Dear Editor,

I admit I am not Jamaican. I’ve never been to Jamaica. But there are some things that are just so wrong as to offend one’s basic sense of justice and decency no matter what piece of ground you are standing on.

“Over soon” is not what I hope for. “Over once and for all” is my prayer for the corruption in Jamaica. Of course, it can never fully disappear, especially not with the astronomical drug prices which – thanks to America’s failed policy of prohibition – make modern-day Al Capones out of men like Dudus. But when we look at how things have deteriorated, “corruption” seems too mild a word to describe this grim situation.

Much has already been said about the tremendous efforts by Golding and his administration to avoid extraditing Dudus, followed by what current reports indicate is a campaign of tragic proportions unleashed upon the residents of Tivoli Gardens.

If ever there was a need for revolution, this is it, but I don’t mean a revolution of violence and bloodshed. The government’s legitimacy is in serious question, but history has shown that the Opposition’s integrity is also questionable. Change of government could all too easily become nothing more than throwing a different blanket over the same toxic spill and calling it clean. It seems to me that the answer does not lie with the government. To quote Thomas Jefferson, “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.”

My fear is that Jamaicans keep putting their faith and hope in government, and keep thinking in terms of JLP vs PNP battles, rather than moving forward together. With a zero-sum “us versus them” mentality, you’ll just continue to see-saw back and forth trying to decide between bad and worse. Might the real foe be whatever powers want to keep you dependent on them while divided against your brother? Will positive change come from governments that are part of the problem? Will it come from the passing interest of the news media? Or is it more likely to start with you? Not you, “Jamaica”. You, the reader.

Mohandas Gandhi told us, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Then he changed the world forever. What change would you wish for Jamaica? Would you die for Jamaica? There are enough Jamaicans in my life that I don’t even need to ask. I already know your pride and courage without having met you. The question I am asking now is, would you change for Jamaica? If yes, then what change must you become?

Jesse Rogers

Florida, USA

jrogers_fl@yahoo.com