Dear Editor,
I have listened to and read many responses to the dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain as the head of CHART and I am deeply saddened. Therefore, I would like to address some folks.
To my Christian brothers and sisters: Please remember the other sexual sins of fornication and adultery that the Bible speaks against. The problems that having sex before marriage and adultery have caused in Jamaica are great. Over 80 per cent of Jamaican babies are born out of wedlock, putting a burden on our health and education systems, our economy, and even our crime rate. Other trying matters such as poverty, child abuse, corruption, homelessness, and so many others have not received as much zeal from the Christian community. Let us not be the blind guides who strain out the gnat but swallow the camel.
I believe we should support Professor Bain, but we should not use this as just an opportunity to underpin an agenda at all costs. Remember, as Christians we should be known by our love. Some of the words used by many Christians this past week have been unloving and unkind. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Jesus tells us to love our neighbour, even those who do not share our beliefs.
To those who are not Christians, but are against homosexuality: Since you have used Biblical principles to support your point of view of not agreeing with homosexuality, I would like to invite you to follow the Bible in its entirety and to have an intimate relationship with Christ. When you do so, your opinion of homosexuality may not change, but your heart towards the homosexual will. In turn, your speech will too, as out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
To the LGBT community and supporters: I have seen the face of HIV/AIDS on underprivileged women and children who also need a voice. I understand that you see a conflict of interest in Prof Bain's words, but I would see more of a conflict of interest if he did not tell what he believes to save lives, in spite of research and opinions to the contrary. I have heard and read that he has worked tirelessly to help those who have HIV/AIDS, discriminating no one. The Caribbean's prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. How can we lose a leading expert in the field when we need an army of skilled soldiers to help chart the course to battle this disease?
To my fellow Jamaicans who wish that some of the energy could be diverted to myriad other issues we face as a nation: Don't give up hope. Continue to fight the good fight of faith. I say to you as I say to myself: "...in the service of my fellow citizens. I promise to stand up for justice, brotherhood and peace, to work diligently and creatively, To think generously and honestly, so that, Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race."
Nicola Carara
ncar2009@aol.com
To the Christian and the no so Christian
-->
I have listened to and read many responses to the dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain as the head of CHART and I am deeply saddened. Therefore, I would like to address some folks.
To my Christian brothers and sisters: Please remember the other sexual sins of fornication and adultery that the Bible speaks against. The problems that having sex before marriage and adultery have caused in Jamaica are great. Over 80 per cent of Jamaican babies are born out of wedlock, putting a burden on our health and education systems, our economy, and even our crime rate. Other trying matters such as poverty, child abuse, corruption, homelessness, and so many others have not received as much zeal from the Christian community. Let us not be the blind guides who strain out the gnat but swallow the camel.
I believe we should support Professor Bain, but we should not use this as just an opportunity to underpin an agenda at all costs. Remember, as Christians we should be known by our love. Some of the words used by many Christians this past week have been unloving and unkind. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Jesus tells us to love our neighbour, even those who do not share our beliefs.
To those who are not Christians, but are against homosexuality: Since you have used Biblical principles to support your point of view of not agreeing with homosexuality, I would like to invite you to follow the Bible in its entirety and to have an intimate relationship with Christ. When you do so, your opinion of homosexuality may not change, but your heart towards the homosexual will. In turn, your speech will too, as out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
To the LGBT community and supporters: I have seen the face of HIV/AIDS on underprivileged women and children who also need a voice. I understand that you see a conflict of interest in Prof Bain's words, but I would see more of a conflict of interest if he did not tell what he believes to save lives, in spite of research and opinions to the contrary. I have heard and read that he has worked tirelessly to help those who have HIV/AIDS, discriminating no one. The Caribbean's prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. How can we lose a leading expert in the field when we need an army of skilled soldiers to help chart the course to battle this disease?
To my fellow Jamaicans who wish that some of the energy could be diverted to myriad other issues we face as a nation: Don't give up hope. Continue to fight the good fight of faith. I say to you as I say to myself: "...in the service of my fellow citizens. I promise to stand up for justice, brotherhood and peace, to work diligently and creatively, To think generously and honestly, so that, Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race."
Nicola Carara
ncar2009@aol.com
To the Christian and the no so Christian
-->