Independence???

In the celebration of the earthday for the black, green and gold, I learnt of a video that was posted to Youtube..unfortunately.

In horror, disbelief and disgust I watched through tear filled eyes a symbol of law and order degenerate into the villains he swore to serve and protect the nation’s people from…an alleged guilty man was shot in cold blood…and despite the skewed reports, he was not, in my eyes, putting up a resistance sufficient to warrant such final and drastic action… the opportunity to let the justice system decide his fate was taken unceremoniously from him. Like a dog who bit his owner, his life was snuffed out…the life of a Jamaican was ended with disdain amidst cheers from a blood/ justice hungry crowd.

How can we rest easy knowing that love seemingly has no place in the pulse of our people?

I remember being young at school and singing with youthful exuberance songs of Independence,…I remember pledging “…to work diligently and creatively so that Jamaica may , under God increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity..”, I remember the rhythm of “…this land is our heritage…ours to make or mar, ours to spoil or beautify, for shame or praise…” I remember being proud… But on that day, my spirit felt low.

My mind could not yield to the apparent reality that all hope was indeed lost….I thought we were on the right track, we’ve finally seen political will demonstrated to tackle the cliques which among other things, contribute to our underdevelopment….a brighter tomorrow seemed more than just a tale whispered in the ear of children before bed…what happened?

Have the prayers of our forefathers for freedom been answered in manifest ruthlessness to our own…are we so independent that we think and effect pure crap?

I pray that God will purge this land and its people of its atrocities, that the blood which soaks our soil will be washed clean along with our hearts, that our mind’s will be kissed with right thinking, that love will prevail…I pray that He makes us whole again and that next year I’ll listen to the strum of nationhood, patriotism, peace and kindness from riverside to the mountain top, from the cane fields to the sea…That Jamaica will once again be a land of beauty, that we will fulfill the promise to serve her with our talents with hands and heart united ..that we will work steadfastly and wisely to never bring her shame…I pray that in my lifetime, our hearts will salute a Jamaica that is triumphant, Proud and truly Emancipated.