Dear Editor,
Ever since the announcement of the visit of Barack Obama, the president of the United States of America, there has been issue after issue after issue. This has, somehow, given the impression that the president may not be welcome here. Let me make it emphatically clear that not all Jamaicans are of this view, and there are those of us who deem it a great honour to have him visiting with us.
The little knowledge I have of the processes that surround the security of the American head of state, especially when he travels, makes me ask the question: Why isn't more being done and why is everyone so curious about the details of his visit including the persons who are supposed to be learned about these matters?
I would imagine his movements are planned with every single detail being considered with several alternative plans. If, at all, any of the plans are leaked to the public then instantaneously they would be changed and the old plan possibly used as a decoy, or the entire plan scrapped depending on the seriousness of the breach.
I hear many people saying that we should not be fixing up the place for his visit, but we should let him come and see Jamaica for what is really is, as if the president isn't already aware of the many challenges we face as a people.
The people that share that view are not taking into consideration two fundamental points of extreme importance. Consider for a moment if, as we Jamaicans put it, 'fly go pitch pan him out ya', I mean, if something should happen to him on Jamaican soil, the serious dent that it would leave on our pride, our Brand Jamaica, our economy, etc. Consider, also, should the president, upon returning home, indicate that he did not enjoy his visit to Jamaica.
Let us welcome President Obama with open arms and give him the best that Jamaica has to offer. And let his visit to Jamaica be the most memorable of all the countries to which he has travelled during his time as president of the United States of America.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
An honour to have you, Mr President
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Ever since the announcement of the visit of Barack Obama, the president of the United States of America, there has been issue after issue after issue. This has, somehow, given the impression that the president may not be welcome here. Let me make it emphatically clear that not all Jamaicans are of this view, and there are those of us who deem it a great honour to have him visiting with us.
The little knowledge I have of the processes that surround the security of the American head of state, especially when he travels, makes me ask the question: Why isn't more being done and why is everyone so curious about the details of his visit including the persons who are supposed to be learned about these matters?
I would imagine his movements are planned with every single detail being considered with several alternative plans. If, at all, any of the plans are leaked to the public then instantaneously they would be changed and the old plan possibly used as a decoy, or the entire plan scrapped depending on the seriousness of the breach.
I hear many people saying that we should not be fixing up the place for his visit, but we should let him come and see Jamaica for what is really is, as if the president isn't already aware of the many challenges we face as a people.
The people that share that view are not taking into consideration two fundamental points of extreme importance. Consider for a moment if, as we Jamaicans put it, 'fly go pitch pan him out ya', I mean, if something should happen to him on Jamaican soil, the serious dent that it would leave on our pride, our Brand Jamaica, our economy, etc. Consider, also, should the president, upon returning home, indicate that he did not enjoy his visit to Jamaica.
Let us welcome President Obama with open arms and give him the best that Jamaica has to offer. And let his visit to Jamaica be the most memorable of all the countries to which he has travelled during his time as president of the United States of America.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
An honour to have you, Mr President
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