Dear Editor,
The brouhaha between Jodi "Jinx" Henriques and Usain Bolt continues to spark debate on social media. However, the reality is that the issue has been overblown.
In our culture there is a tendency to support the underdog, even when he is plain wrong. In this case, Bolt is the victim, by virtue of him being black and his origination from a lower socio-economic class. But if the matter is assessed from an unbiased viewpoint, we will realise that Henriques is the real victim.
Like the average person who resides in any community, Henriques does not expect to be disturbed by ill-mannered neighbours. We are all aware of inconsiderate neighbours who play loud music throughout the night without much thought for their fellow citizens. According to Henriques, this has been her experience.
She lambasted Bolt on Facebook in frustration. Instead of feeling pity for this woman, we allowed our biases to cloud our judgement. In the inner city, neighbours like Bolt are tolerated out of fear, or simply because similar behaviour is accepted in these communities. However, in Norbrook, such vulgarity is not tolerated, and by publicly shaming Bolt the message resonates with all Jamaicans.
Jodi Henriques is actually a role model for Jamaicans residing in the inner city who are too afraid to confront neighbours like Bolt. The status of an individual should not matter; if he displays antisocial behaviour, then he must be vilified. Furthermore, Jamaica is such a crass society that we are too willing to condone vulgarity, especially when it is expressed by people of Bolt's ilk.
Additionally, telling Bolt to go back to his origins is not classist. Norbrook is an elite community with certain standards and if Bolt is not willing to conform to those standards, then he should go back to where he is coming from. No sensible person should allow Bolt to turn his community into a ghetto.
Furthermore, the argument that by not replying to Jinx, Bolt is showing class is nonsense. There is nothing demeaning about the comments made by Jinx, so Bolt had the liberty to craft an engaging response. By not responding he is just exhibiting pretensions. Henriques should not feel humiliated.
Despite his athletic achievements, Usain Bolt's seeming acceptance of a frivolous bling culture and a disregard for how it affects neigbours exposes everything that is wrong with Jamaicans. Therefore, he cannot be a role model for younger citizens.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Jinx is not classist, she's a victim
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The brouhaha between Jodi "Jinx" Henriques and Usain Bolt continues to spark debate on social media. However, the reality is that the issue has been overblown.
In our culture there is a tendency to support the underdog, even when he is plain wrong. In this case, Bolt is the victim, by virtue of him being black and his origination from a lower socio-economic class. But if the matter is assessed from an unbiased viewpoint, we will realise that Henriques is the real victim.
Like the average person who resides in any community, Henriques does not expect to be disturbed by ill-mannered neighbours. We are all aware of inconsiderate neighbours who play loud music throughout the night without much thought for their fellow citizens. According to Henriques, this has been her experience.
She lambasted Bolt on Facebook in frustration. Instead of feeling pity for this woman, we allowed our biases to cloud our judgement. In the inner city, neighbours like Bolt are tolerated out of fear, or simply because similar behaviour is accepted in these communities. However, in Norbrook, such vulgarity is not tolerated, and by publicly shaming Bolt the message resonates with all Jamaicans.
Jodi Henriques is actually a role model for Jamaicans residing in the inner city who are too afraid to confront neighbours like Bolt. The status of an individual should not matter; if he displays antisocial behaviour, then he must be vilified. Furthermore, Jamaica is such a crass society that we are too willing to condone vulgarity, especially when it is expressed by people of Bolt's ilk.
Additionally, telling Bolt to go back to his origins is not classist. Norbrook is an elite community with certain standards and if Bolt is not willing to conform to those standards, then he should go back to where he is coming from. No sensible person should allow Bolt to turn his community into a ghetto.
Furthermore, the argument that by not replying to Jinx, Bolt is showing class is nonsense. There is nothing demeaning about the comments made by Jinx, so Bolt had the liberty to craft an engaging response. By not responding he is just exhibiting pretensions. Henriques should not feel humiliated.
Despite his athletic achievements, Usain Bolt's seeming acceptance of a frivolous bling culture and a disregard for how it affects neigbours exposes everything that is wrong with Jamaicans. Therefore, he cannot be a role model for younger citizens.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
Jinx is not classist, she's a victim
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