Taking things for granted

THE EDITOR:WHAT causes repetition of moral degradation of peoples, whether it be Sodom and Gomorrah or Rome? It is that when living is easy we begin to take things for granted and return to the “Garden of Eden” and proceed to live like unthinking creatures? When concerned citizens show disgust the reply is either (A) The bible says that the end is coming or (B) Young people are not accepting the teachings of their peers since they are more enlightened or (C) That was in your day. But trial in a court of law, used to be by juror then, why should we need it in this modern time? Why don’t we simply become hep and take advantage of firing-squads?

Many animals believe that Jah put things in the Garden of Eden to be used by all. He did, but eventually changed his mind and ordered us to live by the sweat of our brows! The people of Singapore have a high standard of living and yet they don’t take anything for granted. The people of Cuba do not enjoy a high standard of living yet they do not take things for granted. And why is it that many a people would refuse to live either in Singapore or Cuba. The problem is that US citizens cannot go to either Singapore or Cuba, break the law and not be punished. One may recall reading of Fidel Castro’s retreat to the mountains in preparation for an assault on Batista’s citadel; the assault was successful and Batista was overthrown.

Then Castro and his comrades turned their attention to the labour of consolidating the revolution. One of his favourite comrades was eventually dispatched to assist the people of Angola against intrusion by the then apartheid South African regime. That was the first time that White South Africans saw the need to show their backs to “enemy soldiers”. Without saying, that Cuban general made Cuba proud, with he, himself, basking in as much popularity as that which caused General Dwight Eisenhower to be elected US President in 1952.

His glory continued when he returned to Cuba. But, for the Cubans, there could be no other god but Castro. It is difficult to say what went through the hero’s mind, however he was charged for dealing in illicit drugs. As far as Fidel Castro was concerned, Cuba was bigger than even President John Kennedy, and Castro left his comrade and heroic General to face the firing squad. Like the people of Singapore know: the law is no respecter of persons, so too, do the people of Cuba. The standard of living may contrast between Singapore and Cuba but they both have one thing in common, and that is the principle that the law of the land is paramount! We lose our manhood when we fear things that were not meant for us. Example the gallows, the firing-squad or the gas-chamber!

DENNIS R JAMES
St Joseph