Dear Editor,
Not often do I read the paper or listen to the news. I simply cannot take injustice and brutality. I may be chastised for not being a responsible and an aware citizen, but that may be justifiable.
Last week, however, I read an article by our former prime minister, Bruce Golding, and my heart was burdened. The article suggests that Professor Brendan Bain was booted from his job, in which he was a capable and efficient steward, because he disapproves of homosexuality. I am not sure of the veracity of the claims in the article. Yet, the possibility of such a claim being true appalls me.
As a young Jamaican born in the 1980s, who studied the hardships of our forefathers, I soon began to treasure what I thought was the right of free speech. Now, I realise that this right has become a privilege, especially when it is directed to the gay rights group.
We have come to the point where others decide when our freedom of speech is a right or a privilege. This concept, though increasingly common, is foreign to my psyche. When did we reach to this point, where our fellow countrymen are punished or chastised for their opinions?
As a teacher of English Literature, I have taught my students to respect the opinions of others. Should I go back to my students and tell them that they can have differing opinions as long as they do not differ from that of the powerful, the wealthy, or more threateningly, the homosexual?
Victimising others because of their difference of opinion has caused most of the atrocities against humanity in our world: the religious persecution in the Dark Ages, the World Wars, the Holocaust, and more recently the abduction of the over 200 girls in Nigeria. Are we regressing? Do I demote a Muslim, Jew, or Hindu because they do not agree with Christianity? Do I undermine a man because I am a strong and confident woman? Should I be booted from my job because I do not agree with homosexuality?
I find it quite ironic that homosexuals ask for tolerance and a non-discriminatory attitude, yet they seem to demote, fire, discriminate and oppress those who do not support their lifestyle. I cannot help but wonder what the real objective is.
We should not bully someone into accepting our views. Not even God did that in the Garden of Eden. We might not all agree with the choices of others and will never accept their point of view, but we should not abuse, hate or cause harm because of that.
Do we not have the right to an opinion though it may differ from others? Is freedom of speech a right or a privilege?
Popsann L Lambert-Francis
popsann@hotmail.com
An opinion is a right or privilege?
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Not often do I read the paper or listen to the news. I simply cannot take injustice and brutality. I may be chastised for not being a responsible and an aware citizen, but that may be justifiable.
Last week, however, I read an article by our former prime minister, Bruce Golding, and my heart was burdened. The article suggests that Professor Brendan Bain was booted from his job, in which he was a capable and efficient steward, because he disapproves of homosexuality. I am not sure of the veracity of the claims in the article. Yet, the possibility of such a claim being true appalls me.
As a young Jamaican born in the 1980s, who studied the hardships of our forefathers, I soon began to treasure what I thought was the right of free speech. Now, I realise that this right has become a privilege, especially when it is directed to the gay rights group.
We have come to the point where others decide when our freedom of speech is a right or a privilege. This concept, though increasingly common, is foreign to my psyche. When did we reach to this point, where our fellow countrymen are punished or chastised for their opinions?
As a teacher of English Literature, I have taught my students to respect the opinions of others. Should I go back to my students and tell them that they can have differing opinions as long as they do not differ from that of the powerful, the wealthy, or more threateningly, the homosexual?
Victimising others because of their difference of opinion has caused most of the atrocities against humanity in our world: the religious persecution in the Dark Ages, the World Wars, the Holocaust, and more recently the abduction of the over 200 girls in Nigeria. Are we regressing? Do I demote a Muslim, Jew, or Hindu because they do not agree with Christianity? Do I undermine a man because I am a strong and confident woman? Should I be booted from my job because I do not agree with homosexuality?
I find it quite ironic that homosexuals ask for tolerance and a non-discriminatory attitude, yet they seem to demote, fire, discriminate and oppress those who do not support their lifestyle. I cannot help but wonder what the real objective is.
We should not bully someone into accepting our views. Not even God did that in the Garden of Eden. We might not all agree with the choices of others and will never accept their point of view, but we should not abuse, hate or cause harm because of that.
Do we not have the right to an opinion though it may differ from others? Is freedom of speech a right or a privilege?
Popsann L Lambert-Francis
popsann@hotmail.com
An opinion is a right or privilege?
-->