Dear Editor,
Is there not a cause for which we can enlist our 'gunnies'? Probably if there was a country in need of some gun-bearers -- like another Bishop scenario in Grenada -- we could round up a 'rout'n - tout'n' band. All we would need is the promise of an income and an opportunity, and of guns and guys, there probably would be plenty to respond. Probably that's what we need to turn our guns outward instead of inward.
Probably we need a cause that would bring income, opportunity and an education to our gun-touting many; like some military units offer. Probably Haiti... policing in Haiti? The Jamaican Volunteers' Brigade for a Peaceful Port-au-Prince... The JVBPPAP. No, we'd probably become a major part of their problem too. We'd probably join their criminal ranks and take over some of their communities.
Or probably if Uncle Sam could hire us; probably they could use our thousands for something like border patrol. Soliciting us with an attractive offer; probably "get your own guns and come". We'd certainly have quite a number to offer -- probably even more than the farm worker or cane cutter programmes. No, we'd probably be a part of their problem too. They'd probably be finding our numbers scattered inland, far away from the given posts, leaving probably two out of the twenty thousand.
Well, we certainly have AKs and M-16s and a wide assortment of interesting weapons, enough to arm a band or two, or twenty. And we do know how to shoot, and we do like to shoot. But then, though we do have some experience, we don't quite know how to handle being shot at; and at the first sign of threat we might retreat, scale a wall, or surrender and beg, claiming "it wasn't me". But, who knows.
Probably if a country was far away enough, probably if the hirers were 'foreign enough'; like the Syrians... the cause of the Free Syria Army. Maybe they might need the Jamaican 'shotta contingent'. Well they sure seem to have cause enough for sure. And we certainly can't provide them missionaries enough to bring cheer and peace... Never mind our over 1,600 churches scattered throughout our island -- which should mean that we could find do-gooders enough -- but we certainly can offer 'mercenaries' enough, scores from every parish. Well, at the least we know many would come with both their guns and their Bibles... if it's any consolation. Then, that may be a problem to the Syrians too.
Well, probably our own leaders, our own Government could simply offer cash and classes in exchange for the guns and ammo and see if there are any takers. Many of the gun-bearers are only teenagers, and many never got a good education or other opportunity at a dignified life.
Or if our countries leadership could just find some other smart enough, relevant enough cause for our many gun-slingers, maybe we'd all be better off. Well, who knows?
What we do know for sure is that we need a plan to turn the chaos and confusion away from our island. And we really don't need to export our chaos and confusion to anyone. But we do need to provide answers, to give focus to our many men looking for opportunity and purpose. Of this we know our Government has an urgent cause.
Christopher Brodber
chrisbrodber@yahoo.com
Let's utilise our 'shottas'
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Is there not a cause for which we can enlist our 'gunnies'? Probably if there was a country in need of some gun-bearers -- like another Bishop scenario in Grenada -- we could round up a 'rout'n - tout'n' band. All we would need is the promise of an income and an opportunity, and of guns and guys, there probably would be plenty to respond. Probably that's what we need to turn our guns outward instead of inward.
Probably we need a cause that would bring income, opportunity and an education to our gun-touting many; like some military units offer. Probably Haiti... policing in Haiti? The Jamaican Volunteers' Brigade for a Peaceful Port-au-Prince... The JVBPPAP. No, we'd probably become a major part of their problem too. We'd probably join their criminal ranks and take over some of their communities.
Or probably if Uncle Sam could hire us; probably they could use our thousands for something like border patrol. Soliciting us with an attractive offer; probably "get your own guns and come". We'd certainly have quite a number to offer -- probably even more than the farm worker or cane cutter programmes. No, we'd probably be a part of their problem too. They'd probably be finding our numbers scattered inland, far away from the given posts, leaving probably two out of the twenty thousand.
Well, we certainly have AKs and M-16s and a wide assortment of interesting weapons, enough to arm a band or two, or twenty. And we do know how to shoot, and we do like to shoot. But then, though we do have some experience, we don't quite know how to handle being shot at; and at the first sign of threat we might retreat, scale a wall, or surrender and beg, claiming "it wasn't me". But, who knows.
Probably if a country was far away enough, probably if the hirers were 'foreign enough'; like the Syrians... the cause of the Free Syria Army. Maybe they might need the Jamaican 'shotta contingent'. Well they sure seem to have cause enough for sure. And we certainly can't provide them missionaries enough to bring cheer and peace... Never mind our over 1,600 churches scattered throughout our island -- which should mean that we could find do-gooders enough -- but we certainly can offer 'mercenaries' enough, scores from every parish. Well, at the least we know many would come with both their guns and their Bibles... if it's any consolation. Then, that may be a problem to the Syrians too.
Well, probably our own leaders, our own Government could simply offer cash and classes in exchange for the guns and ammo and see if there are any takers. Many of the gun-bearers are only teenagers, and many never got a good education or other opportunity at a dignified life.
Or if our countries leadership could just find some other smart enough, relevant enough cause for our many gun-slingers, maybe we'd all be better off. Well, who knows?
What we do know for sure is that we need a plan to turn the chaos and confusion away from our island. And we really don't need to export our chaos and confusion to anyone. But we do need to provide answers, to give focus to our many men looking for opportunity and purpose. Of this we know our Government has an urgent cause.
Christopher Brodber
chrisbrodber@yahoo.com
Let's utilise our 'shottas'
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