Be the change you want to see in Jamaica

I think the best part of reading the Gleaner and the Observer has always been the comments section.

Sometimes you cannot help but double up in laughter when you see some of the things people have to say about various News headlines. Reading comments on their Facebook pages is one of the ways I pass time.

From reading the comments I often glean that people are upset with the nature and runnings of our country. They want crime to stop and they want the government to be held accountable for our economic situation.

But sometimes I wonder how serious these commentators are in real life. I know that Jamaicans love to chat but when it comes down to the “nitty gritty”, many of us will not become actively involved in this reformation that we clamour for on a daily basis.

It is like the crime situation. People abroad will say Jamaicans tolerate criminals within their midst and yet the reality is not many persons are brave enough to stand up to a Gun toting man. How many persons will risk informing on a cold blooded murder without fear of losing their lives? How many of us will start inner city projects geared at social reform without fear of intimidation or death?

We say the government is not doing anything for us and yet some of us do not vote. Others who vote, exercise their franchise based on crowd fever and party bias instead of nominating the most capable. We want change but all we do is talk, talk and more talk.

It was probably this ” bag a mouth” phenomena that kept our ancestors shackled for two centuries. Too many slaves desiring freedom but not many joining the revolts.
Perhaps some slaves were afraid of losing their lives fighting for an uncertain change. Everyone wants to be free but very few have ever been willing to sacrifice their lives for it. How many of these commentators in real life are “backing up” what they “chat” about on these public forums?

If you ask the man on the street about what he thinks he can do for his country. He will tell you that he is so caught up in his own survival, in trying to send his children to school and put food on his family’s table to care about people dying or political corruption.

He thinks about it for he knows that political decision affects each and every one of us and the gun man is only a spare thought away but meeting his immediate needs is priority.

He will tell you. ” How me fe go take up people business put pon me head? When me dead who ago feed my youth them? Them people you a ask me fight for? Them ago take care of my child if nothing happens to me?”

I cannot give him an answer to these resounding questions for I have thought the same thing too only to come up with limited, favorable responses.

Some will tell you point blank. ” You go do it nuh? And see how much a them ppl ago send money fe bury you or send your kids to school. It pay you better you mind your own business”

I cannot speak for anyone for we Jamaicans know when someone says something that you take it with a grain a salt.

I can only encourage them to be the change they want to see in the world. You can start with yourself, your family, friends and hopefully it will spread like wildfire and before you know it, you have influenced the world. The journey long or short begins with the first tiny step!

Stop this pointing of fingers business and blame game. What are you doing to perpetuate this change that you are talking about? Cut out the bag a mouth phenomena!!!

What are you doing to perpetuate this change that you are talking about? Cut out the bag a mouth phenomena.

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