Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Source: The Gleaner

"JAMAICA has become an environment in which life is cheap. There appears to be a lack of compassion and a fascination for the macabre. As a nation, we have become desensitised to death and suffering."

It would appear that the nation has lost its collective aspirations. The experts call it BPD, however, my term for it is "The Culture of Death".

The article speaks for itself.

Walk Good.

Crime and Punishment, Part IV

Loving Our Country
“How can we love our country and not love our countrymen, and loving them, reach out a hand when they fall, heal them when they are sick, and provide opportunities to make them self-sufficient so they will be equal in fact and not just in theory?”... Ronald Regan, January 20, 1981.
Does this love our countrymen, murder rate in Jamaica ……
2005 …. 1250
2006 …. 1487
2007 …. 1583
2008 …. 1617
The JCF says that it will reduce this rate by 5% in 2009; this envisions the rate to be 1536 in 2009.
In 2006 I had expressed that Jamaica was un-governable and the nation required divine intervention.
That particular session generated a maelstrom of poison pen comments, most of which I did not publish as they consisted of hateful diatribe.
I quote one, which I consider to be a bit farfetched.
“Mi know wey yu mother live, so if yu a go talk dem things she a go get hurt”
To enlighten this individual, my mother died 10 years ago, so he has my blessing to go pay her a visit.
Did 5937 people die in vain, just to become a statistic?
They were somebody’s child, mother, father, sister, brother or cousin, are they equal only in theory?
Is this the way we love our country?
Walk Good.

How much is Enough

HYPERBOLE
–noun Rhetoric.
1.
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

Here is a quote from an article in the GLEANER

"This is not a part of the Jamaican culture, this is something that is alien, and now we are facing the threat of a number of our young women being snatched," Simpson Miller said, pointing to recent cases of women and children being killed.

I consider this to be hypocritical, patronizing and a political hyperbole.

When Sista P was in power, there were 1500 murders during that year, was that ENOUGH, or is she thinking that enough is a figure of 1700-2000. What did she do to curtail the ENOUGH of crime she is now talking about as if it is a new phenomenon.

Will someone explain to me what BS she is sprouting or what is in the water she drinks?

One thing I will give to Sista P ..... she will always appeal to the common demominator and blame others for her own demise.

Walk Good

This does not go far enough

There is a new Anti Crime Plan in Jamaica.
In an effort to stem the "killing fields" in Jamaica, the Prime Minister has unveiled his overdue anti crime plan.
NEW ANTI-CRIME MEASURES INCLUDE:
-Minimum 10 years for gun crimes..
-Criminal suspects can be detained for 72 hours..
-Denial of bail for serious crimes for up to 60 days..
-Majority of nine jurors of 12 can decide on non-capital murder..
-Police to get access to restricted information..
-Use of DNA evidence..
-Testimony from secure and remote locations.
More can be read here and here

The Criminal Rights Activists (aka Human Rights Activists) have won and he has watered down his original stance.

Let me tell these CRA (Criminal Rights Activists) that what they got will not deter or reduce the crime rate in Jamaica, They are a set of ideological fools living under a false sense of security, with their heads in the sand.
The measures do not address the following:
-removing the illegal guns already in the hands of the terrorists.
-addressing the shortcomings of the upcoming generation to prevent them from getting into crime.

If the terrorists, with illegal firearms, do not get caught, then they will continue to run amok with impunity.

One thing that is missing in the anti crime plan, by its obvious omission, is the penalty for HAVING IN YOUR POSSESSION an illegal firearm. If you are caught with an illegal firearm, you should be penalized. However, I suppose the CRA will no doubt object to that method of thinking.

This is a missed opportunity.

Walk Good

Shattered Dreams

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
-- Robert H. Goddard

The prospect and dream of returning to my native land has been tarnished. The process began with the savage slaying of the Lynn family which took place in 2007. The assassination of Douglas Chambers recently has struck me as sheer disaster and further shattered that dream.

This article in the Observer, which states "Having left Jamaica over seven years ago, Jamaica has never left me. I can truthfully say I have experienced all the stages of the grieving process as one who has lost a parent." grabbed my attention.

I am not that naive to think that my self imposed exile from my country of birth will not become permanent. I have always maintained that the Diaspora sees Jamaica through "rose" coloured glasses, tinged with nostalgia and faded memories. Well intentioned though they maybe, they are in for a rude awakening if they think they can solve the embedded problems facing Jamaica at this time.

The pundits and learned Jamaicans keep talking, explaining when the decline started and why it began, however, there seems to be a lack of will to stop the slide into oblivion.

Will it take political leadership, massive uprising, an invasion by outside forces, or continued passive acceptance to tame the savage beast that is ravaging Jamaica?

There is a simplified logic that follows the principle of the 5 W's (W5). It is summed up by asking Who, What, Where, Why and When. The pundits have solved some of the W's.

My question is Who is going to find a solution, What is that solution and When is the solution going to be implemented?

My dream of returning to the land of my birth, grows dimmer with each passing day.

Walk Good

One Dollar a year and Bullets

When this happened I was totally shocked (JUTC Chairman Shot). I didn't post any comments on this issue, as I felt that others with better insight, or living with the type of corruption that Douglas Chambers was trying to expel from the fabric of the JUTC, that they needed to express themselves.

There was a penned contribution by Danville Walker, which is self explanatory, and can be read here in which he states "Douglas Chambers' murder was a strike against authority and some are hoping that all who stand up for order will be afraid to take action and to lead your organization to be free of the parasites who have come to believe that they have the right to live off the industry of the rest of us"

There was also an insightful blog, by someone who was a friend and member of the JUTC Board, thus having a vested interest and direct relationship with Douglas Chambers. This blog can be read here, which states "It is a very sad day for our country when someone with all the intentions to make this country better is slain. For it is saying to us that if you try to do anything to improve Jamaica, and help to improve the lives of Jamaicans, then you will not make it."

This is in no way trying to demean the other 700 murders that have taken place in Jamaica since the beginning of 2008, alas, this assassination should be seen as anarchy against the state.

I did not know Douglas Chambers, however, I will take this opportunity to express my condolences to his family and friends.

To Mr Douglas Chambers, God speed, and may your soul rest in peace. You work on this earth is done and you are in a better place.

Where men/women do nothing, evil triumphs.

Walk good

Le crime et la Punition, la Partie Trois

This cartoon appeared in the Jamaica Observer a few months ago, and I am using it to present my point of view. This is my third diatribe on the Jamaican crime situation. The situation is not getting any better, and it appears, to this blogger, that the the inhabitants of this island have given in to the rampant crime. I get the impression that the adage of "it does not affect me, so it is not true" is being adhered to by all who live on Jamrock.
If I am incorrect, then why is it that in 40 days since the beginning of the year, there has been 151 murders?
(do the math and projest it for the rest of the year)
In the Gleaner today (Feb. 12,2008), there was a letter to the editor, which further serves to embarrass the country and any decent human being. Please take the time to read the article "here"

Is Jamaica being overrun by termites or domestic terrorists?

May God help us all.

Peace

Paradox

Paradox
(Reference Wikipedia)
A paradox can be an apparently true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition; or it can be, seemingly opposite, an apparent contradiction that actually expresses a non-dual truth.

Oxymoron
a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”
It is a paradoxical juxtaposition of two seemingly contradictory words

Those two headings are a direct reference to the following:
" A police source said the alleged gangster, who was wanted on numerous murder charges, wept when he was held by detectives and begged the police not to kill him."

WHAT???
This man is alledged (innocent until proven guilty) to have murdered at least eight people and involved in the savagery of be-heading one of those persons.
Now he weeps and begs that they don't kill him?

Is this a paradox or an oxymoron?

The human rights activists and the bleeding hearts will have a field day with this one. I can see them saying that he is repentent and he can be changed.

Did he give any mercy to the people he so brutally alledged to have murdered?

Lord Give me Strength.

Peace

Government Fiddles

Caricature from the Gleaner, January 16, 2008.

Nero fiddles while Rome burns? Nero's reputation is such that the people believe the worst of him, even when the evidence is inconclusive. Most of Rome believes that Nero had the city set alight to make space for his grandiose building plans, and then tried to blame the Christians for the great fire that engulfed the capital of the empire. In fact, there is no proof that the fire counts among his many iniquities, and there is some evidence that he helped organise relief efforts. No matter: a man who was responsible for many deaths, is not to be given the benefit of the doubt in the minds of many.

"Mi throw mi corn, but me no call no fowl".

"Every hoe ha dem stick a bush."

Walk Good

Crime and Punishment, Part Two

Crime et punition, partie deux
I used the above line to get your attention.
In a previous post, I outlined some drastic thoughts and actions towards curbing the ridiculous crime rate in Jamaica. I challenged anyone reading it to adopt some course of action to abate the high level of crime in Jamrock. I wrote to Geoff Brown (Jamaica Observer, columnist) and made mention of my posting. I knew he read it, according to my statistics.

In the Jamaica Observer, Column Section, dated January 12, 2008, there is a strdent article on this subject, penned by Gordon Robinson, and I quote:

Successive governments have shamefully shirked their responsibility to reduce violent crime and this one has made it clear that, as a government, it is new but not different.
Based on his public statements, the minister with portfolio responsibility for crime takes the view that the government has discharged its duty by appointing an outside-the-box commissioner of police and leaving the rest to him. This is a dangerously false premise. The responsibility for the reduction of crime lies squarely with the government and is a function of policy. The police merely implement that policy, serve and protect.

You can read the article in its entirety here

The present Government, had the luxury of 18 years to see and feel, but in power now, they stick to the phrase "Nero fiddles while Rome Burns". The termites are eating the country to its very bones, and those termites are called "criminals and corruption". Two years ago, the then Opposition party (now the ruling Government), commissioned the Macmillan Report. This report outlined the policy and methods that should be utilized in reducing the crime rate in Jamaica. When they made it public, it was with much fanfare and beating of the chest. So the question I beg to ask is "Whre is this infamous Macmillan Report", has it been shelved never to see the light of day or are they using mirrors in the pretense of calling a snap election.

It would appear to this blogger that neither the previous administration nor the present JLP in power, have demonstrated any long term vision for Jamaica. They have not mapped out any strategy to arrive at any goals and that is a sad state of affairs, and what an affair of state. The power that they were given in the last election, seems to have made them afraid to deliver the political fortitude required in the Jamaican way of governance(Westminister Protocol).

Absolute Power, corrupts absolutely.

Walk Good

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

A Drastic Viewpoint

I had various topics in my head; however, this one seems to have a yearning to be posted.
I have often said that the diaspora sees things through “rose coloured glasses”, when it comes to making suggestions. They are also misguided by nostalgia, which tends to cloud the mind. However, some things need to be said, and in this case I am speaking about the crime and violence in Jamaica.
My friends (living in Jamaica) keep telling me that the crime is not a problem, and I should not believe what I read in the media. Well, that is all good for them to say that, but the figures speak for themselves. The last time I checked, the murders in 2006 were 1400+ and in 2007 it is already at 1500, and counting.
Let us see this as what it really is …. it is a WAR. It must be treated as a “war” and stop the “culture of death”, living in a coffin, environment.
In the past few years, all the best intentioned protocols put into place to stem the murder rate, has not been successful.
IT HAS NOT WORKED.
My suggestions should not be viewed in isolation, but taken as a whole and implemented in parallel and simultaneously.

1. Human Rights must be suspended for 6-12 months.
The “bleeding hearts” will oppose this, and other countries will also be against such action. But wait a second, the savages who are killing other human beings (their own Jamaicans) are not giving the law abiding people ANY rights, they are killing randomly for no reason. The “bleeding hearts” and other countries do not have to tolerate this wanton savagery.
2. Any person found with an illegal firearm gets 5 years mandatory sentence, no parole. If they use that firearm for any illegal purpose then they will be tried for that, and if found guilty, then sentenced to serve it consecutively.
3. Flogging must be instituted for anyone using an illegal firearm.
4. There must be a curfew (6pm – 6am) established in the violence prone areas. This must be rigidly enforced.
5. The police should be given the resources and the JDF must be actively involved.
6. The justice system must be fixed, so that ALL accused be brought to trial within 12-24 months. That is the only “rights” they are going to get..
7. The education system should be fixed, so that it becomes mandatory for children to be and stay in school.
8. Vocational schools must be established, so that young adults leaving school, who have no desire to further their academic standard, can be channeled into the these schools to learn a trade. The trade will be beneficial to them in getting meaningful employment.
9. If these young adults refuse (bona fide reason) to attend the established vocational schools, they must join and STAY in the JDF for a minimum of 6 years.
10. Professionals trained in Jamaica, must agree to stay in the country and practice their profession for a minimum of 3 years before they can emigrate.
11. Law abiding citizens must collectively “take back” their country, one inch at a time. Out of many, one people.

These are drastic suggestions; however, we must take our head out of the sand to see that these are drastic times. The criminals have declared war on the rest of the country.
If the stigma of “number one murder country” in the world is acceptable, then keep on doing what has never worked or do nothing.
If the crime rate does not decrease, then investments will not be forthcoming and the economy will suffer. Jamaica and Jamaicans will be the worse off if nothing is done.

Anyone, living in Jamaica, reading this, may become outraged and so you should. As a Jamaican resident, you may object to the suggestions, and that is your right. However, I respectfully ask you to think of what YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY, to stop this war.

Speak up.

“When good men/women do nothing, evil triumphs”