more shocking about that particular stabbing incident,is that not one of those kids that were standing around did anything to stop the fight! As a matter of fact,the young man who was videoing the entire sordid affair,was getting angry when someone actually block his view of the fight temporarily! It was like watching sports to them. It reminded me of the gladiatorial contest's that use to be held in Ancient Rome, where the lost of life was considered to be  nothing more than a sport.

"where were the adults"

Even more disturbing is the fact that not one grownup who am certain would have seen that fight made any attempt whatsoever to stop it. This indifference, is yet another example of how far we have plunged down the wrong road,when it comes to the taking of life,or the maiming of one another. It cannot be,that as a society,as individuals,we become so numbed to violence that we see it and do nothing to stop it. It's just unconscionable! For so many students, and quite possible, a number of adults to stand and watch a teenager been wantonly slaughtered like an animal,is absolutely shocking,unbelievable and downright ghastly! If someone had stepped in to put a halt to that fight,we would not have had one dead and one in police custody. Where is the compassion,where is the brotherly kindness that should characterize this great Nation? Where is the sense of decency,where is the sense of abhorrence to brutal acts of violence? Where is the old adage that says: "it takes a village to raise a child," been put into practice? But as bad as the aforementioned things are, the madness didn't stop there.The child,after  been stabbed,was dragged along the ground like a common dead animal,and a car driver refused to carry her,been more concern with the spoiling of the interior of his vehicle! Amazing!

How did we get here ?

How in God's name did we reach to this point? It's not rocket science to see why we are currently in this position, as a nation,where our schools are  war zones. The schools are a part of the wider society and if the wider society is riddle with violence,the schools will be also be riddle with violence. All that is now happening is a reflection of the condition of the wider society. The Jamaican society has lost all  respect for the sanctity of life,and violence is a normal part of everyday life. The settling of disputes are solved by violence rather than arbitration or common sense. To be somebody in this country,one has to show that he or she is capable of so called defending ones-self,and that invariably means a perpetration of violence. Violence is glorified in our music,with entertainers singing about guns and glorifying the use of aggression to solve disputes. These children are absorbing all of these things and are acting it out in reality. Poor parenting is another matter. With the explosion in teenage births,there would bound to be a segment of society,that would grow up without the requisite guidance that would make them into law abiding and peaceful kids.These children are the product of that. The other matter that must be noted,is the general lack of respect for law and order in this country. Nobody seems to interested in obeying the laws of the land anymore. In the words of former minister of National Security,Peter Phillips,the man that plays by the rules is the man that gets shafted. In other words,if you are a law abiding citizen,you can expect to be worse off than if you weren't. This is the main reason why you have this high concentration of violence in this country that has now taken over our schools. People in general do not see the profit in been law abiding and the children are adopting and assimilating into it. That in and of itself is very frighting!


Children are supposed to be the future,but at the rate that they are going,and there total disregard for the laws of the country,i shudder to think about what the future will be like in 10 years time. Until the fear of the law is put back into the citizenry of this country,we will always be having these acts of senseless violence.  

 

Nation in shock

YESTERDAY THE Nation of Jamaica was greeted with the shocking news that one of it's premiere  female athlete has been tested positive for a band drug. This is sending shock waves across the country at this moment,and rightly so, as Jamaica has been so dominant in the athletic field for the last couple of years,and this female athlete has been one of those athletes that has consistently perform well to our glory. she has been identified as Veronica Campbell Brown. The circumstances are not yet clear as how she got that band drug, that is said to be a masking agent that can hide the taking of other band drug,in her system. Like it or not this is a blow to the reputation of this track and field powerhouse that so far have remained largely untainted in any serious way in this drug  taking infested sport. The question has been asked repeatedly out of concern but largely bad mind and envy,how is it that such a small nation has produced so much world beating athletes? The answer that is advanced all the time is,it must be that they are taking drugs which couldn't be further from the truth. IT'S not by mere chance that the Jamaican athletes are the global superstars that they are now. It's lot of planning,effort,and commitment that makes them such a huge hit.This unfortunate situation will now cast a pall over every world beating performance that our athletes does in the future and reinforce the critics view that they are taking drugs.

Just looking at the reactions coming in from all over the world i sense a sort of gladness on some people's part at the positive drug test. It's rather unfortunate though to see that so many people are willing to jump to conclusion  at the unfortunate turn of event in this global superstar career. It's undeniable,that Jamaican athletes has revolutionize the following of track and field in such away, that, people from all across the planet,is now able to name an athlete. Not only the global following but Jamaican athlete has brought to track and field,put they have undoubtedly drawn millions of sponsorship dollars to the Olympics,World Championships and Diamond Leagues events. It's the Jamaican athletes that has been single handedly bringing the other athletes in getting  a lot of the money they are now earning and Veronica Campbell Brown has contributed to that cause,handsomely. She broke the dominance of the mighty Americans in the Sprints,and gave other nations the belief that they can beat the Americans even though they have much greater resources than small nations can muster at there disposal. V.C.B as she is affectionately called has undoubtedly done a lot for track and field than almost any other female athlete in our modern history. And to lose her for any period of time out of the sport will be a great lost.

IT'S ironic however,that it's directly because of the fight against drugs that is causing Jamaican Athletes to be so dominant now,and its that same process that one has now fallen foul of. Jamaicans have for years been beaten into second and third place at major athletic events because they were drug free and the American and others were doped up. Once the sport started to get cleaned up,these athletes emerged like  lightening on the world stage and started to dominate. This world record setting set of runners has undoubtedly been clean. Every major world event where they were tested,has turned up negative result for every conceivable drug they were tested for.It's not surprising that they have been clean either,as we do not have a state sponsored program of doping,or a culture that support doping,as in other nations. From an early age,athletes are drilled to compete fairly,from basic,primary and high schools straight through until even University.

Watching how V.C.B has conducted herself throughout her track and field career,i am certain that she would never knowingly take any band substance. She has a glittering career already,she is coming to the end of her career,she has an enviable record of having garnered a medal at every major athletic games,why would she want to destroy all that? It doesn't make in sense whatsoever,and is totally out of character for that stunningly beautiful and wonderful competitor. There is undoubtedly in my mind a logical explanation for the directic that has been found in her system,and am waiting for the day to come when she will be cleared to compete again.It's very sad however that even if she is cleared,there will always be a cloud hanging over her and her entire haul of medals. Is very unfortunate and i would caution those that are jumping up and down with glee,to take stock and realize that even a harmless looking drink can have substance in it that are prohibited and they do not know,and they could very well be found in this situation very shortly  

 

TWO WRONGS DONT MAKE A RIGHT.

An incident happen in Jamaica earlier this week that was captured by a bystander on a camera phone,of a Policeman manhandling a school girl,that has sparked public debate . What happen is that the Police was on an operation and ask some passengers in a car to disembark. It's reported that the teenager refused to and started to curse the officer upon which the Police drag her from the car. The teenager then slapped the Policeman across the face and reeled off expletives,which is illegal by law in this country. There has been a lot of condemnation of the Police Officer by many persons on social networks. The majority of the comments are along the line that the Policeman could and should have handled the matter differently.

TWO ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED.

I think there are two separate issues to be dealt with here. The first is the actions of the Policeman.The Policeman should have handled the situation in a more professional manner befitting the organization he represents,and in accordance with established procedures,layed out in the High Command force order that seeks to guide Police conduct and behaviors. He could have asked firstly for a Policewoman to deal with the teenager,since it"s well established that a male would be appropriate to deal with a male and a female with a female. That could have cool down what turned out to be an explosive situation,as maybe that young lady would have behaved differently. He could also have asked the taxi driver to ask the girl to get out of the car,seeing that the driver is ultimately responsible for the vehicle and its occupants.

POLICE DOES WHAT THEY WANT.

THE Police Force in this country,however,for along time has not operated  in a professional manner towards Jamaican's and in accordance with established and respected international standards. They have absolutely no respect for the rights of Jamaicans. They killed,maimed,brutalized and abuse the citizenry with impunity. Year after year there are many abuses that goes unpunished.Police does whatever they please and gets away with it,either by investigators doing shoddy investigations,or,it takes years before a ruling is handed down by Director of Public Prosecution(DPP),and in many instances when they are charged, they intimidate witnesses so they don't attend Court. Many witnesses and complainants ended up been killed. So the actions of that Policeman is not surprising as that has become their modus operandi and their is nothing the citizens can do to stop it or get any form of justice. Worthless, Politicians,at the first chance they get,spout off at election time how they will make sure the rights of Jamaicans are protected,yet when they get into power,the abuse either continue or get worse. 

SCHOOLGIRL BEHAVIOR DISGRACEFUL.

 THE second issue is the behavior of the schoolgirl. The behavior that she exhibited was most unbecoming,disrespectful,out of order and disgraceful. She should have obeyed the lawful requisition of the Policeman as everybody else did. Even more disgraceful,is that she was bold enough to slap the officer across the face! Unbelievable! No one under any circumstances should ever assault an officer of the law. that's just plain disgraceful. When you look at the indiscipline that permeates our society,and juxtapose the behavior of that girl,you will understand why the society is in the mess that it is. The total breakdown of respect for authority,any authority for that matter,is at the root of our present intolerable levels of disorder,plaguing this beautiful country. Whenever a teenager can stand up in public and slap an officer of the law in his face, and hurl expletives at him,the country has sunk to a new low! Just a few years ago that was unheard of. There is no way a child could behave like that in public and not receive a sound flogging from her parent. What about been respectful? What about having shame? What about respecting authority?. Those small things that all civilize people strive to upheld seems foreign to our present crop of societal undesirables,and barbarians,call children. When i see such behaviors exhibited by what is call our future, makes me shudder to think what will happen to this country when they grow up and turn adults. Children should have an understanding of common decency and respect. They should realized that whatever they do that is bad or good,has the potential to haunt them throughout life or help them.If she had done what the officer asked of her,this situation would never had happen in the first place. That however, sadly, is the the sort of behavior that has taken over this country. Everywhere you look nowadays it's just indiscipline,indiscipline and more indiscipline. 

A SPIRIT OF REBELLION.

It seems as if there is a spirit of rebellion running through these young children nowadays. Expletives is illegal in Jamaica and you can be charged for using them. Alarmingly,that fact did not seem to have a mitigating effect on the schoolgirl! That's the real troubling thing about this incident. If our young people have no respect for law and order now,what will the future of Jamaica be like in ten or fifteen years time? With the alarming levels of crime and disorder in the country and the constant asking of why are we so violent,that behavior exhibited by the teenager gives us the answer in a very clear  and precise way. Young people in general does not respect or fear the law! That fact as alarming as it is,is borne out everyday in schools right across the Island. Police continues to rake in alarming numbers of knifes,ice picks and other offensive weapons by the hundreds regularly from school children. Our school children seem not to care about the fact that its illegal and they could be thrown into jail for it. They seem just not to care. That's frightening!

 

OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED.

THIS incident presents us with a unique opportunity to open a dialogue on the state of our Nation children's and the way how they are conducting themselves. As a Nation we cannot sit idle by and watch our Nation's future been left in the hands of person's that obviously is growing up without an appreciation for correct behavior and a respect for the laws of this land. They need to be taught what it means to behave with dignity and grace. It also gives us the opportunity to reignite the debate about Police conduct and the way how they carry out their duties. We need to demand that our rights be protected,and our politicians do something to protect us from Police abuse. 

THE VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN.: HELP THE SYRIANS PLEASE?

THE VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN.: HELP THE SYRIANS PLEASE?: We have witness many atrocities throughout human history of every possible kind,that has cause outrage from every corner of the civilized...

HELP THE SYRIANS PLEASE?

We have witness many atrocities throughout human history of every possible kind,that has cause outrage from every corner of the civilized world. From the dark days of slavery to the genocide in Rwanda, man's inhumanity seems to have no bounds.The present situation in Syria is just the latest in the long,never ending saga of cruelty,but the seeming indifference of most of the western nations to the plight of the Syrian people who are been slaughtered everyday is to say the least,cruel.

US RETICENCE UNDERSTANDABLE

One can understand the reticence of the United States of America in not wanting to get involve in sending weapons or put boots on the ground. With the high concentration of militants from Hezbollah and other terror groups now deeply entangled in the conflict,and the hatred towards America and her closest ally Israel, that they have consistently shown,supplying sophisticated weaponry to the opposition may end up hurting American and Israeli interest later.. However,the highlight of American power projection across the world for decades,have been securing the oppressed from the oppressors by whatever means necessary. People look up to America to do just that. America however have refuse to do much more than expressed verbal condemnation which hasn't stopped the bloodshed one bit. Why should Assad listen to words that he knows will never translate itself into any form of action?

FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

America with all her resources can find creative ways to enter the conflict indirectly. Since Hezbollah and Iran is now very active in the conflict,America could very well ask Gulf States to supply the opposition with what is necessary to level the military playing field and to give the opposition a fighting chance. Indeed,these states are already doing so,but would need a little more help with that. Turkey could also be ask to deliver weapons to the Syrian opposition and to train them in the necessary military tactics needed to beat the Syrian,Hezbollah and Iranian fighters.Israel which is not a friend of the three aggressors could also be given a free hand to bomb certain targets within Syria that poses a threat both to the Syrian opposition and the state of Israel. PM Netanyahu wouldn't pass up an opportunity to get at Iran in whatever way he can,am sure. He has been calling for action to be taken against the Iranian Nuclear program without much success,so this could be an opportune moment to engage Iran and cause a serious distraction that would have Iran thinking about a possible attack from Israel,and pulling back from Syria to defend itself. With Iran now backing away,it would leave two players:Syrian forces and Hezbollah. That's a more manageable situation to deal with in the eyes of the the Syrian Opposition.

YOU CAUSE IT

When you look at the current situation ,you will immediately realize that it is a direct product of  the inaction of the West in general  which should have acted much earlier to help get rid of Assad. It's exactly because of the lack of support to the opposition why the militants stepped in to fight with the opposition. Like it or not,this was bound to happen as there was a vacuum to be filled, because the Syrian Opposition needed help and was not getting it from those they deemed to be their friends. At the outset the Russian's in their vindictiveness made sure that there wouldn't be consensus at the UN on the matter of how to respond to the uprising in Syria. That's not surprising however for two reasons:they lost out in Libya by supporting Gaddafi,and they have to be the proverbial stumbling block to the USA.Russia have no real  interest other than a military base in Syria,so in order to oppose any move by the west to help the opposition they have consistently advance the ridiculous notion of defending Syria from outside intervention as their bases for opposing any move to help the Syrian opposition. That again is not surprising. Looking at the murderous history of Russia,and the current state of affairs in the country,Russia couldn't be expected to really standup for human rights and freedoms.Those noble ideals or alien to the Russians.

 DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO STOP THESE MURDERS

The only way there is going to be any resolution of this terrible tragedy,is for the West to intervene by proxies or openly. Assad will never quit,neither will Iran and Hezbollah. They are very much prepared to see thousands killed to secure their interest. The question then arises:how much blood is the West prepared to see spill before saying enough is enough?  

 

Political Commentator: Political Indifference to Child Murders.

Political Commentator: Political Indifference to Child Murders.: SHAPE UP MISS P.M. . I was astonished at the seeming indifference by our Political Leaders to the gruesome slaying of a number of our ch...

Political Indifference to Child Murders.

SHAPE UP MISS P.M. .

I was astonished at the seeming indifference by our Political Leaders to the gruesome slaying of a number of our children recently,and the general acceptance of the wider populace,that this is how it is in Jamaica. In other civilized country this would have necessitated alarm and louder,wider and more sustain condemnation from every sector of society.

It was quite astonishing to me that the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, found it to be more important to attend a football match at the (national stadium where Jamaica lost),rather than calling her Minister of Youth and Culture,Lisa Hanna,and the entire Cabinet and civil society to a meeting to discuss and formulate strategies to halt the level of gruesome slaying of the poor defenseless children who are been put to the sword daily. 

What seems to preoccupy our leaders today is grand appearances at funtions to create a splash rather than addressing issues of a critical nature and of fundamental importance to our Nation or sections of our nation. What makes the situation evenmore worrisome,is that the Prime Minister,though childless,has past herself off as the mother of the nation and has consistently played up her Motherly qualities to telling effect at the polls. It's this motherly facade that she presents at every opportunity that is one of the reasons why the voting public loves her. With the recent spate of gruesome child deaths,Mrs Miller missed a great opportunity to show she cares in reality. She failed miserable. It's my opinion that with that one act,she has effectively showed that her famed motherliness is just a political stunt to gain and hold the sympathy of the mothers and voters in this country.

 

"NICE SPEECHES MUST BE BACKED UP BY ACTIONS"

IT'S ONE THING TO MAKE GLOWING SPEECHES ABOUT HOW YOU CARE: BUT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THING TO SHOW YOU ACTUALLY CARE! The Prime Minister seems to be ignorant of that fact. Even more troubling though,is that this inconsiderate act,represents a trend within this current administration of disregard for the nations children. When you look at the response to the Armadale incident,the many children that are been housed with criminals across the Island,one cannot but conclude that the PNP led by her just does not care. It cannot be that our children are been slaughtered everyday and the only solution we hear comming from the government is we must wait for devine intervention. That's preposterous,yet it summarized the approach of the govenment to every issue-wait on God to help us.